Weddings
The unique, joyful sitar playing of Ricky Romain, combined with the tabla virtuosity of Jon Sterckx, is a perfect combination for weddings.
Indian classical music, with the Raga and Tala system steeped in the tradition of improvisation, has the quality to create an atmosphere which is fresh and exciting each time the Raga is performed. The atmosphere that the players create enhances the occasion, and makes the musical aspect of the wedding beautiful and special.
Ricky and Jon have played sitar and tabla together for so long that they are able to intuitively develop a particular sensitivity for each wedding. If you have specific Ragas or talas which you would like us to play they would be happy to discuss your requirements and play the Ragas that would make your wedding a day to never forget.
“I cannot recommend Ricky and Jon enough. Ricky was brilliant and very easy to work with. My husband who is from South Asia loves Indian classical music and he was thrilled when he heard you both play. Our friends and family were incredibly impressed – your music added such warmth to our wedding. Thank you so much for being a part of our day, it
Ricky played at our wedding in Cornwall and made the atmosphere feel so authentic and special. Our guests loved the music and it was a joy to see someone so passionate and dedicated about their craft. Ricky was also great in the run up to the wedding, when we spoke though the sorts of ragas I enjoyed so he could tailor the session accordingly. A huge thank you from us and both our families! Thanks,MalavikaRicky thank you for playing at our Mehndi. It was a real privilege to hear you play and witness the ambiance you created. Faisal and Sixtine“We feel so honoured and forever thankful to have Ricky play beautifully at our Indian Wedding at Polhawn Fort.He was so professional and polite to all our guests and went above and beyond making our day even more special. We all really enjoyed and appreciated the ragas he wove so elegantly into our ceremony.Thank you so much for the wonderful memories. Krupa; & PujaAni and myself would like to thank Jon and Ricky for their performances at our wedding.Very professional set up and great sound quality to suit any event.Our family and friends really appreciated them and their repertoire of Indian classical music is vast!Look forward to seeing them again at future events no doubt!Ani & RidRicky and Jon played at our wedding; the performance directly followed the ceremony and was the perfect way to start the days celebrations! Both musicians are expert players and the music they play is authentic and beautiful to listen too. Both were highly professional throughout and make for a unique and spiritual experience to any event.Joshua Chelms Operations Manager (UK)
”Samswara are absolutely amazing. Their music is so calming and matched the atmosphere we wanted for our wedding. My sister previously booked them 7 years ago for her wedding so had been in awe of their talent for a long time. I am so glad to have booked them for my wedding. From the first point I contacted Ricky I had immediate trust for their music, professionalism, ability to fit into the wedding with the maharajah which they have also played alongside previously. Ricky had a calming and reassuring nature. I would thoroughly recommend to any bride if you are considering booking them for your wedding you will not have to worry and they will create a beautiful spiritual complement for your wedding ceremony.” Meera Shah.
From the moment I heard you both play at a friend’s wedding a few years ago I knew that I had to contact you when it was time to plan my own wedding. After playing Viren a few videos and music clips from your website he quickly agreed that you would create the exact ambience we were looking for. You both created an atmosphere which is more than we could even imagine, you knew what song to play and at what time to play it and I had no concerns about what music would be played when I made my entrance. We had lots of compliments about the music during the ceremony, my dad especially, who loves classical music was in complete awe of what he was listening to on the day. Words are not enough to describe how beautifully you both played. Thank you so much for being such an important part of our day and being there to share at witness such a special occasion. Priti & Viren
Ricky was a pleasure to work with in the lead-up to our wedding, at all times being communicative, reassuring and highly professional. On the big day Samswara set up their equipment in an organised and discreet fashion and were in fact ‘ready for action’ ahead of time, which very helpfully meant they could play earlier than scheduled (due to our ceremony finishing a bit sooner than expected)! The musicianship of Samswara was first class and the relaxed & joyful ambience they created during our bohemian festival wedding was utterly beautiful. Many guests commented on the authenticity and quality of Ricky & Jon’s playing and magical atmosphere it created. We are considering booking Samswara again for another family celebration next year!”Our wedding was made even more special by these fantastic musicians. Flexible to our schedule, perfectly presented and the music was just amazing! We hadn’t told guests about this part of our event so everyone looked up to work out where the wonderful sounds were coming from. We had so many compliments about the music and guests wanted to talk to the musicians and pay their compliments. I want to have another event just to have them play again! ”
members.lastminutemusicians.com/indianmusic.html Sitar & Tabla Indian Music Performances – reviewed on 21st Nov 2016 by Rehanna and PriyeshSamswara played for weddings at our venue a couple of times and I cannot recommend them highly enough. To have the beautiful sound of the sitar and tabla floating across the field whilst guests sip on their drinks is magical indeed. The stage they set up was great with authentic rugs really setting the tone. They make a fantastic sight! Not only do they produce the most lovely music and look fantastic, but Ricky and Jon are very charming and, friendly and obviously love what they do. They are very adaptable and easy to work with. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Thank you very much Ricky Fiona Cathcart of GreenAcre Events
Dear Ricky and Jon- I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the absolutely beautiful music you played for us yesterday. I cannot tell you how many people praised you and Jon-I really think you made the wedding what it was and I am so grateful. It was uplifting and stood out but the sounds also interwove beautifully with the priest’s words creating the perfect balance. It was a real treat for our guest. I’m very grateful. Shreyaa.
Ricky and Jon played at our Indian themed Wedding during a beautiful May bank holiday weekend. The music, combined with the sunshine and surrounded by happy friends and family added such a sense of tranquility. The music was not intrusive to conversation at all but simultaneously hard to ignore. We managed to book Ricky and Jon at the last minute, all the communication we had with them was easy, professional and also polite. To top it off they are lovely and were even able to stay for a short while to enjoy the fun with us. Would highly recommend them for any alternative event to add a peaceful atmosphere, for me this as the cherry on top of my wedding day. Abbie Hawkins
“I cannot recommend Ricky and Jon enough. Ricky was brilliant and very easy to work with. My husband who is from South Asia loves Indian classical music and he was thrilled when he heard you both play. Our friends and family were incredibly impressed – your music added such warmth to our wedding. Thank you so much for being a part of our day, it was the icing on the cake!” Jamila Kassam
Thank you both so much for playing the sitar and tabla on our wedding day, to welcome our guests and during our wedding ceremony. The music was utterly beautiful and you both did a perfect job of being sensitive to the Indian ceremony, playing at exactly the right volume to create a magical atmosphere and also pausing during the appropriate moments… So many of our guests commented on the music, and also on how interesting you were to talk to – and even the priest was impressed by the sensitivity with which you played! We will be sure to recommend you to friends and are already wondering when we might have another party where you guys could play again… Sonia Mohindra
“We found Ricky and Jon very easy to deal with and their music was a delight at our wedding.
The duo arrived promptly and played during the intervals as required.
We found there music to be of the highest standard and it was a perfect fit for the beautiful settings of Forde Abbey and our occasion.
Would certainly recommend them both to anyone looking for authentic Asian music. They were the kindest of gentlemen and wished us well before they left.
Michael & Roshanthi Redwood“Ricky was helpful from the moment we initially contacted him up until the day itself. On the day, we received numerous complements from many our our guests regarding his performance and personally we found it flawless. We were also impressed with the way that he co-ordinated with our hindu priest despite never having met with him before”. Keval Sangani
Thank you so much for performing at my daughter Jessica’s wedding at North Cadbury Court to a very international mix of guests.We were delighted with your duo performance . It was wonderful and enhanced the enjoyment of the wedding celebrations. Many of our guests commented on the excellence of both the Sitar and tabla playing.I very much hope we will have the opportunity to listen to you again. Thank you both again, Prof B K Sandhu OBE
“Ricky played at our wedding in Cornwall and it was wonderful! We discovered Ricky online after doing some research, once we saw him play live we knew he would be perfect for our big day. Ricky was very easy to work with, he advised us throughout the planning process on the best compositions for our guests as they arrived and played the most stunning Raga as I walked down the aisle. Ricky is a very talented sitar player, he is good natured and wants the best for his clients. All our guests commented on how beautiful the music was, many had never heard a sitar before so it was a real treat for them. Joe and I would not hesitate to recommend Ricky to anyone considering booking him. He really added something special to our day and supported us though out the planning process not adding any stress. Thank you Ricky!” – Nadiya Luthra
“Jon and Ricky played at our wedding last year, October 2012 at West Midlands Safari Park. They were absolutely wonderful. They were so professional every step of the way and just brought the venue to life with their beautiful music. An absolute pleasure to have them and will definitely recommend them to anyone. PS. For all seasoned Tabla Sitar music lovers, they performed exquisitely and beyond all expectations. Thank you Jon and Ricky for adding joy to our special day.” – Nazneen Shabbir
“Many thanks for playing at our wedding. You really are talented at what you do. You were a highlight of the day and you added an ambience and atmosphere to our wedding breakfast that was truly relaxing and sophisticated.” – Atul and Shabeena Chauhan
“Nabila and I would like to thank you for helping to make our traditional Pakistani wedding reception so memorable! We really appreciated how you worked with our friends to orchestrate the entrance music! It was truly special! So many of our guests (1500 of them in total!) commented on just how much they loved your music. You helped create the perfect atmosphere for our special day. We’ve had lots of people ask us about you even after the wedding and I’m sure they’ll be booking you guys soon too! Once again, thank you for everything” – Dr and Mrs Sheraz Mumtaz
“My husband and I were keen to have live music performed during our Hindu (Gujarati) Wedding Ceremony. We were in search of a harmonious balance of traditional sounds with a unique composition/style and Jon and Ricky surpassed our expectations! They engaged with us from the very moment we agreed to have them perform, onwards; they ensured they understood the ceremony well and captured our vision in advance. They even put together mini sample compositions!! On the day itself, there was no doubt about their talent and professionalism shining. From arriving in good time, to displaying a natural passion, to invoking the different emotions for each part of the ceremony, reflected through the choice in Raags, they were superb!!! Our guests really enjoyed their performance and even complimented us on our choice in musicians!! We would highly recommend Jon and Ricky.” – Nisha and Rakesh
“Ricky and Jon played at my marriage to my wife Dilara on a beautiful summer’s day in late August 2011 in Bromley, Kent – and I cannot emphasize quite enough how wonderful it was to have them honour our special day with their performance… (Read more on the testimonials page)” Dr Sumit Dutta
“Thank you so much for playing for us on Saturday. So many memories have been etched into our consciousness of the day, and the backdrop to them all was the sound of the sitar and the tabla that you both so beautifully provided. Thank you so much, it was so beautiful!” – Eunice Laurel ( Wedding Performance at Matara Centre, Gloucestershire)
“I was totally bowled over. Paul’s family has never heard anything so wonderful and my family had not seen/heard anything so wonderful, let alone live.” – Comment from Verna Vyas (Bride – also testimonial below.) Wedding performance in Devon.
“I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed it and was a refreshing change from the usual jazz trio or string quartet you often get at English weddings.” – Wedding guest.
“Our wedding took place on 7th March 2009 in Devon. I found out about Jon Sterckx and Ricky Romain from a Google search and was impressed by Jon’s page on MySpace. This is a real testimonial by the way. These guys were the most relaxing part of my wedding preparation. At all times both Jon and Ricky were professional, reliable, helpful and understanding, especially when I was stressing out about general wedding things, Jon and Ricky were so cool and helpful that I felt calmer and reassured. Notwithstanding all of these qualities they brought something more to my wedding, some excellent quality sitar and tabla playing! I arrived about 2 hours late to the wedding and Ricky and Jon kept the hungry, thirsty and anxious wedding guests entertained and in high-spirits. During the wedding ceremony, the music was uplifting and provided a really unique feel to my ‘East Meets West’ theme. Both Ricky and Jon attended appropriately dressed and burned some beautifully scented incense which provided further assistance in keeping everything calm and happy. I have to advise anyone looking for highly professional and excellent sitar and tabla musicians to book them without any question. When I was unclear as to the best sound for walking down the aisle Ricky played some ragas (?) to me over the phone and because Jon was not present, inserted his very own tabla machine to play Jon’s part for the purpose. Even though, due to my lateness, the evening overran, these guys continued to play well beyond the allotted time. Our guests were overawed with the atmospheric music and we have had some really positive feedback. They made the wedding truly spectacular and unforgettable!“
If you are interested in these services please get in contact.