SUNS of Arqa will arrive in Malvern next Thursday on the latest leg of a tour celebrating the band's new Indian music-tinged album.

With principle member Michael Wadada at the helm, the collective will bring its unique brand of world music to The Lighthouse in Spring Lane South as part of its Universe City UK six-venue tour.

Mancunian Wadada has been the driving force in a 20-year Suns of Arqa career that has drawn influences from such diverse sources as India, Africa, Scotland, Iran, America, England, Ireland and Jamaica.

The band has fused those influences with dance beats, dubs and ambient music to produce a total of 14 albums. Contributors have included Manchester poet John Cooper Clarke and linguistic 'lobotomist' Professor Stanley Unwin.

Next week's Lighthouse gig will see Wadada joined by 'The Whirling Dervish' Kadir, Cat Von Trapp, polish Goth legend Kasha and ex-Echo and the Bunnymen and Spiritualised drummer Damon Reece.

Universe City is based on the classical Indian raga system of scale patterns and melodic motifs and is again fused with reggae, dance beat, dub and ambient sounds.

Tickets cost £7 or £5 for concessions. For inquiries, ring 01684 561017.

7 Michael Wadada.