Nick Able, originally from Gosforth and now living in rural County Durham, has spent more than two decades performing alongside legendary Indian sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar and his daughter, internationally acclaimed musician Anoushka Shankar. Having played in venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall in New York and the Sydney Opera House, Nick is now bringing his unique wellness-inspired performances to audiences across the North East.
His latest venture will see him performing immersive “sound journeys” at prestigious venues throughout the region, including Wentworth Grange, a luxury residential and nursing hotel for the elderly in Riding Mill, where guests, including members of the aristocracy and those with distinguished backgrounds will experience a relaxing blend of music, meditation and storytelling.
Nick’s extraordinary musical journey began in his early twenties after developing a fascination with Indian classical music and the sitar.
“I was a guitar player from Gosforth who became fascinated by Indian music,” he said. “Through a few emails and a lot of persistence, I was invited to live and study at the home of Ravi Shankar in New Delhi. It wasn’t just about learning music – it was about immersing myself in another culture and a completely different way of life.”
The opportunity proved life changing. Within weeks of arriving in India in 2003, Nick was performing on stage in Mumbai alongside Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar.
“It was surreal,” he recalled. “One minute I was studying, the next I was performing alongside musicians I had admired from afar.”
That invitation marked the beginning of an international career spanning more than 20 years, taking Nick across Europe, America, Asia and Australia and into some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Alongside his major concert performances, Nick has also been invited to perform at exclusive private and VIP events around the world, working with organisations including Rolex, PETA and The Elephant Foundation. His performances have taken him into some truly extraordinary settings, including an event for The Elephant Foundation attended by Prince Charles, and a performance at the United Nations in New York in front of an audience including Richard Branson, Yoko Ono, Sharon Stone and Jennifer Lopez.
He remained part of Ravi Shankar’s touring ensemble until the maestro’s death before continuing to perform internationally with Anoushka Shankar.
“It was an incredible apprenticeship,” Nick said. “Often I was in the background, playing tanpura or creating musical textures, but it gave me a front-row seat to witness how the very highest level of the music industry operates.”
Despite his international success, Nick has chosen to focus his latest work much closer to home.
Over the past 18 months he has been developing original music for the rapidly growing wellness sector, creating what he describes as “sound journeys” rather than traditional concerts.
“I don’t really like using the word healing in this context,” he explained. “For me it’s about creating a peaceful environment where people can switch off from the stresses of everyday life. Music has an incredible ability to change how we feel. It can lift your mood, calm your mind and create powerful emotions. Wellness and music are very closely connected.”
His music combines gentle ambient soundscapes with acoustic instruments to create immersive performances that encourage deep relaxation.
“When people come to one of my events they often lie down with blankets, cushions and eye masks. The music gradually takes them on a journey. It’s peaceful, dreamy and atmospheric. I think about the images and emotions I want people to experience just as much as the notes I’m playing.”
Unlike conventional songs that last just a few minutes, Nick’s compositions can develop over much longer periods, allowing audiences to slowly unwind.
“People often arrive with busy minds, thinking about work or everything they must do that day. Over time they settle into a deeply relaxed state. That’s what this music is designed to encourage.”
Nick believes the format is particularly well suited to residential care homes, where guests can enjoy the music in whatever way feels comfortable to them.
“At Wentworth Grange I want to offer guests something genuinely different, an experience created especially for this unique setting. I’ll share stories from my career and perform music that allows people simply to relax and enjoy the moment. Whether someone wants to sit and watch or close their eyes and become immersed in the experience, there’s no right or wrong way to enjoy it.”
The Wentworth Grange experience is intended as a special one-off event reflecting the exclusive nature of the event. The performance will also raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Charity. Looking ahead, Wentworth Grange has commissioned Nick to compose a series of original relaxation and wellness music using healing frequencies that will be used throughout the building for the benefit of their guests.
Nick’s focus is on taking his unique blend of music, storytelling and relaxation into other luxury hotels, spas, country houses and exclusive wellbeing venues throughout Northumberland, County Durham and Teesside, tapping into the growing interest in high-end wellness and immersive experiences across the UK.
Nick is currently developing a new website where audiences will be able to hear his original music and find details of forthcoming performances across the North East.
After performing before royalty, world-famous musicians and audiences in some of the globe’s greatest concert halls, Nick believes his most rewarding performances could still lie ahead, helping people closer to home discover the calming power of music.
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