The University of Iowa’s Hancher and Department of Religious Studies are collaborating to present Niyaz featuring Azam Ali on Thursday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Old Brick. The concert is free and open to the public.

Niyaz is an Iranian-American Band that performs music that offers a rich opportunity to experience the interaction, spread, and combination of cultures. The band’s blend of Sufi mysticism, poetry, and Middle Eastern folk songs incorporates a range of influences including Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and Indian.

Members of the band will give a special presentation about their work on Wednesday, May 7, at 5 p.m. in the third floor atrium of Gilmore Hall on the UI campus. That event is also free and open to the public.

The lecture and performance are supported by the Hancher Partners and gifts to the Hancher Circle through the UI Foundation. Funding has also been provided by a number of UI units, including the Department of Religious Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and the E. P. Adler Lecture Fund; International Programs; the French and Italian Department in the Division of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures, also in CLAS; Building Bridges: Campus Community Engagement Program; and the Intellectual Dialogue Society.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, contact the Hancher Box Office in advance at 319-335-1158.