Grass Valley (CA): Kirtan with Jai Uttal & friends

This kirtan evening in Grass Valley, California brings Jai Uttal to SoulSpace Collective for a night of devotional chanting, billed as The Kirtan Love Experience. Jai Uttal, a Grammy-nominated world music artist and a pioneer of devotional chanting in the West, leads the circle together with friends. It is a good fit for anyone looking for a kirtan concert in the Sierra foothills, whether you chant regularly or are simply drawn to mantra and sacred music.

What to Expect

The evening runs from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Kirtan is call-and-response chanting, and here the music is built from harmonium, guitar, soaring vocals, lush soundscapes and ancient mantras. The organizers describe the night as a circle of devotion, celebration and heartfelt connection, where music becomes prayer and chanting becomes a bridge to the Divine. The invitation is to chant with Jai, not only to listen.

About Jai Uttal

Jai Uttal was born in New York City and grew up in a home filled with jazz, rock and world music. That early mix shaped his eclectic style and his sense of music as a form of expression and connection, and it eventually led him toward the spiritual path of kirtan. For nearly five decades he has been a prominent figure in the world music scene, leading kirtan and teaching the practice of chanting. His work is meant less as performance than as an invitation to a communal experience of devotion and joy.

The Setting

The gathering takes place at SoulSpace Collective, 206 West Main Street in Grass Valley, California. The Holbrooke Hotel stands just next door, which is convenient for anyone travelling from out of town. The organizers have a special offer there: guests coming from out of town can contact them to receive 15% off their room rate.