Sultan + Shepard are coming to Mission Ballroom on Friday, January 31st. A match made in collaboration heaven, Sultan + Shepard became friends while living in Montreal. Realizing they shared a musical chemistry, the two joined forces and the rest is history. Come see what over two decades of musical harmony looks like as they two come to Denver.
Sultan + Shepard Releases
Sultan + Shepard — born Ossama Al Sarraf and Ned Shepard, respectively — released their first track, “Strange Dimensions,” in 2004. The duo debuted on Digweed’s Bedrock Breaks label using the moniker Jiva. Sarraf and Shepard went by this name for some years before eventually rebranding as Sultan + Shepard.
From there, they started their own label called Harem. They began co-writing and producing songs for artists such as Tiësto, Tegan + Sara, Nadia Ali, and David Guetta. Some of their notable songs include “Walls” featuring Quilla, “No Good” with Fedde Le Grande, and “When We Were Young” with Dillon Francis. They also remixed songs and even won a Grammy for their Bruno Mars remix, “Locked out of Heaven.”
Timing
No strangers to touring, Sultan + Shepard embarked on their first live music tour last year. Seguing from their usual DJ sets, the duo wanted to incorporate instruments into their performances. This tour has been a decade in the making, with timing being a key factor in the decision. But it seems that the time is now, and everything’s working out.
And the time is definitely right! This live tour is celebrating their November 2024 release, Circle in Time: The Trilogy. They created this anthology by combining three of their most celebrated works released on Lane 8’s This Never Happened.
Something, Everything, Forever, Now, and Endless, Dawn are three melodic house chapters of the same story. The first album laid the groundwork and the middle expanded on it before the third and final album completed the timeless tale. Sultan + Shepard felt each installment told the story of their creative journey. In linking these albums, they expanded on that odyssey by incorporating eight new songs. And they’ll be playing all this music live for your listening pleasure.
And a tour this special needs a venue just as special — so, of course, Sultan + Shepard are headlining Mission Ballroom. This spot is ideal for a night such as this as it features state-of-the-art sound that’s crisp and loud. The layout is functional and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Spacious and clean, Mission Ballroom features full-service bars around the venue, making it easy to get a beverage. All in all, Mission Ballroom makes perfect sense to host this Canadian duo.
Even if you’ve seen a Sultan + Shepard show, I guarantee it wasn’t like this. Not only are they incorporating live instrumentation, but they’ve revamped their sound since their initial debut. This show promises to be visually amazing, with incredible musical vibes. Expereince one of the best events of 2025 by grabbing tickets to Sultan + Shepard’s Circles in Time: Live at Mission Ballroom on Friday, January 31st.
