Mela 2007 UK Listings

June 2007

Fri 1 Jun – Fri 31 Aug

South Tyneside Summer Festival
The highlight of each year is the annual Summer Festival when South Tyneside buzzes with kid’s entertainment, rock, pop and folk music, brass bands, street theatre, fun days and Sunday concerts with a galaxy of big name stars.
Various venues throughout South Tyneside, 12pm until 12am, Adm: Free, Tel: 0191 424 7985, events@southtyneside.gov.uk.

Fri 1 Jun – Sun 3 Jun

Wychwood Festival
Anoushka Shankar, Swami, Aziz Ibrahim, Transglobal Underground raise the roof in Cheltenham. Whilst, Nerm and Pathaan mix it up in the after hours club tent.
Cheltenham Racecourse, Adm: Adult Weekend (£95) Concessions (£75) Children under-12 (Free) Tel: 01993 772580, info@wychwoodfestival.com.

Wed 6 Jun

City Showcase
Nihal and DJ Kayper present a night showcasing the hottest desi talent around. City Showcase gives the Asian Acts of tomorrow a stage today. By exploring the diversity and creativity of British Asian music, it confounds stereotypes and inspires all those who witness the acts who perform. Launched in 2003, and with two events that first year, City Showcase – Spotlight London, our annual London festival, has already established itself as a key date in the music and fashion industries’ diaries. We work with musicians, performers, designers, artists, producers, directors, games developers and talented people in all creative disciplines by providing networking opportunities, workshops, information and showcasing opportunities.
Bar Fly, Evening, Adm: free, Tel: 0207 691 4244,
www.cityshowcase.co.uk.

Sun 17 Jun

Glasgow Mela
Glasgow Mela is a multicultural family festival, based on the traditions of the Indian Sub-continent. Set up in 1990, during the year of culture, the Mela has grown from being an indoor event to an outdoor extravaganza with over 50,000 people attending in 2006.
Headline acts have previously included Jassi Sidhu, DCS, Legacy, Malkit Singh, Arif Lohar, Sabri Bros, Apache Indian, Sohota Brothers, Stereo Nation, Dr Zeus and Jazzy B.
Kelvingrove Park, 12pm until 8pm, Adm: free, www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/mela/glasgow.

Sun 17 Jun

Wandsworth Mela
Open for all Wandsworth borough residents to come along and enjoy a day of cultural awareness of the Asian community including arts and crafts, dancers, singers and head massage.
Lola Jones Hall, 2.30pm until 7.30 pm, Adm: free, Tel: 0208 871 7534, www.wandsworth.gov.uk.

Sat 23 Jun – Sun 24 Jun

Greenwich and Docklands International Festival
Dramatic street entertainment, all over Greenwich and East London.
Greenwich and Docklands International Festival celebrates 10 extraordinary years with a weekend of ravishing outdoor performance across Greenwich and East London.
From 23 - 25 June the Festival offers an intense three days of “must see” experiences including a host of illuminated flying spheres inspired by Renaissance paintings, a parade of giant flaming wheels as high as houses and a fantastical Bengali tiger – burning bright! As always events are free, expressing East London’s unique cultural vitality in dynamic new ways and promising an unforgettable birthday party.
Greenwich, Adm: free, Tel: 0208 305 1818, www.festival.org.

Sat 23 Jun

Rossendale Mela
Stage performances from a variety of performers, DJ for the day is Saiful Islam, Compere will be Neelom Khan, Drumming workshops from Beatsnheat, Performances by Jukalo the Juggler, Arts and craft workshops, A selection of multicultural food stalls, Children’s sporting activities, Face painting, The main stage will include a form of Samba Drum music which originates in Salvador de Bahia in North Eastern Brazil. The powerful and hypnotic big drum sound captures the vitality of Brazilian culture and produces an exciting fusion of rhythm, movement and costume. Also, Nasir Khan - Nasir Khan’s first album release was called “Sensation” and from that came the big hit single “Sohney nain”. This song’s video was number one for seven weeks on the Zee music channel. Now moving on to his new project which he will be releasing through the well known label “Movie box” UK and will be released in the UK very soon. Nasir will be accompanied by DJ NAS-T (MC). Remedy - This independent band brings you a unique sound with melodically woven vocal lines, sweeping piano with rhythmical acoustic progressions under a light twinkle of the occasional arpeggio. Save the Day - A local duo who plays a rocky mix of popular folk songs. Lilting vocals blend perfectly with the electric guitar to provide their unique sound. Annapurna Dance - Watch and learn as Annapurna Dance provides a spectacle of colour with traditional Indian dances. The Saharans Dance Group - Seven girls from all around Africa performing a mix of traditional contemporary African Dances from Uganda, South Africa and Barbados. Watch out for the Dhol drummer and Saxaphonist around Rawtenstall throughout the day – playing at Bank Street and the Market, they provide an exciting fusion of exotic music styles.
Marl Pits Sports Complex, Newchurch Road, Rawtenstall from 1pm to 6pm, Adm; free, Tel: 01706 217777, www.rossendale.gov.uk.

Sat 30 Jun

Southampton Mela Festival
Once again Hoglands park will come to life with the colours, sounds and smells from the South-Asian continent, as people from the local and surrounding communities get together to have fun and celebrate traditional and modern South-Asian culture. This year guarantees an action packed day as we spice up the city, with a selection of...Live music and dance on the main stage - styles ranging from South Asian Classical, Folk, World Music, Qawwali, Asian fusion, Bhangra to Bollywood. Workshops and Demonstrations in Music & Dance and Arts & Crafts. Family fun with a range of Arts & Crafts activities, a designated play area and a funfair. Stalls - varying from ethnic clothes and accessories, beauty and henna hand tattooing, arts & crafts, community and much more.
Hoglands Park, 12pm until 9pm, Adm: free, www.artasia.org.uk.

Sat 30 Jun

Rochdale Mega Mela
This is Rochdale’s biggest annual public event. It provides an accessible and enjoyable arena for every community and attracts a wide audience from across the country. Worth a visit even if you don’t go to Mela’s very much.
Bowlee Park, 11am until 8pm, Adm: free, Tel: 01706 642 954, www.rochdaleonline.net.

Sat 30 Jun & Sun 1 Jul

Neasden Mela
This year our annual fair / mela takes place on the weekend of 30th June and 1st July 2007. It is run over two days and we have over 15000 visitors. We have stalls for fashion, jewellery, arts and crafts, corporate companies like Barclays, henna & bindi etc. We run our own food stalls and have a very varied and delicious vegetarian menu. One of the main attractions is the family fun fair with rides galore.
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, 1pm until 9pm, Adm: free, Tel: 020 8965 2651, www.mandir.org

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