Mela 2008 UK Listings

July 2008

Eastleigh Music Festival and Eastleigh Mela: Friday 11 - Sun 13 July

Eastleigh Music Festival and Eastleigh Mela

Friday 11 - Sun 13 July
With the Mela only taking place on Sunday, visitors are invited to enjoy confirmed acts for the weekend include Seth Lakeman, Nick Harper, Max Pashm, N’Faly Kouyate & Dunyakan and there are many more still to be announced.
Held over Leigh Road Recreation Ground the festival will include a Big Top covered stage and a mini top acoustic stage.
As well as stalls selling fair-trade goods & Hampshire Fare produce there are extensive activities available for all ages throughout the day. There will be something to entertain everyone with a free open site during the day on Saturday and all day Sunday from 10am - 9pm. Ticketed concerts will commence in the evening on Friday and Saturday.
This year the Mela will be extended into the evening. The night is free and includes N’Faly & Dunyakan, Max Pashm & Kasbia Knights and many acts throughout the day including The Huckleberries & Tzee & the Africa Beyond Band.
Leigh Road Recreation Ground, The Point, Eastleigh, Fri – Sun 10am – 9pm, £14/8 Concessions for Friday’s Concert, under 16’s have to be accompanied by adults, otherwise free

Authentic clothing: Oldham Festival of Diversity, Saturday
12th July – 13th August 2008.

Oldham Festival of Diversity

Saturday 12th July – 13th August 2008
Oldham Mela takes place Sunday 13th July in Alexandra Park, 1pm – 9pm, no door charge.
This years’ Festival of Diversity has just got bigger and better thanks to the commitment of people from across the Borough. The Festival promises something for everyone during the five weeks of community culture celebrations:
Oldham Family Mela, Oldham Pride, National Play Day, Disability Awareness Day Oldham Community Performance Week at Coliseum Theatre, community street parties,  New writing and community performances from Peshkar, Intergenerational sports and youth lead events. A whole host of community activity in a whole host of Oldham community locations.
The Festival opens with Street Party People in and around Parish Church, Oldham Town Centre. Different communities will be coming together to share aspects of their culture in a carnival of colour and local entertainment. Talent from Age Concern and Oldham Youth Service: Beat box break dancing and Frank Sinatra all on the one stage! Travelling art exhibition, participatory dance and displays, free style football competition, choirs, face painting and Brazilian drumming, just some of the activities taking place. The launch is followed by Oldham Mela 2008 in the spectacular surroundings of Alexandra Park, one of the countries best examples of regenerated parkland, the day promises to be packed with stalls, food and entertainment with a special big top family activity space.
Tel: 0161 624 1731, www.festivalofdiversityoldham.co.uk

Sukshinder Shinda: Croydon Mela, Sun 13 July.

Croydon Mela

Sun 13 July
Acts faturing in this year’s Mela include:
Sukshinder Shinda: A gifted singer, composer and producer with an impressive string of hits across the world, Sukshinder Shinda has been a force on the Asian music scene for over 15 years. Shinda won Best Act and Best Album at the 2008 UK Asian Music Awards.

The Dhol Blasters – True Roots & Colours of Punjab: After banging their drums with UB40 at Live8, The Dhol Blasters are coming to Croydon. This youthful team of vibrant dhol drummers and Bhangra dancers, led by King Gurcharan Mall, described as the “most famous dhol player of all time”, they have already earned themselves gold and platinum discs. Their bright Punjabi costumes and energetic drumming are enough to make anyone want to dance. 

Bollywood Brass Band: Croydon Mela, Sun 13 July.

Trickbaby: A six-piece band from London, Trickbaby have sold over 2 million albums worldwide via extensive contributions to Bollywood movie soundtracks. Johnny Depp is said to be planning to use their music in a film shooting later this year and their latest release is receiving extensive coverage on Radio One.

Bollywood Brass Band: Funky drummers and a hot six-piece horn section play massive hits from Indian films, Bollywood Brass Band are driven by the huge beat of the dhol. With a uniquely London blend of Hindi film soundtracks, Bhangra rhythms and brass, plus influences from jazz, world music and dance remixes, they give a phenomenal live performance.
Lloyd Park, Coombe Road, Croydon, 1pm-8pm, free, tel: 0208 760 5672,
www.croydonfestival.com

Southampton Mela Festival

Sat 19 July
The Festival is back to spice up the city! 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 in this free festival. This year, the event has also joined forces with the K2 Festival organisers. It will offer:
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, SO14 1NH, Southampton, 12 – 9pm, free, events@southampton.gov.uk

Middlesbrough Mela

Sat 19 & Sun 20 of July
Middlesbrough Mela is celebrating its 18th year in 2008. The event started in the town centre in 1991 and soon outgrew the venue and made a very positive move to Albert Park, right in the heart of the BME community. The park has been the recipient of Heritage Lottery funding to restore it to its former glory and the event benefits from the spectacular back drop.
We regularly get up to 30,000 visitors and even last year with torrential rain the event attracted 27,000 people. Middlesbrough  Mela is notoriously a completely trouble free event. The audiences are growing year on year.
The event is organised by Middlesbrough Council in conjunction with the Middlesbrough Mela Steering Group, made up of members of the local community.
We have a terrific line up for you this year and acts will be announced soon. The Saturday Sports day was been extended to make it part of the whole event Name
Albert Park, Park Vale Road, Middlesbrough, Sat 12 – 5pm, Sun 12 – 7pm, free, tel: 01642 729 225, www.boromela.co.uk

Slough Mela

Sun 20 July
Slough Mela is back this year with its unique mix of fun, music and information.
All the fun of the fair, with live music on stage. community. charity and information stalls, refreshments, trade stands - inlcuding fashion, jewellery and make-up, children’s activities. No flags or alcohol will be permitted in the park.
Upton Court Park, 12 – 8pm, £3/four for £10

Tunbridge Wells Mela

Sun 20 July
Music, food and dance from around the world will be on the menu at the third Tunbridge Wells Mela on Sunday July 20 at the Calverley Grounds between 12pm and 5pm. The free event is expected to attract a large audience, who will witness performances and be able to taste food from around the world, including Britain, India, Ireland, Bangladesh, Egypt, Zimbabwe and Brazil.
The performances on stage will include Pipe Band (An energetic performance of Highland Bagpipes), Premier Brass Band (Classic tunes by the Kent based brass band), Angela Wooi Belly Dancing Troupe (Traditional Egyptian / Arabic dancing), Tricky Beats African Drumming (The Tunbridge Wells group is a seven-person ensemble expressing traditional West-African music through energetic and uplifting rhythms).
Calverley Grounds, 12 – 5pm, free, tel: 01474 369329,
nwk_rec@hotmail.com

Swindon Mela

Sat 26 July
Food is an essential ingredient of any Mela. The Swindon Mela has fourteen food stalls from a variety of caterers offering Punjabi, Gujerati and Halal food as well as delicious Indian ice creams and sweets.
Swindon Mela is more than music and dance. There are plenty of ways to delve into and enjoy Asian inspired activities including all day arts and crafts workshops, Carrom tournaments, sari and turban tying plus walkabout street theatre and entertainments.  If it all gets a bit too much and you need to take a breather, what better place than the Health Zone? An area of calm amidst the bustle, the Health Zone offers people a chance to try out alternative therapies such as Indian Head Massage, Reflexology, Aromatherapy and Reiki, plus take part in workshops such as Tai Chi and Yoga. A wealth of information towards living a naturally more healthy life.
A wide variety of Asian products from over 40 trading stalls selling contemporary and traditional clothing, jewellery, accessories, music, spices and nik naks. Something for everyone!
Town Gardens, Swindon, all day, free, www.swindonmela.com

Mela Festival Nottingham

Sun 27 July
Enjoy this annual celebration of Asian culture in its new home, the Old Market Square and experience live music, dancing, arts and food galore! Mela is also a fantastic opportunity for all to experience Nottingham’s up-and-coming artists perform and exhibit their talents.
Old Market Square, Nottingham, 12 – 6pm, free

Birmingham Eid Mela

Sun 27 July
Birmingham’s Muslim communities transform Cannon Hill Park for the city’s largest ever Mela, featuring music, sports (including kabaddi), dressage and a family fun run, bazaars, fashion shows and radio roadshows.
Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, 2 – 8pm, free

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