Downtown Bhangra
When: Friday, May 13 – 5pm to 10pm
Location: Vancouver Art Gallery Grounds (Georgia and Howe)
Tickets: Free!
Want to watch the best Punjabi dancers and musicians perform to their hearts’ content and learn a few new Bhangra moves along the way? Head to the Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza onFriday, May 13th. With over 200 performers this event is full of non-stop action with Vancouver’s finest talent, from dhol drummers, beat-boxers and singers to Bhangra dancers, break dancers and a host of cultural mashups!
Featuring UK’s Shin of DCS, Vancouver’s Bhangra rockers, En Karma, the world’s only Finnish Bhangra band, Shava and celebrating the album release of Raju Johal, this is one outdoor concert not to be missed. Also, enjoy a never-before-seen Bhangra collaboration with the Jewish Community Centre and Surrey India Arts Club, UFV Ghidda Team, McNair Girls Bhangra Team, University of the Fraser Valley Bhangra Team and the RC Palmer Bhangra Team. Plus, crowd favourite Peter Sidhu from California’s Khalsa Junction is coming to town to host the event and don’t miss his popular interactive Bhangra Workshop.
Shin, the only remaining founding member of the hit band DCS is teaming up with Vancouver’s very own Bhangra rock band, En Karma. As part of a pioneering group for modern Bhangra, Shin has been in the music industry spotlight for more than 20 years, and as the BBC noted, he’s “achieved more awards than hot dinners.”
Meanwhile, in Vancouver, En Karma, which formed in 2006, represents the continuing evolution of modern Bhangra, combining elements of reggae, R&B and rock to create an intense sound that is simultaneously rooted in tradition.
Shava, the world’s only Finnish Bhangra band is returning to VIBC’s City of Bhangra Festival. Winners of the 2010 Folk Music Record of the Year, Shava’s blend of Bollywood-Bhangra dance beats have created a distinct global sound. The five Caucasian guys from Helsinki, Finland discovered many parallels between Finnish and Punjabi traditional music and culture and can’t wait to perform in Vancouver.
Raju Johal, a young mulit-talented artist from Surrey will also be launching the release of his debut album, “Nachna Pasand” at Downtown Bhangra. A modern day crooner – his unique sound and slick style, compliment his classically trained voice.