Croydon Mela - Sun August 1 2010 | 1–8.00pm
O2 Main StageJassi Sidhu
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ARCC Classical StageSwati NatekarTaal Vadya Kacheri with Shahbaz HussainAmina Khayyam
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"A celebration of the length and breadth of
sounds from the Indian subcontinent"
– Time Out music section
Croydon Mela: O2 Main Stage
Jassi Sidhu
Jassi Sidhu’s fame began as the lead singer of the world renound boy-band B21. He is one of the UK’s finest home-grown Punjabi singers and recently released the acclaimed album The New Adventures of Jassi Sidhu featuring the production talents of international producers Rishi Rich and Aman Hayer. He will perform with his full band.
TAZ
TAZ, aka (Stereo Nation) is a British Born Asian who established himself as a recording artist with the release of his debut album Hit the Deck in 1989. He stormed the UK Asian pop charts for 36 weeks at No.1. A lyricist, composer and producer, Taz became the embodiment of cross-cultural music - a hybrid of Traditional Bhangra fused with Western Pop sensibility.
Raghu Dixit
Raghu’s debut self-titled album was released in 2008 and went on to become India’s highest selling non-Bollywood music release last year. With a towering voice fronting traditional Indian folk music, subtly infused with elements of western rock, Arabic, Latino and reggae textures and rhythms, Raghu’s music transcends borders.
Baluji Shrivastav
Taal Zindagi: Rhythm of Life Percussion Orchestra
New Commission Supported by PRS Foundation and Arts Council England
Inspired by the rhythms of life celebrated composer and Indian Classical musician Baluji Shrivastav leads a powerful new percussion ensemble which will draw on rhythms from the Indian Subcontinent and beyond. Working with the rhythms of our everyday lives; be it the first beats of the heart, the patterns of our speech; all that goes on around us in cycles as we move from birth to death/rebirth.
The performance features 8 mesmerising London based percussionists including Baluji Shrivastav (pakhavaj & gopi), Manjit Rasiya (tabla), R.R. Prathap (gatam, clay pot), R.N. Prakash (mridangam double headed drum), Kadiah Sitha (Jews Harp), Oded Kafri (kit), Wlimer Sifontes (Latin persussion) and Hashuo Liu (Chinese drums). The professional musicians will be joined on stage at their inaugural performance at Croydon Mela by local young and amateur musicians who will be introduced to Indian percussion over a number of workshops prior to the Mela.
Visit Baluji Shrivastav online »
Dhol
Academy
Dhol Academy is a traditional Indian Dhol drumming group with a difference; this group has amazingly loud, explosive, enthralling sounds. The Dhol performers dress in bright and colourful costumes of traditional themes and bring you a highly charged and powerful performance.
Faze Black
Faze Black is ready to make some big noise this summer with his hot debut single ‘Dil Nachda’.
The multi-talented British born artist is no newcomer to music having first made his breakthrough in the industry at an early age as an MC with DJ Danger on Choice FM.
Faze Black will showcase his new work at the Mela.
MC Shak
MC Shak presents a weekly show on XFM after being Breakfast Show host at Clubasia Radio. He is also an arts broadcast journalise for The Independent.
Sanj.C DJ
Sanj.C is a hot new DJ and music producer from Croydon. He has been making his mark around the club scene playing along side top artists and DJ's and is currently working on his brand new Bhangra album which is due to come out next year.
Croydon Mela: ARCC Classical Stage
Programmed by Asian Music Circuit
Swati Natekar - vocals + accompanists + Workshop
Swati is one of the most respected voices in Indian Music in the UK, and is known as the voice of "Nadia" on Nitin Sawhney's Mercury nominated album "Beyond Skin". Daughter & disciple of renowned musicologist Dr. Sushila Pohankar, she has performed previously at WOMAD, Glastonbury, Montreaux Jazz Festival, London Southbank Centre and at other global venues in Europe, Asia , South Africa and the Caribbean Islands. Currently she is promoting her latest World music album 'Destiny Chakra', by performing live with her own band.
'Raga2Fusion' workshop by Swati Natekar
Before Swati's performance begins she will be conducting a workshop. Her band will talk briefly about their experience of working with Indian music before you can have a go at singing with Swati. This will be follwed by a wonderful performance introducing various Indian singing styles like Khayal, Thumree, Tarana, Ghazal, Bhajan etc, which ultimately will be transformed into Fusion.
Taal Vadya Kacheri with Shahbaz Hussain and Friends
Shahbaz has achieved a tremendous amount of recognition at a very young age. He is an extremely versatile Tabla player who holds all the imperative traditional skills as well as the ability to project those skills to more contemporary styles. His solo performances have gained great recognition all over the world.
Visit Shahbaz Hussain online »
Amina Khayyam + 4 dancers + Workshop
Amina trained in London and India with one of Kathak’s finest exponents of Sushmita Ghosh. She has toured extensively both nationally and internationally with several companies including Sonia Sabri, and has worked with reputable dance choreographers such as Kumudini Lakhia. After her performance Amina will be taking a workshop in basic Kathak dancing.
“moved with spell binding intensity and glided with fascinating fluidity in and out of traditional movement vocabulary” -Pulse
Tarun Jasani on sarod + pakhawaj
Tarun Jasani is a brilliant Sarod player based in the UK. He belongs to the Shahjahanpur Gharana of Sarod, and received his instruction in India, from the great Sarod maestro Pandit Buddhadev DasGupta. The Shahjahanpur gharana specializes in the traditional Rabab-style of playing as it arrived centuries ago, from Afghanistan. The principal forte of the style lies in the various intricate and complex plucking patterns, and also the powerful delivery of the strokes.
Kiranpal - santoor + tabla accompanist
Kiranpal has gained respect and admiration for his virtuoso performances in the UK, Europe and beyond. Admired by both audiences and critics, his mastery of the advanced techniques of the instrument, combined with a creative flair and spontaneous imagination, has developed a recognisable individuality in his performances. This has led him to be sought after as a co-leader of ground-breaking cross-cultural projects, whilst continuing to advance the presentation of Indian Classical music to ever widening audience through his solo work.
Kiranpal has released three compact discs with Multione Records _td.
Croydon Mela: Other Stages
Community Stage
This hugely popular stage will showcase Croydon’s finest amateur artists performing dance and other Asian influenced acts in 15 minute slots throughout the day.
Betar Bangla Folk Bandstand
The Baul and Folk music of Bengal was originally sung by the villagers of Bangladesh, but is now popular all over the world with people of all ages. Betar Bangla will host an afternoon of Baul and Folk in the delightful setting of the bandstand. Pull up a hay bale and enjoy traditional and contemporary tunes from Bangladesh.
Croydon Mela: Other Activities
Workshops - ARCC Classical Tent
'Raga2Fusion' singing workshop by Swati Natekar
Before Swati's performance begins she will be conducting a workshop in fusion singing. Her band will talk briefly about their experience of working with Indian music before you can have a go at singing with Swati.
Kathak Dance workshop by Amina Khayyam
Watch one of the world's best Kathak dancers then join Amina as she teaches some basics of Kathak dance with an introduction to one special dance.
Street Theatre
The Whale – The Mariner’s Museum
Inside The ginormous Whale, to the sounds of crashing waves, join the Cap’n in his living museum of deep sea wonders. Curiosities include mermaids’ purses; an arm wrestling octopus; a skeleton with xylophone ribs and bewildering flotsam and jetsam, some of which you can touch and taste!
Visit Circo Rum Ba Ba online »
Durga & Mahisha
Experience the power of Durga as she glides through the festival on her tiger, towering over everyone with her ten arms and forceful tongue accompanied by Mahisha.
Whispers From a Rickshaw
Play a game of chance to create an experience unique to you as you take a ride in the “Whispers” rickshaw. As you spin through the virtual city streets, put on your headphones and immerse yourself in a world where secret pockets hide intriguing objects that contemplate the nature of journeys and destiny.
Classical Chinese music, low-fi electronica, new technology and story telling all intermingle to create a philosophical ride. Metro-boulot-dodo are one of the UK's leading arts organisations and “Whispers From a Rickshaw” is an intimate experience that asks the essential question: Where are you going?
Whispers From a Rickshaw was funded by Igniting Ambition, the European Development Fund and Legacy Trust UK, Arts Council England and the PRS Foundation with additional support from the Cultural Activity Partnership Scheme, Leicester City Council. The project has also been recognised as part of the London 2012 Inspire programme.
Visit Metro Boulot Dodo online »
Kids' Area - Fiesta!
1pm to 6pm. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult
Come along and join the fun as we offer loads of activities managed by the great people from Play Place.
Fiesta Activities
- Flag and bunting making
- Bouncy castle fun
- Draw myself - giant montage of all our faces!
- Journey around the world - giant hand map painting - (it gets messy)
- Carnival mask painting
- Dressing up fun and dance
- Banner design
- Party badges!
- Clay play
- Party games and music
- Board games
- Racket sports and garden games
- Table tennis and pool area
- Paint your cap
For the younger ones…
- Stay and Play - tiny tots area (soft games, books and reading activities)
Play Place are a not for profit Community Interest Company who deliver children’s and young peoples clubs, roadshows and events in Croydon, London and Kent.
Wall of Death World Tour
London Exclusive For 2010 – Wall of death riders in one of the world’s most exciting live action shows! This unique show is an 18ft high cylindrical wall around which performers ride on vintage Indian motorcycles. Spectators view the amazing daredevil stunts from a viewing platform at the top of the wall.
A typical fifteen minute performance includes straight riding, a go-kart, trick and acrobatic riding and the sensational Hell Riders Race, with three riders on the wall at the same time in a high speed race, a breathtaking finale to the show.
Green Village
The Green Village is an interactive community area consisting of council and partner agency stalls and displays all clustered around the village green. Highlights in this years village include a Youth zone, the LV Safety Bus and Culture Corner with Arts and Crafts activities.
Village Green
Come to the Green to see a fantastic programme of youth performance and 'have a go' club activities including bedlam morris dancers, Wild Hunt.
Youth Zone
Create, Participate, Evaluate
What’s going on for young people in Croydon?
The Croydon Youth Council invites you to take part in our interactive youth zone. A series of activities to help you learn about what is on offer for young people in Croydon.
Create your own street art canvas, make your own beats on our drums, be tutored in spoken word and compile your own DJ set. The youth zone is the place to find out more and what’s in store for young people in Croydon.
Have your say and question our professionals, meet with young people who make Croydon a great place to be. Throughout the weekend there will be a celebration of young talent and performances at the Village Green including Dance Stage Studios, Theatre Ambassadors, Elevating Success and Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation and much much more.
Contact: Antonia.Dixey@Croydon.gov.uk
Funfair
Bowling Green
Next to the Green Village and open for the first time at the festival, the bowling green will be offering tours and a chance to buy tea and cakes.
Disc Golf
Croydon Disc Golf Club has its home in Lloyd Park. The sport of Disc Golf is a game played to the rules of Golf but with Frisbees and a metal basket on a pole. The idea is to throw the Frisbee into the basket. Come and visit us to try the sport out. Disc Golf is a sporting activity that can be played by 8-80 year olds... and played together. We will be at the far north east corner of the park.
Visit Croydon Disc Golf online »
Line up subject to change.
