There’s A New Mela In Town! Welcome to Digbeth Mela
A New Mela Has Arrived!
Digbeth Mela Launches in Birmingham: A modern celebration of South-Asian Arts, Music, Food & Culture!
Presented by the people who produced The Eastern Electronic Festival, Holi Rave and We are 2nd Generation at Southbank’s Alchemy Festival (2016), Digbeth Mela is an independent festival that celebrates and unifies the cultural foundations of South Asia’s multi-cultural diverse community: music, film, art and most importantly, the fiercely independent and influential individuals that are the lifeblood of Birmingham and The Black Country’s creative heartbeat!
Digbeth Mela will run on Saturday 12th November and will celebrate cutting- edge films, animation and digital moving image with artists from India, Pakistan and the UK; present new music collaborations; a Mela TV a youth broadcasting digital channel; a Spice Street Food Market, Pop-Up Exhibitions and plenty of Emerging Artists platforms, alongside newly unique produced shows.
Sharnita K Athwal from Shaanti and Artistic Director of Digbeth Mela says: “Digbeth Mela is a very diverse celebration that takes in a number of different mediums and spectacles to create a multi-layered sensory experience. As the Mela grows year-after-year, our aim is to bring you more unique acts, performers, artists and all the little bits and pieces that make a Mela a truly magical experience. Our goal is to present new ideas for the independent future and beyond for our cultural community.”
With new shows throughout the day, get stuck in with a game of Bhangra Bingo, an absolutely bonkers interactive game show launching first at Digbeth Mela. Be prepared for prizes, dancing, and plenty of desi stupidity. As well as, I Am Amitabh Bachchan, an unique hide-and-seek game and Strictly Daytimer, a day-time party in honor of a movement that paved the way 20 years ago for the UKs British Asian music scene.
Also on offer is Dancing Like the Vind Bollywood Dance Lesson, a Mela Club Night with Hip-Hop artists Swami Baracus who’ll be performing his new single “Return of the Dragon” live for the first time as well as fun interactive – activities for all the family, including a Fancy Dress Community Party that takes place on Saturday afternoon.
Digbeth Mela will also introduce the best in British Asian artists, dance, Bhangra, UK Hip-Hop, Bollywood, Folk, Contemporary and Grime with Born and Breed Midlands Artist Platform featuring Layla Tutt, Alisha Yasmin Kabir, Deelite MC and S.Tailor plus, plenty of fun entertainment for the little ones and for all generations to enjoy. Collaborating for the first time, classical trained artist Nona Klara and music producer Raju Mali have been exclusively commissioned to produce The Ghazel Music Experiment, a new music show celebrating traditional Ghazel music with modern impressions.
As well as, Asian Boi Arcade Games Battle! A battle of the games console, Click: Fingers: Hard a showcase of lyrical speakers and young modern poets of our time with 1 Xtra’s finalist Raza Hussain from Beatfreeks and Nafeesa Hamid (TedxBrum guest), Behind The Netra Poetry Interactive Exhibition and Chak De Phatte, a celebration of 56 Years Bhangra Dance and Dhol with Shin from DCS, Ministry of Dhol and special guests.
Digbeth Mela are also extremely proud to be in partnership with Derby University to produce Mela TV, an brand new digital arts and culture channel produced and delivered by young adults from the BA Hons Media and Television Department and Taste and Liquor, who’ll be producing The Spice Street Food Market, a mouth-watering zone showcasing delicious street-food from around the world.
Celebrating the hottest names in dance, film, music and performance the UK’s finest South Asian Mela’s first edition promising an unrivalled breadth, depth and quality of arts programming, offering a spectacular choice of new shows, future star acts and groundbreaking commissioned works championing the West Midlands creative community, we welcome you to Digbeth Mela!
Digbeth Mela, Saturday 12 November 2016
Tickets: Supper Bird Tickets £3 (Now Sold Out), Early Bird Tickets are now on sale £5, £8 Advance Tickets via www.theticketsellers.co.uk , More at the door. Kids under 16 free, but must be accompanied by an adult at all time. I.D will be required at the door.
Time: 2.00pm – 10.00pm
Address: 21 Milk Street. Digbeth. Birmingham. B55TR.West Midlands Information: www.digbethmela.com
