The City of Bhangra Festival is throwing a backyard party for the entire city this week featuring one of Vancouver’s biggest fusion bands: Delhi 2 Dublin. Presented by the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society (VIBC) in partnership with Zee TV Canada, this all out dance and music celebration is well underway and not over yet, especially with Delhi 2 Dublin set to grace the stage.
Photo by Josli Rockafella
THAT’S RIGHT! Delhi 2 Dublin will be performing right smack downtown on the plaza of the VAG amongst a lineup of impressive artists for Downtown Bhangra. Festivities will begin at 5:00 PM this Friday evening, June 5 and admission is free. Delhi 2 Dublin will perform at 9:00 pm, closing out the night with a BHANG!
Delhi 2 Dublin is Vancouver’s very own Celtic-Punjabi group. Over the years, Delhi 2 Dublin has released eight amazing albums, seizing the power of cultural fusion and becoming one of the most talked about bands in Canada. Band members Tarun Nayar and Sanjay Seran have performed at various VIBC events since the Festival’s inception.
Downtown Bhangra takes place both Friday and Saturday, but you’ll want to be there on Fridayto catch this special appearance from Delhi 2 Dublin. Both days feature extraordinary performances from bhangra groups from all over including DC Metro Punjabi Arts Academy from Washington, DC, Nachde Shokeen Gabroo (NSG) from San Jose, CA, and Shaan Mutiyaaran Di Bhangra Club (SMD) from New York, NY.
In the meantime, don’t forget to join us for Bhangra on Main featuring Raju Johal tomorrow night at Fox Cabaret, produced in partnership with Music on Main!
Details for Bhangra on Main and Downtown Bhangra can be found below. For more information on Delhi 2 Dublin: www.delhi2dublin.com
BHANGRA ON MAIN Featuring Raju Johal
When: Tuesday, June 2. 8:00 PM
Where: Fox Cabaret (2321 Main Street, Vancouver)
Admission: $29/students $15
Tickets: Purchase here
Music on Main and VIBC team up for an evening celebrating the more intimate side of bhangra at East Van’s Fox Cabaret. When Surrey’s own Raju Johal takes the stage, you’ll understand why bhangra is a worldwide phenomenon of music, dance, and community.
ABOUT RAJU JOHAL:
Raju’s vibrant stage presence and passionate love of music are as infectious as the captivating songs he performs. Mixing classical training with influences from a vast range of genres, Raju creates a musical identity that is entirely Canadian and uniquely his own. Don’t miss this all-acoustic set highlighting bhangra’s Punjabi heritage—it’ll be a night to celebrate life, love, and inclusion. Produced by VIBC and Music on Main.
DOWNTOWN BHANGRA
When: Friday, June 5. 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Saturday, June 6. 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza (800 Block Georgia Street, Vancouver)
Admission: FREE
Capping off the Festival by throwing Vancouver the biggest backyard bhangra party of the year: a two-day open-stage party with non-stop bhangra and entertainment in the heart of Downtown Vancouver.
ABOUT THE HEADLINERS:
Shava | Downtown Bhangra, June 5
Shava is five crazy guys from Finland whose music has its roots in the soil of India as well as the concrete jungle of East-Helsinki. Started as a mad idea 2004, their ”Finnjabi” music has since become a truly global phenomenon. Coming from the land of Sauna and Santa Claus, Shava’s live shows combine high-energy stage presence with the kind of crazy humour Finns are known for. The band has toured extensively at home and abroad—they performed here at the City of Bhangra Festival in 2011—and we’re thrilled to have them back again for Downtown Bhangra on June 5!
DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid | Downtown Bhangra, June 5
With a name like Gitanjali (song offering) DJ Anjali was born to play records. Since her Portland debut in 2000, DJ Anjali has been the city’s primary advocate and dance missionary for the many varied electronic sounds of the Desi diaspora. On June 5, DJ Anjali and her partner, The Incredible Kid, perform as a duo at Downtown Bhangra; on June 6, DJ Anjali performs solo at VIBC’s Official Afterparty: Bhangra & Beyond.
Jaz Dhami | Downtown Bhangra, June 6 Trained in Indian classical music, armed with a music technology degree, and tutored by Bollywood superstar Jayshree Shivram—no wonder UK-based Jaz Dhami produces such versatile tracks! Theke-Wali was one of the biggest club songs of 2009, and High Heels (with superstar Honey Singh) earned 32 million views on YouTube in 2012. Dhami’s latest single is Beparwaiyan, with music by Steel Banglez; hear it at Downtown Bhangra on June 6!
For a schedule of events, more information about the headliners, and ticketing details please visit: www.vibc.org
About the City of Bhangra Festival
City of Bhangra Festival is presented annually by Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society (VIBC). Founded in 2004, VIBC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the community we live in by engaging diverse audiences through celebration and the joy of bhangra.