CITY OF BHANGRA FESTIVAL

MAY 28JUNE 6, 2015

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FESTIVAL KICKOFF: TAZA BEATS

Date/Time
Thursday, May 28, 9:00 pm to 3:00 am
Location
LED Bar
967 Granville Street, Vancouver
Admission
TBA
Lets get this party started! City of Bhangra Festival kicks off with big bhangra beats (Taza Beats!)
by hot local DJs at the LED Bar on Granville Street. Produced by VIBC and A-Town Presents.
STUDIO 1 KITCHEN DESIGN PRESENTS FOLK LOK FEATURING SETI X + USTAD LAL
SINGH BHATTI
Date/Time
Location

Friday, May 29, 10:00 pm

John Fluevog Shoes
65 Water Street, Vancouver
Admission
Tickets $20/$25
Purchase @ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/studio-1-kitchen-designpresents-folk-lok-featuring-seti-x-ustad-lal-singh-bhatti-tickets16373143513
Folk Lok, created by SETI X (aka Mandeep Sethi), UK-based recording artist and recipient of
AIAs prestigious Arts Innovation Fund, is an intergenerational, cross-cultural, multimedia
performance that explores human expressions of folk culture and hip-hop through music and film.
Its the perfect catalyst for connecting communities, and were stoked that its brought SETI X and
Ustad Lal Singh Bhatti together with VIBC to perform at John Fluevogs amazing Gastown shoe
emporium. Produced by VIBC; presented by Studio 1 Kitchen Design; sponsored by John
Fluevog Shoes.
HARD ROCK CASINO VANCOUVER PRESENTS EKTA FEATURING SHAZIA MANZOOR
Date/Time
Saturday, May 30, 7:00 pm
Location
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
649 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Admission
Tickets $25$100 & VIP (purchase info TBA)
International recording superstar Shazia Manzoor from Pakistan takes the stage at downtown
Vancouvers legendary Queen E Theatre for VIBCs second-annual EKTA concert, hosted in

solidarity with Punjabi communities from India and Pakistan. Produced by VIBC; presented by
Hard Rock Casino Vancouver.
BHANGRA ON MAIN
Date/Time
Tuesday, June 2, 8:00 pm
Location
Fox Cabaret
2321 Main Street, Vancouver
Admission
Tickets $29/students $15
Purchase @
http://ticketstonight.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=2646
Vancouvers Raju Johal brings his own brand of superstardom to the legendary Fox Cabaret
dont miss it! Co-produced by VIBC and Music on Main.
BHANGRA VILLAGE CONFERENCE
Date/Time
Thursday, June 4, 2:00 to 7:00 pm (time TBC)
Location
SFU Surrey
250, 13450102nd Avenue, Surrey
Admission
No charge; everyone welcome
A one-day conference for local and international artists, educators, community members and
bhangra enthusiasts to connect and share ideas about all aspects of the bhangra movement.
New this year is a public dialogue about South Asian identity and the arts in BC, led by
communications guru Sharad Khare. Presented by VIBC; sponsored by City of Surrey and TD
Engagement Centre.
DOWNTOWN BHANGRA
Date/Time
Friday, June 5, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Saturday, June 6, 12 noon to 10:00 pm
Location
Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza
800 Block Georgia Street, Vancouver
Admission
FREE
What could be better? Two days of bhangra entertainment in the heart of downtown Vancouver:
big beats and electrifying performances for the whole family! On June 5 and 6, join hundreds of
local and international dancers, dozens of musicians, and thousands of attendees at the VAG
plaza. From casual passers-by to hard-core bhangra lovers, everybody LOVES Downtown
Bhangra. Presented by VIBC.
VIBC OFFICIAL AFTERPARTY: BHANGRA + BEYOND FEATURING DJ REKHA
Date/Time
Saturday, June 6, 10:00 pm
Location
Club FIVESIXTY
560 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Admission
Tickets $15/$20 (strictly 19+)
Purchase @ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vibc-official-afterparty- bhangra-andbeyond-featuring-dj-rekha-tickets-16373511614
OR Highlife Records, Zulu Records, Kamal Video Palace
Close out Festival 2015 with a BHANG! Dance the night away with London-born DJ Rekha, DJ
Lady Ra, and Lil India spinning bhangra and electronic beats. Presented by VIBC, A-Town
Presents, and Beats Without Borders.

HEADLINERS (in order of appearance)

SETI X | Studio 1 Kitchen Design Presents Folk Lok, May 29
Global shapeshifter SETI X (aka Mandeep Sethi) utilizes film and music as mediums to create
change, with a specific focus on the fifth element of hip-hop culture: knowledge. Sethi has toured
internationally, sharing the stage with the likes of Afrika Bambaataa, Talib Kweli, RZA, Ziggy
Marley, Karsh Kale, and more. SETI Xs primary focus is to educate youth about the world in
which we live, to resonate ancient culture within them, and to reveal the gods in all of us. This
year, he and brings his multimedia, cross-cultural, intergenerational extravaganza Folk Lok to our
Festivalunmissable!
Ustad Lal Singh Bhatti | Studio 1 Kitchen Design Presents Folk Lok, May 29
Legendary dhol master Ustad Lal Singh Bhatti, who now makes his home in Fremont, CA, has
been making music for more than 43 years, and has toured the world performing for all types of
audiences. A student of Ustad Harbans Lal Jogi, he is also a teacher of the dhol, vocals,
harmonium, beginners tabla, dance, and dholak. Bhangra stars Sukshinder Shinda and Aman
Hayer are both students of Ustad Lal Singh Bhatti.
Shazia Manzoor | Hard Rock Casino Presents EKTA Featuring Shazia Manzoor, May 30
Shazia Manzoor is a singer from Rawalpindi, who now resides in Lahore, Pakistan. She is
beloved in Pakistan, India, and throughout the Punjabi diaspora for her renditions of Punjabi and
Urdu folk songs, as well as Sufi poems. She is known for her songs Aaja Soniya, Mahi Aavega,
Maye Ni Kinnu Akhan, Chann Mere Makkhna, and Dhol Mahia, and for her collaborations with
artists such as Bally Jagpal, DJ Vix, Aman Hayer, and Sukshinder Shinda.
Raju Johal | Bhangra on Main, June 2
It's officialSurrey-born Raju Johal is on his way to becoming Canadas next bhangra superstar!
After releasing his first track, Nachna Pasand, which debuted in 2011 at #1 on World iTunes, the
affable newbie is riding the music wave, and were lucky to have him perform at our Festival this
year. Raju got his start on the dhol at age 3 (with some help from his dad!), and started singing at
6. From there, he went on to learn classical, ghazal, Punjabi folk and Hindi music from his
teacher, Ustad Devinder Singh Hundal Ji, with whom hes been working since 1996. A modern
day crooner, his vast range includes elements of R&B, folk, classical, and electronic beats. Along
with music, Raju has a passion for bhangra and has toured North America, competing alongside
the best of the best. After his vocal abilities garnered him notice on YouTube, Raju began
concentrating more on his music. In 2009, he formed an alliance with local music producer Nick
Chowlia, and began work on lyrics for Almast Desarpuri. Then came Nachna Pasand, and the
rest is history. Cant wait to see what this local boy does next!
Sharad Khare | Bhangra Village Conference, June 4
When it comes to communications, Sharads your guy! His media life includes Q&As with spiritual
leader Deepak Chopra, legendary band Iron Maiden, Life of Pi author Yann Martel, director
Deepa Mehta, boxing champion Jesse James Leija, Canadas fastest swimmer Brent Hayden,
and Canadian stars of screen and stage Russell Peters and Chantal Kreviazuk. Sharad has
produced and hosted videos for Microsoft.com, and his infectious energy, communications skills,
and natural charisma in front of the camera have made him an expert in his field. Sharads clients
range from agencies such as Blast Radius to Frank Holmes and his team at US Global Investors.
Sharad made his directorial debut for Triple Five Soul, and hes also worked as a digital producer
for the Vancouver Art Gallery. Sharad has a Masters in Communications, and his research
focuses on social media legacy and digital identity.

DJ Rekha | VIBC Official Afterparty: Bhangra & Beyond, June 6

DJ Rekha (Rekha Malhotra, b. London 1971) is a NY-based musican, DJ, producer, curator, and
activist, credited with nearly single-handedly spearheading the bhangra scene in North America.
In 1997, she founded Basement Bhangra at SOBs on Varick Street; a once-a-month electrobhangra dance party now known around the world as a club scene essential! Rekhas
collaborators include artists like Wyclef Jean, Panjabi MC, and Bikram Singh, and her latest
album, DJ Rekha Presents Basement Bhangra, pounds out Punjabi folk traditions, dance hall
rhythms from the US, UK, and Jamaica, and DJ techniques that are 100% New York.
Lady Ra | VIBC Official Afterparty: Bhangra & Beyond Featuring DJ Rekha, June 6
Lady Ra emerged in 1996 via CFRU 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario. Freshly trained on antiquated
community radio equipment and with free reign to the extensive music library, each show she
programmed was a revelation! Ethnic flavours quickly emerged as her primary passion, and her
flair for mixing wicked tracks with ambient global sounds brought her many requests to DJ local
parties. After a year in Asia absorbing Indonesian dangdut, Sri Lankan baila, Punjabi bhangra,
and everything in between, she landed (lucky for us!) in Vancouver, where she co-founded the
Beats Without Borders Collective in 2004, hosting and playing alongside such legends as Cheb I
Sabbah, Gaudi, Shantel, Nickodemus, and many more. These days youll find her cooking up
eclectic ethno-electronic mixes in flavours ranging from Balkan and Latin to African and Indian, in
genres from glitch to dancehall to ghetto funkalways served with a big helping of bass.
Lil India | VIBC Official Afterparty: Bhangra & Beyond Featuring DJ Rekha, June 6
Lil India is Vancouver's only South Asian female DJ duo spinning hip hop and rap, bollywood and
bhangra. They DJ their own night called Jaloos @ 303 Columbia, and recently performed at the
PuSh Festival and A-Town's Taza Beats. On June 6, they join forces with DJ Rekha and Lady Ra
for a powerhouse evening of female musical might!

Contact: Anita Lal, General Manager

Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration
gm@vibc.org | 604.825.0223
Many, many thanks to our generous sponsors and funders: BC Arts Council, City of Surrey, City of
Vancouver, Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, Nanak Foods, Province of BC, Thind
Properties, US Consulate; our event presenters and supporters: A-Town Presents, Beats Without Borders,
Dennys Restaurants, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, John Fluevog Shoes, Music on Main, Studio 1 Kitchen
Design, TD Engagement Centre; and our media sponsors: Asian Pacific Post, Darpan Magazine, Global TV,
Joy TV, Omni TV, Punjabi Patrika, Shaw Multicultural Channel, Shaw TV, Swaraj Radio, Vancity Buzz,
VOICE Newspaper.
City of Bhangra Festival is presented annually by the 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.
Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society
#210111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4
www.vibc.org #BhangraLove @vibc facebook.com/vancouverbhangra