Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration: City of Bhangra Festival

THE Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration officially launched its City of Bhangra Festival 2015 on April 1.

Every spring, VIBC unites hundreds of local and international artists with audiences of all ages for a 10-day all-out dance party and music-fest in the heart of two cities—Surrey and Vancouver. This year’s 11th annual festival takes place May 28 to June 6.

From highland to hoop dancing, from hip-hop to dance hall, from Balkan, Brazilian, Jewish, and Flamenco teams to multimedia mashups by international recording stars, the festival celebrates the joy of shared experience by connecting cultural communities worldwide through the vibrancy of bhangra music, dance, and song.

City of Bhangra Festival 2015 brings back a few crowd-pleasers from last year: Bhangra on Main (June 2 at the Fox Cabaret, with Surrey’s own star vocalist Raju Johal), Bhangra Village Conference (June 4 at SFU Surrey, with a public dialogue led by communications guru Sharad Khare), and the ever-popular Downtown Bhangra, featuring two days of free live performances by dozens of outstanding local and international bhangra teams and performers outside the Vancouver Art Gallery (June 5 and 6).

But they are also introducing some hot new events this year, guaranteed to get you on your feet. On May 28, the Festival kicks off with Taza Beats (big bhangra beats by hot local DJs at the LED Bar on Granville Street), followed by Folk Lok on May 29, featuring the fabulous SETI X and Ustad Lal Singh Bhatti at John Fluevog’s Gastown shoe emporium. On May 30, Pakistani superstar Shazia Manzoor, presented by Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, performs live at EKTA at the QE Theatre, and on June 6, NY-based DJ Rekha headlines Bhangra and Beyond, the Festival’s official afterparty at Club FIVESIXTY in downtown Vancouver.

See http://www.vibc.org/city_of_bhangra for event, performer, and ticketing details (note: schedule subject to change; additional performers and sponsors TBA). And for regular updates, follow on facebook and @vibc, and let your bhangra spirit shine at #BhangraLove!