London Mela has announced their line up of live music, dance, food and creative arts inspired by the cultures of South Asia.

80,000 people enjoyed last year’s creative triumph and this year the festival is set to be even bigger and better than ever, with nine zones including The Main Stage, The BBC Asian Network New Music Tent, The Community Stage, The Magic Mela Family Area, spectacular Outdoor Arts performances, Tastes of South Asia Food market, Funfair, craft and exhibitors market, plus new for 2014, The Oxfam Global Local Stage.


BBC Asian Network’s Main Stage line-up his year includes; headline act Miss Pooja, the largest selling female bhangra artist in the world and the UK’s award-winning B21 who after a 12 year hiatus return with a new album and perform their new hits. Canadian born Raghav, UK heartthrob just back from Bollywood, Arjun and the ‘Justin Bieber’ of the Pakistan music scene Asim Azhar add to this exciting line up. 


The Asian Network’s Yasser, Nihal, PHS, Kan D Man & Limelight will host the New Music Tent featuring some of the UK’s emerging British Asian talent including; desi-reggae artist Cold Fever, the multi-talented singer-songwriter Salique and female viral sensation Nesdi Jones. 

The London Mela is proud to have commissioned Mahogany, an internationally renowned Carnival arts company set in the heart of Notting Hill to create a 140 people strong Carnival procession. Drawing on the Indian Caribbean influences from Trinidad and Tobago, Utsava - a Sanskrit word meaning celebration will create a processional spectacle that will climax on and around the Main Stage, featuring a musical soundtrack created by popular DJs Punjabi Hit Squad and accompanied by 20 dhol drummers provided by the Dhol Academy.  

The mysteries of the Mughal Empire unfold with Nutkhut’s ‘Navrattan - A Quest for the Lost Gems’, by Simmy Gupta and Mailout’s interactive caravan experience, while Chutney in the Street invites you to dance along to the drum beats of the Indo-Caribbean. 

For the third year, Oxfam have partnered with the London Mela to highlight its work with women in South Asia.

The Oxfam Global Local Stage features performances by: stand-up comedienne Nadia Manzoor, and her one woman show ‘Burq-Off!’, and the versatile and creative musician, Sheema Mukherjee, a formidable collaborator with internationally renowned artists from Imagined Village to Elton John.

Magic Mela’s Youth and Community Stage is inspired by the young people of Hounslow so whether you’re young or young at heart you can get active with dance classes, learn circus skills or marvel at the talents of traditional and contemporary young performers.

There will be an abundance of culinary delights to whet your appetite at the South Asian Food Market and fun fair to make this free and universally loved event one for all the family.

The London Mela is produced by Ealing and Hounslow Councils, and supported by the Mayor of London and Arts Council England.  Other partners include BBC Asian Network and Oxfam

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said,  'I am delighted to support the London Mela, which is one of the city's most colourful and exuberant events. It is a highlight of the summer, which draws people to the lovely Gunnersbury Park from across the capital and beyond.

"This year promises another fantastic line up of artists and performers from around the world, delicious food and plenty for the kids to enjoy. If you are looking for an upbeat end to another exciting summer in the capital, head to the London Mela.'

Leader of Ealing Council, Councillor Julian Bell: ‘We are proud to co-host this fantastic event again.

"The Mela is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to come together and celebrate the best of South Asian arts and culture. Set in one of our most historic parks the Mela combines English Heritage with the borough’s cultural bond with Asian communities across the world.’

Ajay Chhabra, Artistic Director: ‘We bring everything from the weird and the wonderful, from rock stars to Mughal Emperors, all to the suburbs at this year’s London Mela. Featuring an international premiere with our headliner, Miss Pooja, one of the biggest stars in the world of Bhangra, to the London premiere of Nutkhut's "Navrattan" by Simmy Gupta.

"This year’s event is bigger and better than ever before! We have a growing force of young volunteers who bring their own special brand of Mela humour to the event and we've tied in Oxfam with our new and experimental music stage.

"The event finishes with "Utsava" - our brand new Mela Carnival commission which snakes its way towards the main stage for an unforgettable finale. I'm proud of the way we continue to be the leading force in the transformation of Mela across Europe by celebrating and presenting the best of the South Asian global diaspora.’

Cllr Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council: ‘I am immensely proud to welcome tens of thousands of visitors to the borough every year for the London Mela. Gunnersbury Park is the perfect setting for Europe's largest outdoor South Asian festival.

"We will soon begin plans to regenerate the park which will create an even better outdoor space for visitors to come back and enjoy time and time again.
 
"The South Asian community has made a massive contribution, not just to Hounslow, but across London, and the London Mela is the perfect opportunity for people from all different communities to come together and celebrate our rich cultural diversity."

Kalyani Ghandi-Rhodes, Oxfam:  ‘Oxfam supports the London Mela because we want to work closely with South Asian communities to celebrate success and tackle social issues in their countries of origin: countries where Oxfam has a long history of work. The London Mela is a wonderful platform to engage with such large and diverse audiences in a dynamic and creative manner.

This year, we are particularly raising awareness and support for our work with women in South Asia: tackling the ever increasing issues of violence and inequality these women face is critical if we are to alleviate poverty and increase opportunity for generations of women, children and their communities.’

DETAILS
Event:  London Mela 2014 
Venue: Gunnersbury Park, Ealing, London W3 
Date: Sunday 31 August 2014 
Time: 1pm – 9.00pm 
Entry: FREE – ALL WELCOME 
Nearest Tube: Acton Town