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South Asia to shine at SAMA festival

29/ 7/2008

FROM the best of Bollywood to the cream of classical, there’ll be a cultural feast from the east at one of the UK’s biggest South Asian music and arts festival.

SAMA (South Asian Music and Arts) has turned up the heat, bringing the hottest acts to handpicked venues across Newcastle and Gateshead in October.

Headliners include Radio 1s Bobby Friction who will be hitting the toon with the Nitin Sawhney Sound System, Bollywood star Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and renowned Bangladeshi folk singer Habib.

There will also be performances in Newcastle centre from the Rajasthani folk musicians who have teamed up with the Northumberland folk musicians to offer an east meets west folk band.

The festival, which is now in its second year, will run from 6-10 October and the bill includes entertainment from all right across the South Asian spectrum. For example, it’s the only festival in the UK where you’ll see Angika, a contemporary British Indian dance company, on the same bill as more mainstream acts including Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Signature.

SAMA is part of EAST’08, a world-class celebration of contemporary Asian culture in NewcastleGateshead, managed by culture10 at NewcastleGateshead Initiative. The festival is a collaborative initiative organized by GemArts, Kalapremi and Pakistan Cultural Society, three major arts development organisations profiling the very best of South Asian Arts in the North East.

Director of SAMA, Vikas Kumar says: "This is a great feat for the north east and I’m ecstatic to be able to confirm so many outstanding, world class acts as part of the SAMA festival.

"I’m from the north east and love to see the mix that South Asian culture can bring to the already lively music and arts scene. Some of these acts are internationally renowned among both South Asian and arts communities and I can’t wait to see them in action."

Tuk-tuks and rickshaws will add to the hustle and bustle of a traditional bazaar at the grand finale of the festival on NewcastleGateshead quayside. The finale aims to re-create the colour, vibrancy and fun of a South Asian carnival with a bazaar selling traditional food, art and clothing alongside street theatre, Indian head massage and live performances.

And film and literature have not been forgotten: writers at SAMA will launch at The Sage Gateshead on October 10, exploring the contribution of South Asian writers to world literature, including appearances by literary heavyweights including Leela Gandhi, Imtiaz Dharker, Hardeep Singh Kohli and editor Simon Prosser. Meanwhile Film at SAMA will screen cinematic offerings providing insight into cultures from Tibet to Bhutan.

Stella Hall, creative director for NewcastleGateshead Initiative, added: "We are delighted to support SAMA, a welcome return to our world class festivals and events programme this year, as we look east and celebrate contemporary Asian culture.

"We hope as many people as possible will sample the wide range of events on offer, particularly the fantastic finale which will bring a South Asian carnival atmosphere to NewcastleGateshead quaysides."

For more information visit www.samafestival.org.