By Rohan Rai, Brampton, ON:
Downtown Brampton is once again set to come alive to the sights and sounds of South Asian culture with Vibrant Brampton on July 22 and 23. Organized by the non-profit group Arts and Culture Initiative of South Asia (ACISA,) the 7th annual Vibrant Brampton presented by TD will bring a fun-filled two-day outdoor festival to Garden Square, Brampton.
The two-day outdoor festival at Garden Square will kick off with ADITI SINGH SHARMA Live-in concert along with other artists including Indigenous arts showcase by award winning Canadian artist David R. Maracle and a series of other artists from different genres promising to make you sway to the diverse music and myriad performances. Aditi will perform her hit numbers along with her band from Mumbai, India. Aditi has several hit Bollywood songs, some of them chartbusters including “Dhoom Machale Dhoom” from the film “Dhoom 3” starring Katrina Kaif and Amir Khan, “Golmaal Again” Filmed on Kareena Kapoor, “Offo” from 2 States featuring Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor, “Veere Di Wedding”, “Total Dhamaal”, “ Befikre” and scores of other Bollywood hits.
The outdoor festival promises to bring an eclectic mix of programming that will include high energy performances by Punjabi Pop Singer from UK– JAZ DHAMI, who has oer 30 singles and 4 Albums and will make the crowd dance and sing to several foot tapping numbers. Some of his hit numbers include “High Heel the Nache” from the film “Ki & Ka” starring Kareena Kapoor & Arjun Kapoor featuring Aditi Singh Sharma and Yo Yo Honey Singh and “Humne Pee Rakhi Hai” with co-singers Neha Kakkar and Ikka Singh from the film “Sanam Re”. His chartbusters “Meh Punjabi Boli Ah”, “Roj Miliye” Theke Wali” and his recent number “Bas” featuring Karan Aujla have hit millions of views.
For Punjabi music lovers there’s another feast for their ears- Canadian Folk Bhangra Artist– GEETA ZAILDAR. best known for his hit tracks “Chitte Suit Te“, “Seeti Maar Ke”, “Billo Nach Nach Ke”, “Sair”, “Heartbeat”, “Ranjhe”, “Nain”, “Underestimate”, “Bukal”, “Thumka“, and many more classics, most of which he penned himself.
“We’re back in person for you!” says co-founder Ricky Bajaj. “You’ll be able to sway and swing to the hit numbers of Aditi, Jaz, and Geeta, eat delicious food and shop. We’ve got Butter Chicken, Biryani, Shawarma, Burritos, Samosas, Gol Gappe, Chaat Papri, Bhelpuri, Clothing, Jewelry, and Handicrafts from local businesses.”
A special feast for the kids is in the offing this year with magic shows, face-painting, and community arts project on both the days. To engage the whole family, the festival offers free hands-on Bollywood & Salsa dance workshops.
An amalgamation of culture and diversity in Ontario, Vibrant Brampton promotes local talent and includes an exciting line-up of budding artists and well-known names in the entertainment industry that appeals to all.
“Vibrant Brampton aims to promote cross-cultural understanding with the hope of bringing a diverse community together in celebration of life, culture, art, and tradition, ” says Arpan Banerjee, co-founder.
Some of this year’s acts from Canadian artists include “Jadoo Entertainment”, Mudra Dance Academy, Shivanjali Dance School, Nachdi Jawani Group, R&B United Band, and Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone and her band of indigenous artists.
Additionally new this year are “In-person” finale rounds of “Vstar Talent Hunt & Mentorship Program for upcoming Canadian Artists” at Cyril Clark Auditorium on July 9 and a classical music & dance concert on July 16 at the Lester B Pearson Theatre.
Stemming from the need and demand for a platform for local Classical Music and Dance artists to showcase their art forms in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was born the idea for Vibrant Classical a couple years back. However, due to the pandemic both #Vstar and Vibrant Classical were held in virtual formats in the past two years and this will be their first time in the form of a live brick & mortar event.
ACISA’s mandate is to promote the diversity of South Asian art forms; break cultural barriers; imbibe the evolving cultural values of Canada; and communicate and share the philosophy of diversity” as quoted by Board Chair, Sandeep Prabhakar.
“All our indoor and outdoor events this year are FREE to the public on first come first served basis,” he adds.
The non-profit group, ACISA also hosts annual Visual Arts of South Asia (V.A.S.A) arts festival –www.vasaartsfestival.ca for visual art lovers and META Arts Fest- www.metaartsfest.ca, a unique modern digital music & media festival catering to the millennials.
HEADLINERS FOR 2022: (source Wikipedia)
About Aditi Singh Sharma
Indian Playback singer, Aditi Singh Sharma who made her debut in Bollywood with the song “Yahi Meri Zindagi” in 2009 has several chartbusters under her belt “Sooraj Dhooba Hain Yaaron” from the film “ROY”, “High Heels Te Nachche” from “KI & KA” and her iconic number “Dhoom Machale Dhoom” filmed on Bollywood Diva Katrina Kaif in the blockbuster “DHOOM 3” starring Amir Khan. The versatile singer has over 30 Bollywood songs to her credit. She has also won several accolades including Album of the year awards for Roy and 2 States. She has also been nominated for several awards including winning the upcoming female vocalist of the year by Mirchi Music Awards.
About Jaz Dhami
Popular British-Indian musician, playback singer, music composer and music producer, Jaz Dhami aka Jaz, is known for his popular albums Pieces Of Me, Ki & Ka, Sanam Re, Roj Miliye and Keep Moving. His Punjabi Number “Addi Uchi” with Yo Yo Honey Singh was such a big hit which was later adopted in the film “Ki & Ka” starring Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. The number was popularly known as “High Heels Te Nache.” He has won Punjabi Music Most Popular song of the year Award in 2013 and Punjabi Music Best Punjab Based Song in a Hindi Film Award in 2017.
About Geeta Zaildar
Geeta Zaildar is an Indian- Canadian singer, Lyricist and actor, born in Punjab, India and then moved to Brampton, Canada. He is a Punjabi Pop Genre singer popular for “Kanian (Chitte Suit Te)”, “Seeti Maar Ke”, “Billo Nach Nach Ke”, “Sair”, “Heartbeat”, “Ranjhe”, “Nain”, “Underestimate”, “Bukal”, “Thumka”, and many more classics. Geeta Zaildar debuted in Punjabi music industry with his first album “Dil Di Rani” which was a hit.
Full Festival Schedule and Key Dates:
July 22- 23 @8 PM EST: Catch exclusive streaming of top 30 upcoming Canadian artists for preliminary round of #Vstar Talent Hunt & Mentorship Program on on Facebook Live (@vibrantbramtonfest)
July 9 @3pm EST: #Vstar Talent Hunt & Mentorship Program. Free live event at Cyril Clark Auditorium
July 16@ 7pm EST: Vibrant Classical Music & Dance Concert. Free at Lester B Pearson Theatre, Brampton
July 22 pm: Watch Aditi Singh Sharma and over 50 other artists perform live at the FREE Outdoor Festival @Garden Square Brampton. Enjoy sumptuous food, explore downtown Brampton and shop local
July 23 pm: Watch Jaz Dhami and Geeta Zaildar and several other Canadian artists perform live at the FREE Outdoor Festival @Garden Square Brampton. Enjoy sumptuous food, ethnic shopping, explore downtown Brampton and support local businesses.
For more information, visit www.vibrantbrampton.ca
