The World at your Feet at the Edinburgh Mela

THE WORLD AT YOUR FEET AT THE EDINBURGH MELA 

The 2009 Edinburgh Mela is running in Pilrig Park, Leith,
today and tomorrow (Sat and Sun August 8 and 9) promising a mix of music, dance
and visual arts and theatre performances.

The celebrations began last night (Friday) with Sakhian, an
event traditionally for women only, before the main events today. Pilrig Park
has been transformed into three performance areas: the Big Top and the Garden
Stage for music, theatre and dance and film performances and the Forest
Workshop Tent, which includes a programme of children's activities across
the two days.

Mela director Liam Sinclair said this year's Mela
promises to be a fantastic return to Pilrig Park.

"Once again we have drawn on performances from
cultures from across the world, including India and Pakistan but also Africa,
Nepal and Iran among others. It is clear from this year's programme that
multicultural Scotland holds a wealth of performing talent, which combines well
with the international acts performing this year.

"The Edinburgh Mela is a family event and Forestry
Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage are supporting our dedicated
children's programme this year, while the events long associated with the
Mela, including our ladies night to start the event and the fashion show on
Sunday are still a popular part of the programme."

Culture Minister Michael Russell
said the Edinburgh Mela is a great celebration of Scotland's vibrant culture:

"In the Year of
Homecoming, when we are celebrating the contribution that Scots have made
across the world, we also celebrate and explore Scotland as a culturally
diverse nation. The Edinburgh Mela is a tremendous showcase for performers from
around Scotland and across the globe, many of whom have fused a variety of
cultural influences to create something unique."

Highlights of this year's Edinburgh Mela are:

• Yatra - journeys home (Sat 12.45pm, Sun
  4.15pm) A World Premiere commissioned for Homecoming 2009 that is a
  musical collaboration between Japanese Taiko Drummers, Scottish musicians,
  South Asian musicians, Classical Indian dancers from Dance Ihayami and a
  specially commissioned film involving communities in Glasgow and
  Edinburgh.
• GOL (Sat 1.45pm and 5pm) Edinburgh based band GOL
  premieres ‘Mixed Up'. GOL creates a unique sound by crossing
  musical boundaries between East and West (specifically UK and Iran)
  informed by jazz, world, pop and electronic with singing in Iranian,
  Farsi, Arabic and Scottish.
• Anshul Tomer (Sat 12.30pm) Indian pop Idol quarter
  finalist 2003 is the new voice of Hindi music. He will perform songs from
  his debut album Baawari.
• Jardu (Sat 2pm and 7.15pm) Andrew Elliot draws on
  his eastern and western heritage to present a show combining traditional
  Indian magic with contemporary street theatre. Sword swallowing and snake
  charming feature.
• Panjabi Hit Squad (Sun 8pm). They have been at the
  forefront of British-Asian music since 2001 fusing Bhangra with street
  music.
• Taiko drumming (Sun 12noon) Energetic, physical and
  highly choreographed, taiko drumming hails from Japan but this is a
  workshop for those interested in trying the art for themselves. Aimed at
  children and adults it takes place in the dedicated children's area
  of the Mela.
• Andrew Lum & New Asia, Sat
  and Sun 3.00-4.00pm
  Exciting and innovative cross-over music from Singapore that reflects
  Chinese, South Asian and Western styles.
• Mona Singh, Sat 7.15 -
  8.00pm
  Laying claim to the title ‘Princess of Bhangra', Mona Singh
  has become one of Britain's most sought after young artists in the
  business and enjoys one of the highest profiles of any Bhangra
  personality.
• Imran
  Khan, Sun 7.40-8.10pm

With a huge smash hit under his
belt, the Punjabi pop sensation Imran Khan, is today on the path to a long term
career. The single ‘Ni Nachleh' was released to see how the industry
appreciated Imran Khans style of music.

The popular fashion show returns on Sunday showcasing a
collection of ‘East meets West' couture and will be officially
opened and compered by Miss Pakistan-Scotland 2009, Uzma Ali from Edinburgh. 
DJs from this year's official media partner, BBC Asian Network, will
co-host the Big Top and send out the beats from a dedicated DJ station wagon
parked on site over the weekend.  The Mela starts at 12 noon on both Saturday
and Sunday with events finishing at 9pm both evenings.

Tickets for the Mela are available online from www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk or can be
bought onsite. Saturday and Sunday day passes cost £2 per day which provide
entry to all performances on those days. Children under 12 are free.

For more information please contact Shaheena Abbas on 0131
556 0770 or [email protected]

• The
  Edinburgh Mela Festival was founded in 1995 by members of the city's
  minority ethnic communities, and one of its key objectives was to reflect
  and celebrate Scotland's cultural diversity.
• Yatra Journey Home is supported by the Scottish
  Arts Council National Lottery Fund in celebration of Homecoming 2009. The
  Scottish Arts Council is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which was
  established by Royal Charter in 1994 and is also a Lottery distributor.
  The organisation serves the people of Scotland by fostering arts of
  excellence through investment, development, research and advocacy. Our
  corporate aims are: to support artists to fulfil their creative and
  business potential; to increase participation in the arts; and to place
  the arts, culture and creativity at the heart of learning. We invest £60m
  each year, including £15 million of National Lottery funding. 
• For
  more information about the Edinburgh Mela Festival please visit www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk