More acts have been revealed for Coventry’s hugely popular Godiva Festival, who will offer a global flavour to Sunday afternoon’s action.
Coventry City of Culture Trust has announced its programme for the Rhythm Tent on Sunday, 7 July, entitled Destination Desi.
It will be a celebration of the wide spectrum of music inspired, created and adopted by the British Asian communities and beyond. From Bollywood to Bhangra, from Qawwali to Reggae and from Grime and Hip Hop to Folk-Electronica.
UK Desi is the collective name for British Asian communities whose heritage hails from the Indian sub-continent and the scene has created a unique fusion culture of art, fashion, food and, above all, music, which Coventry will celebrate at the festival.
Award-winning headliners Afro Celt Sound System, who harmoniously combine folk traditions from Europe and Africa via Asia and beyond with an irrepressible energy, will bring Destination Desi to a glorious finale with their captivating live performance, for which they have won extensive plaudits, including the accolade for Best Group at the 2017 Songlines Music Award.
The penultimate artist is the one-man production powerhouse that is Steel Banglez, who is behind the new wave of grime-influenced UK Hip Hop.
They will be preceded by the Great British Desi Collaboration, bringing together a whole host of British-Asian musical talent including F1rstman, Raxstar, Juggy D, Mumzy Stranger and H-Dhami, who will form part of the programme for the afternoon.
Their styles and influences range from H-Dhami, a hugely popular British Bhangra act, to rapper and MC, Raxstar, who draws influences from Bollywood through to R&B.
Veteran urban desi originator, Juggy D, picked up best act at the 2006 UK Asian Music Awards and has appeared on crossover singles with the likes of Madonna, Ricky Martin, Mary J. Blige and Craig David.
Mumzy Stranger is a British-Bangladeshi MC, singer and songwriter who topped the UK Asian Singles chart with a host of hits such as ‘One More Dance’ and ‘Fly With Me’.
And F1rstman was born in Pakistan before moving to The Netherlands when he was only three-years-old and it was his tune, ‘Dance’, that brought the collaborators together.
Other acts to feature on the Rhythm Tent stage on Sunday from 12.15pm include Chand Ali Khan, Amanjot Sangha, Hype & Fever, Harris J and Sonna Rele.
Coventry-born performer Reece Bahia – a star of the West End hit musical ‘Thriller Live’ – will play the Main Stage on Sunday at 1.55pm.
Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director at Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “Coventry’s Godiva Festival holds a special place in the calendar for citizens from across our city. It also attracts visitors from all over the country for a joyful celebration of music and culture.
“We are once again delighted to be working with Coventry City Council to programme a wide range of world and pop music artists in the Rhythm Tent and for the main stage on the Sunday of the festival. It’s always our aim to widen the offer of the festival and encourage more of our communities to come and enjoy this great weekend in the War Memorial Park.
“This year, we are bringing a real global feel to the festival with a host of incredible acts representing the sounds of the Asian sub-continent including a wide range of incredible male and female artists. There will be something for everyone so bring your dancing shoes and get ready to party!”
Coventry City of Culture Trust’s programming adds to an already amazing line-up for this year’s festival, which includes Levellers, Reef, Dodgy, The Twang, Busted and Feeder, as well as a host of other acts and additional attractions across the War Memorial Park.
The festival falls in Music Month, a celebration of Coventry’s music scene, and tickets are available to buy in advance at www.godivafestival.com/tickets
Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council and Cabinet Member for Events, said: “I’m very happy to see that the Coventry City of Culture Trust’s programming adds to Godiva Festival’s already diverse line-up. Part of what makes the festival so special is that it’s a celebration of all types of music.
“We encourage people to buy their tickets early, so they can beat the queues and guarantee entry. It should be a great weekend, I’m looking forward to it.”
