24th April 2009           Evolution Takes A New Turn…

Launch of The Southall Story at the Dominion Centre.

The Southall Story celebrates the achievements over the last thirty years, of an inspired community. This is about People, Heritage and Arts.

Speakers include: Gurinder Chadha film director, Pragna Patel Southall Black Sisters, Kuljit Bhamra The Southall Story, Dalawar Chaudhry TKC, K C Mohan Progressive Writers Association.

Live performance by Vasda Punjab Bhangra Dancers, Kiranpal Singh, Rani…

Admission by invitation only.

9th May 2009           The Southall Story at “Raga Mela”

Wednesday 6 May 2009 Royal Festival Hall

Featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra & Bollywood playback singer Kavita Krishnamurti
Robert Ziegler conductor
Kuljit Bhamra curator

Indian ragas are beautiful and moving, beguiling to the ear and exciting to the eye. Each raga scale relates to a particular mood and time of day. Long, lyrical melodies, improvisatory flurries and complex rhythms are performed by virtuosi, who learn compositions that are passed down from generation to generation.

Curated by tabla player and bhangra pioneer Kuljit Bhamra, Raga Mela celebrates this rich and ancient tradition by introducing it to the world of western classical music, exploring how composers and orchestral musicians can use ragas to create a brand new, dynamic palette of sounds that will appeal to lovers of western and Indian music alike.

Raga Mela will be a fun day out all round, with Bollywood film Devdas screening from 2pm, exhibitions and bookstalls in Royal Festival Hall Ballroom and poetry readings by Southall Progressive Writers Association and Caroline Bird. After the concert at 10pm Kuch Kuch will present a Bollywood Club Night in the foyer starring DJ Ritu.

These Ballroom events are free entry.

The Raga Mela concert starts in the concert hall at 7.30pm.
Tickets £24/£20/£16/£12
To book call 0871 663 2500
Or visit  Southbank Centre

17 June 2009             Music and Life

At the British Library, The Southall Story brings to the public an event entitled ‘Music and Life’ between 6.30 and 9.00

The London community of Southall has made a phenomenal but under acknowledged contribution to UK music, arts and politics. By the mid 1970s its record shops became not only source of a fabulous range of South Asian music but also key social gathering places. The riots of 1979 released a new freedom and confidence among young Brit Asians and encouraged the flowering of Bhangra: a musical fusion that spread from the corner shops to massive international popularity. A screening of For the Record: the social life of Indian vinyl in Southall (Dir, Kuldip Powar 2008) is followed by an insightful and inspiring celebrity discussion chaired by composer/producer Kuljit Bhamra, exploring the story of Southall through its remarkable musical history. Plus a foyer exhibition of photographs, Indian musical instruments and bookstalls.

November 2009            Festival

In November 2009, The Southall Story has been invited by the South Bank Centre to work with them to create a three day mini festival that includes music, comedy and poetry. We will announce more details as the details become clearer.