I have been recovering from my hectic weekend at the Artwallah festival in Los Angeles. After four days of South Asian Arts and three straight nights of afterparties, I needed a break. I took a lot of pictures though. Rather than provide a long winded re-cap I thought I’d just flog a few highlights so you can live vicariously.
The Himalayan Project break it down
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Blu Soul with lead singer Shalini Rehil soothe the audience
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Spoken word artist Shailja Patel shows off the goods
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Sarina Jain leads a Masala Bhangra workout (I should have learned when I had the chance).
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Not only was the energy at this festival great but all those artists in such close quarters led to some unique collaborations. Comedian Ravi Patel did his stand-up routine with a couple members of Mission on Mars jamming in the background. Soulful singer Jason Joseph mixed it up with rockers Calcutta. Both short films that played during the evening show, Call Center and Nina Paley’s Dandaka Dharma, got lots of laughs from the audience at the evening show.
I’d love to hear comments from any SM readers that attended the festival.
balle balle
Of course, the one performer who definitely exceeded expectations, very pleasantly at that too I might add, was Ananda Sen. He performed on Saturday and Sunday at The Great Lawn area. Imagine a cross between Jason Mraz’s tastefully nuanced syncopation, and Craig David’s funk-soul sensibilities, with strong vocals to boot, his most salient point. He has great stage persona, and definitely appears unpretentious, and carefully restrained from adorning the “… mellifluous South Asian/Hindustani/Carnatic influence” garb that has been beaten down to a quivering pulp of a cliche. Blu Soul/Sol had a hard time following his act on Sunday afternoon after his amazing cover of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” with Jason Joseph. He would be a triple threat if he had moonwalked.
This sounds like it was a lot of fun. Are there any such events in the cultural backwaters of Boston?
great show…my first time @ artwallah…loved paul varghese’s act, himalayan project’s everyman musings/politic, loved mission:on mars….the food was great…
JC
the venue was great….but i have to say i miss the days of the narayan brothers….:-) where are they now? highlights for me were: shailja patel, paul varghese, jason joseph, the impromptu collaboration between artists after the sat evening show, and the modern dance piece.
I missed the festival last year but I really liked this venue a lot. The little courtyard at 03 festival was cosy but the panorama and open grass really added to the experience. I was somewhat disappointed with the visual arts. The artists were great but I didn’t quite enjoy the “display”. Maybe it’s meant to be away from the gallery setting? I think I enjoy the gallery setting…Duchamp must be restless in his grave… I also liked how the shorts every year (at Artwallah and IFFLA) are getting away from cliche identity-conflict issues and implying there’s MORE to us (about time). I think I saw you there Abhi!
I happened upon your comment regarding the Narayan Brothers. That’s how I think of them too! They were very chill and totally rocked! Those first 2 years of Artwallah were great. I haven’t been recently as it just doesn’t seem the same. Where is that grass roots spirit? Although .. it’s still good that it’s out there, something that’s spreading the South Asian vibe.
I was curious if the back tatoo which says “migritude” was Sarina’s? Also, what does it mean? Or does it mean anything? Just wondering… She’s an awesome performer by the way!! Thank you