Pop-up performances, music and Bollywood dance will be bringing a flavour of South Asian culture to venues across Newcastle and Gateshead this summer with the return of the popular Masala Festival.
The programme of events will extend to a range of places and spaces over seven days of entertainment which also will include films, workshops and demonstrations alongside a vibrant mix of music, exhibitions and food. Vikas Kumar, director of GemArts which celebrates the rich culture of South Asia, revealed that the festival - which will run from July 17-23 - will involve regional, national and international artists in what he called "a stellar line-up".
Vikas founded Gateshead-based GemArts - which launched the first Masala Festival in 2016 - and received and MBE in 2017 for his services to arts and culture and he has seen the festival grow into an award-winning hit. This year's event will launch with a visit from Sonia Sabri Company to Dance City in Newcastle on July 17 with a performance of Roshni - a Persian word meaning light or brilliance - which is billed as a joyous journey of dance and live music.
