This year, the Godiva Festival celebrated its 20th Anniversary – with our London Mela team, we hosted and programmed 7 hours of the best of British Asian live music – a road trip that took us from 16th century middle east with Qawwal from Abi Sampa and her ensemble in her unique style, the sufi mystic element of Islam, to the district of Mianwali with Attahulah Khan Isakehelvi and the heartlands of the Sairaiki region of Pakistan’s Punjab region on the edge of the Grand Trunk Road. Over the boarder to the plains of India’s Punjab for Desi Bhangra, swinging over two continents with a Southall twist with H Dhami. Then around the M25 to Essex with TOWIE’s Jasmin Walia and the sound London clubland, then back around the M25 and up the A1 to Grimsby with pop sensation Zack Knight. Then closer to home with Midlands finest, the mighty award winning Apache Indian and his music academy crew and to finish off with the punk, electro consious sounds of the Asian Dub Foundation – phew! Phenomenal, Physical and full on!
As the country largest free family outdoor festival it was a special privilege to be involved in this special event which launched Coventry’s UK City of Culture 2021.