Vancouver’s Horsepowar, and other highlights of this year’s Bhangra Fest

Jasleen Powar, aka Horsepowar, is one of the performers at this year's City of Bhangra Festival.

Jasleen Powar, aka Horsepowar, is one of the performers at this year’s City of Bhangra Festival.

Every year, the City of Bhangra Festival brings a colourful, joyous celebration of Indian music and culture to Vancouver and Surrey.

This year is no exception as the festival welcomes out-of-town headliners Jasmine Sandlas and dhol player Malinder Tooray, aka MTOORAY, as well as homegrown talent like Horsepowar (rapper Jasleen Powar, and poster girl for the fest) to the week-long (June 11-18) event. See some highlights, below.

Kickoff Party: Crash An Indian Wedding (Sat June 11, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., $25/30 at door, Club 560, 560 Seymour St., Vancouver). Enjoy a makeshift Indian wedding with bhangra hits from local DJ Khanvict, aka Asad Khan, the West Coast’s top South Asian/fusion wedding DJ.

Where Not to Do Bhangra (Sun June 12, 7-10 p.m., $20/25, Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway, Vancouver). Burlesque, bhangra and sketch comedy combine in this adults-only variety show. Performers include April O’Peel, Sparkle Plenty, Vixon Von Flex, Cherry on Top, Scarlet Lux, Socratease (Munish Sharma) and comedy troupe I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Chicken.

Bhangra on Main (Tues June 14, 8-9:30 p.m., $15/29 in advance, Fox Cabaret, 2321 Main St., Vancouver). An all-acoustic evening featuring renowned Punjabi musician and singer Vijay Kumar Yamla and narration by Vancouver’s Mo Dhaliwal reveals a more intimate side of bhangra.

Vijay Kumar Yamla performs at Bhangra on Main.

Vijay Kumar Yamla performs at Bhangra on Main.

Downtown Bhangra (Fri June 17, 5-10 p.m. & Sat June 18, 4-10 p.m., FREE, Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza) – Freak out at Downtown Bhangra, a free two-day open-stage nonstop bhangra party in downtown Vancouver suitable for the whole family. Headliners include Jasmine Sandlas, a singer/songwriter from India who specializes in R&B and Bollywood, to Hindustani classical music, and Punjabi rap. Other performers include Rup Sidhu (Canada), an interdisciplinary artist, musician and composer.

Jasmine Sandlas is among the performers at this year's Bhangra in the City Festival.

Jasmine Sandlas is among the performers at this year’s Bhangra in the City Festival.

VIBC Official Afterparty (Sat June 18, 10pm, $25/30, Club 560, Vancouver (19+) DJ spin the latest and greatest bhangra and urban beats. Featuring DJ KSR, one of the best known bhangra DJs out of North America, and Khanvict.

For more info visit the website of presenter Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society.

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