Glastonbury Festival Embraces South Asian Music with New Dedicated Space
Festival-goers Pritesh and Sahar were thrilled to experience Glastonbury’s new South Asian space, Arrivals, which launched on Thursday night with a lineup of South Asian artists taking over the furthest corner of the festival grounds. This new space is being hailed as a “huge step forward” in improving the representation of British Asian music and artists at the iconic festival.
The area, located in the Shangri-La section of the site, featured a mix of electronic, dance, and house music, with some artists incorporating bhangra and Bollywood tracks into their sets. DJ Ritu, a pioneer of the ’90s Asian underground scene, kicked off the festivities on Thursday night, followed by BBC Asian Network DJ Bobby Friction on Friday.
Fans queued eagerly to enter the new space, with many expressing their excitement and support for the initiative. Pritesh, who traveled from Swindon, called it a “historic moment,” while Sahar from Bristol described it as “really emotional and interesting.” The diverse lineup at Glastonbury this year also includes Afrobeats stars, K-Pop bands, and Korean DJs.
The issue of diversity at festivals has been a topic of discussion in recent years, with calls for greater representation of artists from different backgrounds. Glastonbury’s new South Asian space is a significant step towards inclusivity and providing a platform for South Asian creators to showcase their talent.
As the festival continues, artists like Gracie T and Anish Kumar are set to perform at Arrivals, further highlighting the importance of embracing diversity in the music industry. The organizers behind the new space hope that it will pave the way for more representation of South Asian artists at festivals and events in the future.
Overall, Glastonbury’s dedication to showcasing South Asian music and talent is a positive step towards creating a more inclusive and diverse music scene for all festival-goers to enjoy.
