Surrey Fusion Festival, presented by Coast Capital Savings, has announced Punjabi singer Ranjit Bawa as the Sunday night headliner of its 11th annual festival. He will be joined on Sunday, July 22 by Pakistani-Canadian DJ and producer Khanvict and India’s Ricky Kej live in concert.
Ranjit Bawa rose to fame from his single “Jatt Di Akal,” with his debut album Mitti Da Bawa awarded Best World Album at the 2015 Brit Asia Awards. His songs “Ja Ve Mundeya” and “Yaari Chandigarh Waliye” each have over 32 million views on YouTube. Asad Khan, also known professionally as Khanvict, returns to Surrey Fusion Festival for his second year, and will open the stage for Ranjit Bawa. Having arrived as an immigrant in 2001, Khanvict explores his roots through his music, blending elements of classic Bollywood, Sufi and Panjabi music with Bass, Moombahton and Trap.
“Surrey Fusion Festival’s Sunday, July 22 lineup will celebrate the best of the world’s entertainment,” says Mayor Linda Hepner. “We are excited to celebrate the City’s diversity as we welcome another great South Asian headliner, Ranjit Bawa, to the stage, with support from Grammy awards winners, plus international and local performers.”
Sunday evening will see another major performance from world-renowned environmentalist Ricky Kej. He will bring his Shanti Samara mega concert, featuring the Surrey City Orchestra and choir, to the SFU Celebration Stage—a first of its kind for the festival. The performance will feature six international Grammy awardees from India, Canada, USA, Ghana and Vietnam.
“To have someone of Ricky Kej’s calibre, fellow Grammy nominees and the Surrey City Orchestra all perform together at this year’s Fusion Festival makes this an event not to be missed,” says Steve Dooley, Executive Director of SFU’s Surrey campus. “Not only will artists from around the world engage with local artists right here in Surrey, they will also share a message of environmental stewardship that will resonate beyond the music experience."
Visit the Fusion Festival website at www.surreyfusionfestival.ca for more information.