Music
Edinburgh Mela
Leith Links
Rob Adams
FOUR STARS
Sights, sounds, aromas, flavours - the Edinburgh Mela really does appeal to the senses, and if Sunday’s programme latterly was slanting that appeal towards the younger generations, with rap and pop music, the feeling of family involvement and respect for tradition remained strong.
Indeed, the excitement levels generated by rapper Raxstar, whose imminent appearance was signalled by a stampede towards the main stage, Swami and Sahara were heightened by their largely western approaches being enhanced by traditional rhythms, a dhol drummer bringing an enormous lift to Swami’s decks-derived beats in particular.
Percussion was a major component in Canadian sextet Ayrad’s vibrant trans-North African-Andalusian message, with talking drum and rhythmical dancing powering soulful vocals, oboe, violin and guitar, and in the marvellous Bollywood Brass Band where hits from popular films rattled along joyfully to a fabulous dhol, tablas and bass drum clatter.
With music and dance on three stages, competition for attention could be strong but the main event – endorsed by spectator space being at an absolute premium – was the staging of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2015 hit and Mela initiative, Bollywood Love Story. A cast of dozens ramped up an already high brightly coloured costume count in enacting party scenes, back flipping fight incidents (the bride-to-be’s father’s a nasty piece of work until persuaded to recognise realities) and parades that spilled into the auditorium.
The massive ensemble sections especially were a triumph, as the modern day confirmation of such things – massed phone filming at strategic moments – bore out, but this spectacular didn’t spoil the audience’s appetite for dancing as the young performers in the dance tent shortly afterwards enjoyed a similarly enthusiastic reception.
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