Indian Summer Festival announces more programming, including Arushi Jain’s music and chef Tushar Tondvalkar’s food
Also on the July 2024 roster, themed PARADOX: griot and hoodoo storyteller Arthur “Rickydoc” Flowers
Arushi Jain. Photo by Zara Saraon
Arthur “Rickydoc” Flowers. Photo by Caleigh Mayer
NEW VOICES IN South Asian Music and griot and hoodoo stories are on tap as the Indian Summer Festival announces more of its programming, July 4 to July 14. With the theme “PARADOX”, the fest takes place on Granville Island, and at venues across the city, including The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and SFU Woodward’s.
The annual opening party, also called PARADOX, hits the Jharokha Garden at Performance Works on July 4, featuring its usual array of delectable food by chef Tushar Tondvalkar, and performances from Shruti Ramani and DJ duo Lil India.
Chef Tushar Tondvalkar
July 10 at Ron Basford Park, the fest welcomes back Arthur “Rickydoc” Flowers, the griot and hoodoo storyteller who draws on West African traditions and the blues. The evening, titled The Last Prayer Bead: Poetry, Story and Song, will also feature Governor General’s Literary Award-winner Cecily Nicholson alongside violinist and vocalist Sejal; writer and poet Hari Alluri paired with Juno award-winning Gordon Grdina on oud; Dayne Ogilvie Prize-winner Jillian Christmas; and a solo performance by Jody Okabe.
New contemporary soundscapes and fast-rising talent feature in a concert on July 11 at Performance Works, copresented with PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. Delhi-born American artist Arushi Jain, who fuses ambient and drone aesthetics with Indian classical music, hits the stage, fresh off a tour with Oneohtrix Point Never. Joining her in the concert in her Canadian debut is Indo-American vocalist Sheherazaad, whose contemporary folk-pop uses both Hindi and Urdu. Opening the night is Piu, a Nanaimo–based vocalist and composer who combines ambient electronics with global rhythms.
ISF2024 has also announced Manjot Kaur as its 2024 feature artist. Bridging mythological narrative and ecological awareness, Kaur’s The Portrait of a Tree in Jharokha has been selected as the feature artwork for the festival.
The fest had already announced it would copresent An Evening with ALOK with the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on July 6.
The rest of the Indian Summer Festival lineup will be announced at the beginning of June, with organizers promising visual and immersive art installations, garden parties, roundtable discussions, and the return of the conversation series Tiffin Talks, as well as an all-day outdoor music stage dubbed SOUNDSYSTEM. 
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