Reading

Reading’s history has been – as with Slough, Maidenhead and the other towns along Thames  largely English in character and outlook. But each new decade has brought in citizens from the overflowing London conurbation. Some have have laboured for years to make the money to set up a business here. Others have studied hard for a career in the twenty first century businesses that Reading has courted. Two generations of Punjabis have come here, living and working, or just studying and shopping. Reading has strong links with Bhangra dance. The 4×4 Bhangra Dancers and Youth Association partner with Reading Borough Council and the Reading Indian Community Association. Dance and dhol lessons are run at local Community Centres like Norris Road. Since 2002 the Dhoom Dhamaka festival has brought in the best in Bhangra and other Indian arts. In 2007 the BBC Blast featured a Bhangra dance workshop and Bollywood and Bhangra performances in local shopping centres. Slough is the UK’s most ethnically diverse locality, outside of London. With ready work available in the famous Trading Estate, and sited close to Heathrow Airport, Chalvey was an attractive first destination in the UK for people from across the Commonwealth. With the highest percentage of Sikhs anywhere in the UK, Bhangra was being heard in the streets for years before it was brought to the stage by promoters in the late 1980s. The Calibar Roadshow team – Harvey and Avtar – ran clubs and daytimers across the Thames Valley, including at the famous Regals in Uxbridge. Local musician Raj Ghattaoraya is based in Slough and Reading but has toured North America and South East Asia playing Bhangra to crowds of ten thousand every night. It started for Raj when Bhangra dance team Chardha Suraj approached him to work with their singer, Babbu. Finding a common bond, they formed Paaras. As a six piece they played charity gigs at venues across Berkshire, including at the Reading Town Hall. Albums such as 100% Bhangra to the Max and Extra Hot – 06 followed. After their world tour and subsequent split in 1998, Raj continued with Bhangra, playing with heavyweights Alaap and Heera, and exploring the boundaries of Bhangra music and sound. Comments (0) Write comment Name Comment Add Comment

 

< Prev		Next >