The Edinburgh Mela Festival, Scotland’s foremost celebration of cultural diversity through the arts returns to Leith this year, welcoming a lineup of world talent in Scotland’s Year of Homecoming.

Back in the familiar grounds of Pilrig Park, funded and supported by the City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Arts Council and the Scottish Government, the festival runs from August 7 to 9, and will once again feature a mix of live performances, music and multimedia activities, along with a full programme of family events.

Pilrig Park will be transformed with a big top arena and an outdoor stage which will host theatre, music, dance and physical performances while market and food stalls and a dedicated children and family programme will ensure that there is something for everyone.

Speaking at the programme launch today (9 July) Mela Director, Liam Sinclair said this year’s programme built upon the enhanced programme and wider multicultural mix that was established last year. He said:

“This year’s Edinburgh Mela promises a host of new performances. We have an even bigger big top which has increased the scope for performers and audiences. Once again we have acts coming to perform from overseas, but also performers who are UK-based but whose roots lie elsewhere. This year there are also a number of performances and artists that are working cross-culturally, often with exciting and surprising results.

“Among these is Yatra who are back with a performance that builds on their world premiere last year with the addition of a dance element provided by South Asian classical dancers from Dance-Ihayami and a film element by Krish Shrikumar. This performance is supported by the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund in celebration of Homecoming 2009.

“Finally, the Mela will end on Sunday in true Scottish style with a jam session and ceilidh as musicians from a number of groups attending bring the festival to an exciting close”

New for this year is a media partnership with BBC Asian Network which will broadcast live from the site during the Mela weekend. They will be sounding out the beats from their station wagon with a few of their top DJs hosting the Big Top. The station’s regular DJs and producers Punjabi Hit Squad will perform with Punjabi singer Alyssia – described as the Mary J Blige of the Asian music world.

BBC Asian Network Head of Music, Mark Strippel, said:

“BBC Asian Network are proud to be supporting the Edinburgh Mela for the first time this year as part of our ‘Summer of Melas’. We have a very strong commitment to providing a real platform for new Scottish Desi talent and I’m confident that our on-air Mela coverage will strengthen that connection even further.”

Highlights of the programme include:

Sakhian Ladies’ Night – Friday. This women’s only event will feature up and coming Scottish DJs G-town Desi to kick start the event with their infectious desi bhangra beats. The night also includes a bhangra hip hop dance off and a performance by East African Asian bilingual rapper AG Dolla.

The big top will be host to musical piece – New Asia – a Singaporean ensemble with Chinese, South Asian and Western musical influences supported through the National Arts council of Singapore.

The drums of Ghana will be infused with Western dance music in the big top when Kakatsitsi take to the stage while hip shaking belly dancing, samba drumming, stilt walking gods and classical Indian dance show no boundaries on the Garden Stage.

Edinburgh-based band GOL an Eclectic Persian, Jazz, ensemble featuring Iranian-born lead singer Roxana Pope will perform a specially commissioned musical piece, ‘Mixed Up’, which explores the changing face of Iran, 30 years on since the Islamic Revolution.

Outdoor stage performances include Umkathi a dance-theatre production from Zimbabwe, snake charming in Jardu the Magic of India; and hip hop dancing with a twist of Bollywood by Glasgow’s Desi Bravehearts.

Weekend chart toppers include princess of Bhangra, Mona Singh and well-known brothers from the Scottish Bhangra scene Tigerstyle.

Indian Idol 2007 runner up Anshul Tomer will perform over the weekend with his renditions of catchy Bollywood hits and the popular fashion show will return this year taking place on the Sunday promising an Eastern-Western infused catwalk.

The Mela Cricket Cup also takes place on Friday, August 7 in an event organised by the City of Edinburgh Council Culture and Sport and Leith Franklin Team; and the Mela is also supporting the Bollywood Film season at the Filmhouse.

Edinburgh Mela Festival chair, Steve Cardownie, said:

“Community involvement with the Mela has grown year on year and we have continued to receive great support from local communities and businesses alike. The Mela is an event which has something for everyone from families with little children to art and music aficionados. This year’s programme brings together cultures from all over the world and continues to position the Mela as a key Festival in Edinburgh.

“In addition to our Core Public Funders I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters The Forestry Commission, Scottish National Heritage, Forth Neighbourhood Partnership and our sponsors O2 and Lothian Borders Police for their continued efforts and support in helping take the Mela forward this year.”

A £2 site pass per day for Saturday and Sunday allows unlimited access to the site and all performance areas. Children under 12 get in for free. Sakhian Ladies Night is a ticketed event and costs £6.