As the weekend’s heat made us think of summer, the 12th Indian Summer Festival (ISF), Vancouver’s ‘festival for the curious mind’, is preparing to return to in-person experiences.
From July 7 to July 17, 2022, the carefully curated festival is guided by the theme of ‘Inner / Outer Climates’ with both ticketed and free events, hosted on Granville Island and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.
“The very essence of a festival is to create a place of gathering. We’ve not been able to feed this basic human need for the last two years, although we did try and create a digital campfire through our online events.” says Sirish Rao, Indian Summer Festival’s Co-founder & Artistic Director. “We’re thrilled that we can carefully return to events in person, and that our festival hub on beautiful Granville Island affords us indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy this summer. It couldn’t be more appropriate that our theme this year is Inner / Outer Climates, which reflects our deepest concerns today: our personal health and our planetary health. We have invited a stellar cast of local and global writers, filmmakers, musicians, performers, dancers, artists and healers to address the theme. I believe they will help us dream new ways of living our lives, and there is healing in this process.” says Rao.
The 2022 Indian Summer Festival ticketed event schedule includes:
“The O Show” – Film Screening, Discussion & Dance Party
Friday, July 8, 2022, at 8pm @ Performance Works, 1281 Cartwright Street, Granville Island
“The O Show” documentary looks at the work and life of Orene Askew as a motivational speaker, Squamish Nation Councillor, DJ and inspiration to youth and Queer/Two-Spirit people. The film is followed by a conversation with filmmaker Sharad Kharé and Orene Askew. After an intermission, DJ O Show gets behind the console and the event turns into a summer dance party.
Imaginarium: Parables for a Planet in Crisis, hosted by Sirish Rao and Jarrett Martineau
Saturday, July 9, 2022, 7pm @ Performance Works
Imaginarium is a new conversation format curated and hosted by Sirish Rao and Jarett Martineau, featuring a discussion between some of the world’s most noted writers and thinkers. Naomi Klein, Amitav Ghosh, Robyn Maynard and Leanne Simpson will discuss the personal and political forces that shape our lives and the world, from the global supply chain to colonialism, policing and climate change. Together, they make a vital demand for a different way forward and a poetic call to dream up new ways of ordering earthly life.
The evening also features live musical performances by Juno award-winning oud/guitarist Gordon Grdina and sitar maestro Mohamed Assani.
Modern Biology – with Tarun Nayar
Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 4pm @ Performance Works
Former Delhi 2 Dublin band founder Tarun Nayar’s latest adventures in music have gone viral on social media. In Modern Biology, he explores the bioelectricity of plants and the sound they produce once connected to a synthesizer. This unique outdoor sonic experience on the grassy seaside amphitheatre at Ron Basford Park, with wireless headsets, sees Tarun bringing music-making mushrooms together with sitar player Sharanjeet Singh Mand in a rare musical collaboration of the natural and human world.
OFF CENTRE A Dance Performance by Sujit Vaidya
Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at 6pm @ Performance Works
A stunning and provocative dance performance by noted dancer and choreographer Sujit Vaidya, OFF CENTRE is an exploration of queer identity through dance. The performance is followed by a post-show talkback with dance luminary Lee Su-Feh.
Grammy Award-winning Musician Arooj Aftab in Concert, Co-presented by Indian Summer Festival and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 8pm @ Chan Centre for the Performing Arts @ University of British Columbia, 6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver
Arooj Aftab was recently nominated for Best New Artist and Best Global Music Performance at the 2022 GRAMMY Awards. Winning the prestigious award for Best Global Music Performance for her song Mohabbat, the singer, songwriter and composer made history as the first Pakistani artist to win a Grammy. Vulture Prince’s release has been named to multiple ‘Best albums of 2022’ lists. This is her first appearance in Vancouver and tickets are going fast!
Song of the Breath: an immersion in mindfulness, art and healing with Yogacharini Maitreyi
Thursday, July 14, 2022, at 7pm @ Performance Works, 1281 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
An intimate, meaningful integrative healing session led by Indian Summer Festival’s inaugural ‘Artist as Healer’ Yogacharini Maitreyi. The evening starts with a short film screening Karma: Song of the Breath, and a discussion on the complex art of inner and outer healing.
5×15: The Art of the Wild
Friday, July 15, 2022, at 8pm @ Performance Works
Since 2014, Indian Summer Festival has hosted the only Canadian iteration of the global speakers series, 5×15, with speakers like Eden Robinson, Reza Aslan, Ben Okri, Wade Davis, Pico Iyer and Vivek Shraya. The 2022 edition returns with a stellar lineup of writers, musicians, filmmakers and activists to speak of our complex relationship with the wilderness in our inner and outer worlds. Expect a heady, stimulating evening of mind expanding perspectives.
12th Anniversary Closing Party
Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 8pm @ Performance Works, 1281 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
The 2022 Indian Summer Festival wraps its programming with a star-studded musical finale featuring local and global musical alchemists, audiovisual magicians, and a party to be at and remember.
Indian Summer Festival Free Weekend Programming includes:
ISF Sound System – Free Music Sundays
Sunday, July 10 and July 17, 2022 from 11:30am – 3:30pm @ Granville Island Public Market – Courtyard, 1689 Johnston Street
ISF Sound System brings the sounds of classical and contemporary South Asia to the Granville Island Public Market courtyard over two Sunday afternoons. Featuring established as well as emerging artists, expect to catch the likes of the uplifting duo Glow Motive, the sublime Mohamed Assani Trio, the thumping Surya Brass Band, sitar virtuoso Sharanjeet Singh Mand, tabla maestro Amarjeet Singh and many more. What’s more – it’s free! Just show up, grab some delicious food from the market, and listen to music in what might be one of the most stunning urban locations in the world.
Art Installation by Kimira Reddy:
July 7 -17, 2022 @ Ocean Artworks Pavillion, 1531 Johnston Road, Granville Island
ISF Featured Artist set designer Kimira Reddy’s work will be featured in the Ocean Artworks Pavilion throughout the festival run, turning it into a gathering place reminiscent of rural India.
Indian Summer Festival runs July 7 to 17, 2022 at various Granville Island locations and Chan Centre for Performing Arts @ UBC. For full festival schedules, event details and registrations visit indiansummerfest.ca