If you’re social, into music or are just looking to try something different on a Saturday night, give a Bhangra jam (a.k.a. “brown jams”) a try.
What’s a bhangra jam?
Basically, it’s a dance party with blaring, pulsing, Punjabi music. My first introduction to bhangra music was at an Indian friend’s wedding years ago – which was typically the only place you could hear these tunes. Originating out of Punjab India, bhangra music was traditionally played during harvest festivals and weddings. As Punjabi populations migrated globally, so too has this music. As South Asian cultures continue to influence Western food, movies (Bollywood is alive and well), fashion and design, bhangra music has also gained more recognition. In the last decade, it has evolved as a popular global sound, with musicians fusing reggae, hip hop and house styles to these heavy drum beats.
Screwing in the Lightbulb…
Founders of Toronto based ‘Luv To Bhang’, Rav Double AA, (DJ/Producer) and Manny Brar (founder of Desi Wear) wanted to make this music more accessible. They also wanted to banish the stigma associated with it. You know what I’m talkin’ about – what bhangraholics jokingly describe as dance moves consisting of “screwing in the lightbulb and windshield wipers”. But bhangra is much more than that if you’ve got music in your soul and just want to dance.
Rav Double AA spinning some sick bhangra. Image courtesy: LuvtoBhang.com
‘Luv To Bhang’ bhangra jams are unlike other brown jams. Double AA is the live DJ spinning tunes, accompanied by the percussion stylings of Paul ‘The Drummer’ Nanuwa, a dhol player or other instrumentation.
With each Luv To Bhang event, attendance grows and increasingly, with the non-Asian crowd. Music is music and good beats are good beats. Experience it for yourself to see how this music transcends culture, geography and race for a bhanging good time!
Been to a bhangra jam before? Tell us about it.
Coming from Greek heritage, going to a Bhangra jam was not in my vocabulary.. but since experiencing the energy, music, and flavour of Desi peeps, I am in love!!
I have attended many Luv2Bhang events and will continue to attend.
Thanks for the great read.
See you at the next one.
L
Great write-up. We are so glad that so many ppl of so many different backgrounds have loved the events! Punjab geographically in India represents such a small part in terms of size and population but what it gives through music, food and so on is amazing! You hear the influence of Indian/Punjabi music in so much mainstream production from producers like Timbaland. We welcome everyone to come out for a night of BHANG’n!
http://www.luvtobhang.com
http://www.doubleaa.com
twitter @doubleaa
Double AA
I attended Bhanging in the Park last summer and it was amazing…I’ve been listening to Bhangra for a couple years now; it’s my favourite kind of music! Another great event is Punjabi Virsa Day at Canada’s Wonderland, where you get to enjoy the dancing as well.
Keep sharing the good beats!