Commencing at 11 pm on Saturday, August 14 (Pakistan’s Independence Day) and continuing into the early morning hours of August 15 (India’s Independence Day), UNIFICATION 2010 celebrates 63 years of independence and the voices of talented, socially conscious South Asian/American artists. With performances by DJ Rekha, The Kominas, Hari Kondabolu, Fair and Kind, and others, UNIFICATION 2010 will explore the politics of our motherlands, reveal the experiences of being brown outside of it, and question the tensions between us, while fostering a movement towards a more peaceful, unified South Asia.Proceeds from UNIFICATION 2010 will support South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).
Often credited for introducing bhangra to North American audiences, DJ Rekha is a producer, activist, and musician. Named her one of the most influential South Asians in the United States by Newsweek, DJ Rekha was proclaimed by “one of the ten women of downtown music” by the New York Times Magazine.
The Kominas are a punk rock bank based in Boston, Massachusetts, comprised of four brown sons of South Asian parents. Inspired greatly by Taqwacore, The Kominas released an album in 2008 called Wild Nights in Guantanamo Bay.
According to the Seattle Times, Hari Kondabolu is a “young man reaching for the hand-scalding torch of confrontational comics like Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor.” An accomplished and socially-minded comedian, Hari has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and was featured in the 2007 HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. You can learn more about Hari atwww.harithecomic.com.
Fair & Kind is the dream pop collaboration of siblings Arthi Meera and Anand Subramanian, featuring exquisite vocals, sparkling guitars, and lavish melodies. Their debut album, A Little Past Twilight, was self-released in October 2008.
BROWNSTAR (Pushkar Sharma and Sathya Sridharan) merges high-energy comedy, personal memoir, and science fiction to ignite a dialogue about the South Asian American experience. The spoken-word duo will be premiering their theatrical show, FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF WHITE, at the New York International Fringe Theatre Festival in August 2010. More at: BROWNSTARREVOLUTION.com
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit organization that elevates the voices and perspectives of South Asian individuals and organizations to build a more just and inclusive society in the United States. SAALT is the only national, staffed South Asian organization that advocates around issues affecting South Asian communtiies through a social justice framework. SAALT’s strategies include conducting public policy analysis and advocacy; building partnerships with South Asian organizations and allies; mobilizing communities to take action; and developing leadership for social change.
** For press passes or to schedule interviews with the artists or organizers, contact Amita at amitam@gmail.com
Advanced tickets $20 @ www.joespub.com
Same day tickets $25 @ the door
@ Joe’s Pub
425 Lafayette St
between East 4th St and Astor Place
Co-sponsored by:
Asian American Writers’ Workshop
Indo-American Arts Council
Naan Sense Radio
PakUSonline
SALGA-NYC
