Event Spotlight: DESIFEST with Sathish Bala
DESIFEST Music Festival is Canada’s largest celebration of South-Asian urban culture, showcasing some very talented musicians every year! DESIFEST has been hosted at Yonge-Dundas Square (YDS) for the past 13 years and aims to break down barriers, biases, ignorance and cultural beliefs that divide us, through the power of music.
We spoke to Sathish Bala, one of the organizers of DESIFEST from UMA Foundation and found out what it’s like to organize this world-class festival. Check it out!
Q & A
Q: How did you get into events?
A: We have been organizing local and cultural events for many years prior to DESIFEST. The catalyst was South-Asian Heritage month, which happens in May, and we realized there was no large, inclusive South-Asian event. We decided to try something small in 2007 and the rest is history!
Q: What can people expect at your event?
A: You can expect 12 hours of non-stop entertainment and energy! There is something for all ages at the festival, from the popular bouncy castle and ice cream truck, to delicious food, amazing market vendors and sponsor activations.
Q: Why do you host your event at Yonge-Dundas Square?
A: We host DESIFEST at YDS because the Square is in the heart of downtown Toronto, accessible by subway, surrounded by shops, flowing with tourists, and the lights and screens look amazing when the sun goes down! The location also inspires Canadian pride for so many immigrants. To be standing in the heart of the city, celebrating your own culture is a magical moment that we all share together each year.
Q: How has COVID-19 made you see your event differently?
A: Public safety from a COVID-19 perspective is very new to us. It is very serious and as an organization, we need to learn how to best protect our fans and also ensure we can deliver a quality experience.
Q: How would you describe your event and the YDS experience to someone visiting the city for the first time?
A: Our show is a non-stop 12-hour music concert that showcases numerous artists from across the world, giving them a platform to perform their amazing talents. Our event will keep you engaged with a number of vendors and activations all taking place at YDS, which is just steps to amazing shopping, delicious restaurants, underground parking as well as the subway.
Q: What is the funniest/craziest thing that’s ever happened on event day?
A: We have made so many amazing memories over the past 13 years. We once had an artist dive into the crowd! That is something we have never seen at a South-Asian event and all of us were in shock and didn’t know how to react. He was fine in the end. Fans caught him and the show continued!
Q: What is the most challenging thing about producing your event?
A: The most challenging thing about producing DESIFEST is the chance of rain. It is never a guarantee of a beautiful sunny day, but we plan for it as best we can. We are thankful to our fans who have come out to support us, rain or shine!
Q: How can the community support your event as you move forward?
A: We need more conversation on best practices. We can only improve by sharing our ideas and fears and find solutions together.
Q: What is your favourite Toronto event (other than your own, of course)?
A: Manifesto, TIFF and Pride Weekend are all great events!
Q: How can people get involved with your event?
A: If you want to get involved with DESIFEST, reach out via www.desifest.ca, FB: @desifest, IG: @desifestmusic or email us info@desifest.ca.
