Around the World in Eighty Days: Out of the Blue Mela Triumph

OOTB Productions Pulls Off Edinburgh's Biggest Ever Intercultural Festival

An Out of the Blue team was behind the success of the latest Edinburgh Mela. Some 60,000 people cheered on scores of acts from all over the world on September 3 rd and 4 th in Pilrig Park, making it the biggest ever Edinburgh Mela. The event - which is being hailed as Scotland 's best ever Mela - was put together in only 80 days by OOTB's production team.

Highlights of the packed two day bill included Indian pop star Raghav and Rajasthani brass band Kawa. Other big draws were Bhangra pioneers Alaap and dancers from the hit film Bend It Like Beckham. Artists from as far away as Turkey, Bulgaria, Canada, India, Pakistan, Iran and Zimbabwe added to the international feel.

Edinburgh Lord Provost Lesley Hinds comments, "This year's Mela has been the most diverse yet, with performers from all over the world and a really fantastic atmosphere on the site. The visitor figures show how the partnership between the city council, Out of the Blue and the city's cultural communities really can work".

The carnival atmosphere was completed by over 80 stalls selling every thing from Indian delicacies to Bhangra mix tapes while a children's area proved to be a big hit at the family-orientated event. BBC Radio Asian Network also ran a series of workshops as part of a talent drive for radio drama Silver Street .

Out of the Blue Productions chief Dana MacLeod adds, "This year's line-up was fantastic and reflects the international quality of the Edinburgh Mela which is recognised as one of the best multi-cultural festivals in the UK". The Edinburgh Mela was founded in 1995 by members of the city's Asian community and has subsequently grown to celebrate Scotland 's cultural diversity.