Events

The 13th Annual Indian Summer Festival took place from July 6-16th in Vancouver. In 2023 our distilled, powerful, ten-event lineup spoke to the theme of ‘inter/dependence’’. The idea of the individual human being as a distinct, autonomous, and self-determined unit is a fiction created by Euromodernity. Rather, Ancient Cultures have long understood that we exist in relationship to all. How could we truly understand our/selves in isolation when we are sculpted by near and distant conditions, and we affect all through our actions?

Our 2023 festival theme of inter/dependence was an invitation to our artists to unpack the illusion of separateness, to explore shifts in their own work from fragmentation and isolated individualism to constellations of connectedness. It is with this sentiment in our hearts – the power of the collective and the multivalent interdependence that is essential to societies and ecosystems – that we delivered this festival edition.

Opening Party – Inner / Outer Climates

Performance Works 1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver

"There's not another event like it on the summer calendar in Vancouver" — The Georgia Straight Our legendary art-filled party always signals the start of ISF season, and we’re back in person for the first time in two years! Speaking to our festival theme of Inner / Outer Climates are a roster of musical and […]

By invitation

The O Show

Performance Works 1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver

"Orene has stepped up to the plate to represent her communities, and her brilliance has not gone unnoticed." — Stir Vancouver Orene Askew aka DJ O Show has many identities – a sought after DJ, vibrant motivational speaker, a two-spirited Afro-Indigenous person, a former Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) councilor, and a pillar of Vancouver’s LGBT+ […]

$5 – $45

Imaginarium: Parables for a Planet in Crisis

Performance Works 1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver

Imaginarium is an electric evening of ideas, conversation and music hosted by award-winning Indigenous broadcaster and curator Jarrett Martineau and visionary artistic director Sirish Rao. Together, they invoke a long continuum of storytelling to weave present and past into intimate interviews with some of the world’s most noted writers and thinkers.  For this inaugural edition […]

$10 – $50

Modern Biology

Performance Works 1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver

“…his videos of mushrooms making calming ambient soundscapes, have already racked up more than half a million Tik Tok followers and 25 million views.” - The Guardian, UK Modern Biology is the new project of veteran musician Tarun Nayar. Formally trained in Indian Classical music and educated as a biologist, Modern Biology sees him turn […]

$10 – $50

OFF CENTRE

Performance Works 1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver

"A luscious celebration of all things sensual and erotic, full-throttled defiance of heteronormative clichés, and a loving embrace of self.” — A.A. Cristi, Broadway World Created by award-winning dancer and choreographer Sujit Vaidya, OFF CENTRE is a stunning and provocative dance performance. Two dancers - Sujit Vaidya and Arun Mathai - work in marvellous harmony […]

$5 – $45

Song of the Breath

Performance Works 1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver

Supported by "Maitreyi has deep knowledge of artistic practices as well as traditional healing practices and philosophies.”  — Dr. Arun Garg, MD FRCPS Yogacharini Maitreyi is both a trained artist and a master yoga practitioner with a dedicated following in Vancouver and around the world. In this special event, she invites us to a space […]

$5 – $45

5×15: The Art of the Wild

Performance Works 1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver

"If 5x15’s packed soirees feel like an evening of offline, communal surfing, it’s due to the eclectic menu of speakers."  5×15 is a global speakers series that has hosted some of the world’s most highly regarded thinkers. Quite simply, it features five stellar speakers, speaking for fifteen minutes each on a topic they are deeply […]

$10 – $50

Closing Party feat. Madison McFerrin

Performance Works 1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver

 “This is Soul-capella!” - Questlove (about Madison McFerrin) Our 12th festival edition wraps its indoor programming with a fabulous, celebratory musical finale. Headlining the evening is the transcendental Madison McFerrin, who comes in from Brooklyn. Her critically acclaimed a cappella EP series, Finding Foundations, led Questlove to dub her sound “soul-cappella.” After making her debut […]

$10 – $50

ISF Sound System (July 10 and July 17)

Granville Island Public Market Courtyard 1689 Johnston St, Vancouver

ISF Sound System is our free music stage in the heart of Granville Island’s Public Market courtyard. Over two Sunday afternoons (July 10 and July 17), we bring the sounds of classical and contemporary South Asia to the island. Featuring singer/songwriters, sitar virtuosos, tabla gurus and even a brass band, this is a musical Thali […]

Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors

Shadbolt Theatre (Studio Theatre) 6450 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby

"Mesmerizing, vibrant ... Singh isn't just crossing genres, he's straddling astral planes" - Globe and Mail Long time ISF favourite Ruby Singh - fresh off his 2023 JUNO Nomination now presents Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors. Also featuring multiple ISF alumni: acclaimed soul musician Khari Wendell McClelland, Juno Award winning Gord Grdina oud/guitarist, and […]

Anubhava: A Carnatic Flute Fusion Experience

Waterfront Theatre 1412 Cartwright St, Vancouver

A journey into a mesmerizing melodic and rhythmic world that blends Indian art music and original world-jazz compositions! Breathing magical melodies on the Indian bamboo flute, Flute virtuoso Raman Kalyan is one of the leading flautists in the Carnatic style of music. With his unique style, Kalyan has captivated audiences globally. His most recent CD, […]