DAN NAINAN - HOSTDan Nainan got his start by taking a comedy class to get over the nervousness of speaking on stage in his job as a demo engineer with Intel Corporation. After leaving Intel to pursue comedy full time, Dan has toured with Robert Schimmel and Russell Peters. Dan has appeared on network television including Last Comic Standing as well as in feature films and radio and television commercials.
SUKHBIRSukhbir is often referred to as the Prince of Bhangra. Sukhbir's music is a unique fusion of traditional Bhangra with rap, techno, reggae and has strong African influences. The juxtaposition of these musical styles is enhanced by Sukhbir's use of original Bhangra instruments like the dhol and dholak. He is known to have revolutionized the way Indian music videos are shot and is known to have created his own unique style!
RDB & NINDY KAURKuly, Manj and Surj are three brothers born in the UK. Drawing on their cultural sikh heritage and fusing it with different street genres of music, they constructed the RDB sound. The RDB (Rhythm Dhol and Bass) brothers are pioneers in their field. Producers, musicians and singers, these siblings are truly amazing live entertainers. They have performed alongside the biggest names in Bollywood ; Akshay Kumar, Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai to the biggest names in the west, Snoop Dogg, Public Enemy etc.
It was in 2004 was when Nindy Kaur made her stage debut as she toured the United States with Shezad Roy & Sukhbir. Nindy recently recorded two songs for Aftab Shivadasani's Aloo Chaat, in which RDB and herself are also in the music video!
MITCH HYAREMitch is recognized world wide as the 2001 World Dhol Champion. His self developed skills and variations of blending unique Eastern style patterns with Western has made him a world icon and pioneer in the way the Dhol is played today. Mitch has also take his talent into the Latin, Reggae and Afghan markets; fusing his style of Bhangra music into these genres while still remaining a strong force in the Indian community. He is the first India percussionist featured in the interational Hip Hop magazine publication, Vibe. He has also been featured on major Asian broadcasts ranging from the Bollywood Movie Awards and Zee TV specials to local American programming. ( Mitch on Twitter )
JESS TOORAYHailing from Southern California, Jess is the founder of the world famous Dholnation group. Jess accentuates the rhythm of any song, whether it's a hip-hop or bhangra track, with the beat of his dhol. Jess recently performed with two-time Oscar winner A. R. Rahman as well as performed in the hit film Singh is King.
Dj Masti & Dj Ladla
Dj Masti is North Americas premiere Dj & Entertainment Company. We have been creating memories worldwide for past 15 years. Dj Masti offers intelligent sound and lighting $ M.C’s, wide selection of Music. Our State of the art equipment along with our unmatched selection of music-with unequaled sense of timing for playing and right thing at the right time, has earned us numerous Awards among the top DJ’s in North America. Dj Masti have been at Six Flags (Midsummer Masala) from the first year. For more info www.djmasti.com.
artists :: schedule :: about :: history :: food :: park policies :: directions
Afternoon performances
2:00 – 3:00 Dance performances by local dance studios of the Tri-State area
3:00 – 3:30 Break
3:30 – 4:30 Dance performances by local dance studios of the Tri-State area
Evening Concert
6:00 Show host – Dan Nainan. Showcase by DJ Masti and other DJs leading upto main Concert featuring RDB, Nindy Kaur, Sukhbir, Mitch and Jess.
artists :: schedule :: about :: history :: food :: park policies :: directions
Midsummer Masala is back! Come join us as we celebrate our seventh year at Six Flags Great Adventure, on Saturday July 25, 2009. Midsummer Masala brings the essence of India to an all-American venue combining the best of the East and the West. Now for the first time Midsummer Masala also comes to DC.
Six Flags Great Adventure, the world’s largest regional theme park, is a family entertainment theme park filled with exciting roller coaster rides, fabulous shows and great attractions. This year, Six Flags is pleased to announce their fourth fun-tastic children’s themed area, Wiggle’s World! This new area, designed for 2-6 year olds is inspired by The Wiggles, the Aussie pop band that’s rocking kindergarteners worldwide! In addition the park features Kinda Ka, the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster and El Toro, an enormous wooden roller coaster which incorporates the most daring features of the world’s best wooden roller coasters combined with the smooth speed of a steel coaster. Added to this, the Midsummer Masala festival will make the day a day like none other.
An astounding success for the past six years, Midsummer Masala, and the mascot, Mirchi, return this year for an infusion of South Asian culture at Six Flags, complete with food, music, and entertainment. The park is open from 10 am to 11 pm and the entertainment will begin late afternoon continuing until the park closes.
Entertainment plans include afternoon dance performances at the Festival Stage by local dance schools and a DeeJay showcase featuring popular local DJ’s. Due to the overwhelming success of past events, this year the evening line-up of music concerts by well-known artists from India and the UK, will move over to the North Star Arena. In the past six years, Midsummer Masala has featured stunning line-ups of concert artists that have included Malkit Singh, Gunjan, JOSH, Juggy D, Veronica, RDB, Sukhbir, Sivamani, Stereo Nation, Apache Indian, Anamika, Tina Sugandh, Josh, Suneeta Rao, and Bikram Singh.
Visitors to the park can buy discounted tickets for the event – these tickets cost less than regular admission, but come packed with all that the park and safari have to offer, plus all the entertainment lined up for that day is FREE. Additionally, Midsummer Masala is the only day when visitors get to savor the various cuisines of South Asia. Our last event drew a crowd of over 8,000 visitors, and this year Midsummer Masala expects to draw about 10,000 additional visitors to the approximately 25,000 people already at the park during the course of the day.
Midsummer Masala has drawn extensive media coverage, with two television shows creating their hour-long, weekly program at the venue. Sponsors from previous years included Sony Entertainment Television Asia, Tilda, Incredible India, New York Life, Western Union, Dish Network, ZEE TV, Air India, and Valucom. This year, extensive sponsorship interest is anticipated due to the event’s growing popularity.
*Midsummer Masala is collaboration between TAG ADS and Masala Communications, Inc.
artists :: schedule :: about :: history :: food :: park policies :: directions
Midsummer Masala started in the summer of 2002 as part of Six Flags' International Festivals. Due to the overwhelming success of the event, Midsummer Masala is the only festival that has continued every year.
The first year featured booths which offered Indian merchandise and food. In the afternoon there were dance performances by local dance studios and fashion shows featuring the latest desi styles on the Festival Stage. The evening featured a fantastic lineup of DJs Suhil, Ladla, and Masti, and musical peroformances by Alms for Shanti and Sukhbir accompanied by the world famous dhol player, Mitch Hyare.
In 2003, Midsummer Masala was expanded to a two-day event. The festival, once again, featured booths with Indian merchandise and food and a daytime program featuring local dance studios, fashion shows, and a DJ showcase featuring DJs Suhil, Ladla, and Masti on the Festival Stage. For the evening performance, the event moved to the North Star Arena. The first night featured musical performances Siva Mani, Stereo Nation, and Mantra, and the second evening featured Alms for Shanti, Anamika, and Apache Indian.
2004 marked the return to the Festival Stage. The food booths returned, treating guests to fine Indian cuisine. During the afternoon there were dance performances and a DJ Showcase. Last years evening line-up featured Tina Sughan (a Disney artist), Josh, Suneeta Rao (India's Pari), and Bikram Singh.
In 2005, DJ Masti, DJ Suhel, and DJ Ladla, R.U.D.E. (Rutgers University Dhol Effect) set the stage, followed by the production and entertainment bhangra group, RDB (Rhythm Dhol Bass). Headlining the evening will be the hit Punjabi singer Juggy D and R&B sensation Veronica.
For 2006, the afternoon dance performances and DJ Showcase by DJ Masti, DJ Rekha, and DJ Suhel were held at the Festival Stage Arena. The evening performance at the Northern Star Arena featured Gunjan, JOSH, Bikram Singh, and Malkit Singh.
2007 was hosted by Sarina Jain and featured a multitude of artists from DJ Masti and DJ Rekha to the well-known Indian rock band Indian Ocean to RDB and Mitch Hyare. The concert was headlined by RAGHAV at Northern Star Arena.
artists :: schedule :: about :: history :: food :: park policies :: directions
The following chefs and restaurants will be present:
* Bombay Spice
* Karma Kafe/India on the Hudson
* Udupi Dosa House
* Albert Palace/Shabri
* Kwality Ice Cream
If you would like to be involved with this years event,
email us at restaurants@midsummermasala.com
artists :: schedule :: about :: history :: food :: park policies :: directions
Park Policies
Six Flags is a family friendly park following a strict guest code of conduct. Any guest found violating policies of no smoking, no line-cutting, no bathing suits and no profanity and offensive behavior will be escorted from the park without a refund. For full Policies details click on either of the links below.
NJ - http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/info/parkpolicies.aspx
artists :: schedule :: about :: history :: food :: park policies :: directions
Directions NJ
http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/info/directions.aspx
Directions DC
http://www.sixflags.com/america/info/directions.aspx