BBC Asian Network DJ Bobby Friction, last night revealed the line-up for the first ever BBC Introducing Stage at the London Mela. The stage, which is present at most of the summer festivals, will be hosting some of the best under the radar Asian artists, which have been featured on Bobby Friction’s BBC Asian Network show. It will also bring some very special guests to the event, which is being held at Gunnersbury Park on Sunday 8 August. Jason Carter, Editor, BBC Introducing says: “We are delighted to now have a BBC Introducing stage at one of the major Asian music events in the UK - the London Mela - one of the highlights of the year. We want to be able to provide some top notch opportunities for the best new musicians, across genres with contemporary music. Hosting our stage here at the Mela in 2010, enables us to open the door further to what is an extremely vibrant, new Asian music scene."

Bobby Friction champions under the radar and fresh Asian Talent in his Friction Introducing show every Monday on the BBC Asian Network. Incorporating a whole range of genres and artists, the show is an invaluable platform for upcoming Asian talent.

Bobby Friction adds: “This stage will be a unique presence at the London Mela, and I’m very excited by it!  New music is the lifeblood of an evolving Asian music scene, as well as my BBC Asian Network show, and I hope this stage will reflect all that is great and innovative about BBC Introducing on ‘Friction’.  The added Special Guests are old friends and massive names within Desi music, and I’m proud that they are gracing the Introducing Stage with their presence.  Come down on the day and experience a new kind of music stage at Europe’s biggest outdoor Mela.”

The line-up for the BBC Introducing Stage at the London Mela is:

RKZ
Jaya
Panjabi MC (Special Guests)
Jernade Miah
Shizzio
Raghav (Special Guests)
JK

For more information about the artists, please visit – www.bbc.co.uk/introducing.

RKZ, Jaya, Jernade Miah, Shizzio and JK, have all come through BBC Asian Network’s Friction Introducing and Bobby has championed Raghav while he was at BBC Radio 1.

BBC Introducing is a multi-platform initiative across BBC Radio 1, 6Music, Radio 1Xtra, the Asian Network, Switch, over 35 BBC Local Radio stations and at bbc.co.uk/introducing - all working together to provide an internal network dedicated to showcasing the hottest new talent from across the UK.

Having launched at Glastonbury in 2007, The BBC Introducing Stage is now present at key UK music festivals throughout the year, including Glastonbury, T in the Park and Reading and Leeds. Musicians can upload their music at bbc.co.uk/introducing for the possible opportunity of being broadcast on BBC Radio, which could lead to a slot on one of the BBC Introducing stages.

By supporting new music, over 500 bands have been showcased on a ‘BBC Introducing’ festival stage since it began.