Crawley Mela 2026

Best Foot Music

Music Creates Community

August 28, 2026

Crawley Mela 2026; a spectacular and much welcome return to a major arts festival in the Sussex Calendar. Featuring; music, dance, food, circus acts, community stalls and a great atmosphere all day. Whether dancing with the crowd or sitting in the shade and watching the bands, there was plenty to enjoy. Thanks to Cohesion Plus, Crawley Borough Council and the local community for all their work in making a great day out.

A bit of history and tribute to John Varah

The original Crawley International Mela was founded in 1989. Best Foot Music had been involved from 2011 up until it’s final year in 2015. The people I met there have gone on to play a significant part in shaping Best Foot Music; it’s where I first met Gurvinder Sandher Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus, who’ve booked bands from us, offered guidance and supported our work ever since. It’s also how I met John Varah from Same Sky. Sadly John suddenly passed away earlier this year. It’s no exaggeration to say that many in the arts would not be doing what they do without his generous support and friendship.

In addition to his creativity, vision and dedication developing events such as Burning the Clocks and the Children’s Parade in Brighton, John opened doors and lifted people up; he introduced us to people and arts organisations. He was the first person to regularly book musicians from us, advised on my first funding application and even though he’d officially retired helped out with Summer Fusion Festival last year.

John with Laila, when he’d invited us the I360 launch in Brighton, and with some of the previous Mela team back in 2014.

Gurvinder worked closely with John for many years, and had prepared an honorary plaque to present to him, as tribute to his work, friendship and commitment to the community and arts. The original plan had been for John to attend the Mela, to enjoy something that he’d played a key part in for years, and to receive the plaque in person. The plaque was awarded to Johns family, in his honour. He’ll be missed by many and I’m sure he’d have been pleased to see the Mela returning as an exciting new festival for all the community.

Thanks to Cohesion Plus for inviting Ukrainian Voices to perform on the day, they played a great set of contemporary and traditional Ukrainian folk songs. The day also included excellent music and dance from Four by Four Bhangra and The Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band. Coincidentally I’d booked the Rajasthan band to play on the Saturday of the final old Mela back in 2015 , their manager Farzana and I remembered each other from over a decade previous.

Also on the line up today some superb acts from the local community, then finishing with the legendary Jassi Sidhu ..a brilliant line up for Crawley Mela 2026, lets hope there are more to come.