Toronto, ON – desiFEST, presented by TD and Crest returns to Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday, May 31st, 2014

It’s Time to Get desiFIED! On May 31st, Yonge-Dundas Square will come alive with the sounds, sights and flavors of South Asia with 12 hours of non-stop desi urban music to kick off the summer! desiFEST, Canada’s largest outdoor South Asian music concert is back for it’s 8th year in the square presented by returning sponsor TD and welcoming new sponsor Crest (Procter & Gamble) as co-presenter this year. Showcasing over 50 performers throughout the day, desiFEST provides a unique platform for South Asian artists to showcase their talent in front of an audience of over 40,000 visitors.

Since it’s inception in 2006, the desiFEST stage has hosted over 150 internationally renowned recording artists including the UK’s Apache Indian, Taz & Stereo Nation and Arjun, Denmark’s Anita Lerche, The Bilz & Kashif and homegrown Canadian talent who have found success overseas in India such as JoSh, Jonita, Parichay and Roach Killa. This year’s line-up includes a heavy focus on new artists to showcase the growing Canadian talent pool.

“desiFEST is thrilled to be returning for our 8th year of showcasing the amazing South Asians talents and culture here in Canada. No other platform currently exists to provide these talented young artists with a stage to share their music with such a large audience via a free event like desiFEST. It is with the support of our visionary partners TD and Procter & Gamble that we are able to continue with our contributions to the community, and we look forward to another great event this year.”- Sathish Bala, CEO & Founder, desiFEST

Whether you are attending with friends or the family, this event has got something for everyone. But you don’t have to be of South Asian descent or understand the language to enjoy desiFEST! As the spicy aroma of the food market and infectious sound of the ethnic beats fill the air, it’s no surprise that visitors from all walks of life stop by to join in on the fun and get desiFIED!

The music continues on June 21st as the team will move the excitement out of the city to Celebration Square in Mississauga for their next event of the summer – Hungama! Currently in it’s second year, this event delivers an evening of outdoor Bollywood entertainment, food and family fun in the heart of Mississauga.

QUOTES:

“TD is proud to support desiFEST, now in it’s eighth year. For us it’s about community building and making a difference by investing in the diverse communities where we live, work and play. That’s why TD gave almost $65 million to community initiatives in North America last year. To our more than 87,000 employees from around the world, it’s part of what makes us The Better Bank.” -Andre Lucas, Manager, Community Relations, TD Bank Group

"Procter & Gamble is proud to support desiFEST 2014 for the first time ever. As co-presenter, we look forward to creating memorable moments with every attendee through our brands like Crest, Pantene, Bounty, and Duracell. "Our activation will include sampling opportunities, beauty and grooming bar services, product demos and more." - Joyce Law, Sr Communications Manager, P&G Canada