Dialled In 2023 was a family affair

Two years since it was first established in 2021, Dialled In welcomed back its community with open arms… and torrential rain.

However, that didn’t stop large groups of young people, families, and children from making their way to Lloyd Park dressed in kurtas, lenghas draped with dupattas, jhumkas hanging from their ears and bindis on their foreheads to celebrate another year of South Asian music, art and culture in the heart of London.

This year, the festival teamed up with fashion designer Ashish Gupta for their first-ever major exhibition ‘Fall In Love And Be More Tender’ at the William Morris Gallery. Championing South Asian excellency, the likes of Ahadadream, Pxssy Palace, DJ Ritu, Daytimers’ Rohan Rakit and many more emerging artists took to the stage at the day event, this year set at a larger location than its previous editions.

Dialled In 2023 welcomed more than just dance music dance lovers – various workshops and activities including poetry from Mehfil, jewellery-making with Anisha Parma and multiple activities linked with Gupta’s exciting new exhibition took place allowing families and children of all ages to take part in the community’s celebration.

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The festival celebrated, as every year, the vastness of South Asian brilliance making festival culture accessible and inclusive to families – it was everything you’d expect and more. With dhol clashes, drill switch-ups and tons of dancing in the rain, Dialled In felt just like home for every diaspora kid out there.

Mums, dads, brothers, sisters, uncles and aunties – it was a festival for one and all. Here are some of the families we met over the weekend at Dialled In’s third edition:

Neha, Mareesha, Yameera and Nivetha

Kavita, Kajal and Ishwari