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Culture

Business events leaders to give evidence at Culture Media & Sport Select Committee inquiry into UK business events sector

by jummy84 December 9, 2025

written by jummy84

A panel of senior business events industry leaders have been invited to provide oral evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Select Committee on Tuesday 9 December within the Houses of Parliament as part of their wider inquiry into the UK’s Major Events sector.

Those invited to give evidence include Rachel Parker, Director at the Events Industry Alliance, and Faye Dyer, Chief Executive at ACC Liverpool who will appear alongside Robert Wright, founder and CEO of industry Think Tank, the Business of Events.

Chaired by Dame Caroline Dineage DBE MP, the CMS Committee is comprised of an influential group of cross-party MPs, who will examine the challenges faced by the industry and explore how the sector can tap into new opportunities for growth and collaboration.

The inquiry will examine how business events can drive trade and investment across the UK, the role of the UK Government in supporting and growing this, and examples of best practice and lessons learnt from other countries or the devolved nations. The Committee will also consider the impact of recent challenges on the sector including the UK’s exit from the European Union.

Following the inquiry, the committee will propose its recommendations to Government, with the initial report expected in the Spring of 2026.

The Business of Events, Events Industry Alliance, and ACC Liverpool each put forward individual submissions to the Committee earlier this year as part of a bidding process that attracted 256 applications from a broad range of other industries.

Dame Caroline announced the inquiry during her closing address at The Business of Events: Global Policy Forum, which took place on 1April 2025 at IET London: Savoy Place in Westminster.

Further information on the session and the work of the Committee can be found here

December 9, 2025 0 comments

Bollywood

EXCLUSIVE: Mohit Chauhan ADMITS Bollywood’s Remix Culture Is Only For Business

by jummy84 December 5, 2025

written by jummy84

The rising trend of remixes in Bollywood has sparked a widespread debate about creativity versus commerce, and singer Mohit Chauhan offers a firm, unfiltered stance on the issue. While promoting his new song, Heer, the singer sat for an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble. Mohit believes today’s remix culture is driven purely by business motives rather than artistic intent. He argues that altering beats, adding new instruments, or tweaking lyrics cannot recreate the emotional depth of an original composition. Scroll down to read what he said and watch the full interview.

Mohit Chauhan ADMITS Bollywood’s Remix Culture Is Only For Business

When asked how he feels about today’s remix culture, singer Mohit Chauhan said, “Mujhe lagta hai ki woh khaali business ke liye kiya jaata hai. Nahi toh ek gaane ko remake karne ka reason kya hai? Kuch bhi nahi hai. Ab main ek gaane ko baar-baar… usme drum beat nikal doon, phir usme shehnai daal doon — gaana toh wahi hai. Uska original form hi best rehta hai.”

He added, “Uske baad agar aap socho ki main lyrics change kar doon, toh jo sunne wale hain unke liye toh woh change ho gaya na — phir woh usse relate nahi kar paayenge. Log use film mein ya kisi collection mein daalna chahte hain, woh ek alag business model hai. Lekin gaana original hai, ek baar release ho gaya hai — usko remake karne ki koi zarurat nahi hai. Aap naya gaana bhi sochiye.”

About Bollywood Remix Culture

Music companies often see remixes as a quick path to creativity and profit, leveraging nostalgia and viral hooks for social media. Targeting platforms like Instagram Reels, producers focus on catchy 10-15 second snippets, sometimes sacrificing quality or storytelling. Many modern remixes are technically re-recordings, with vocalists syncing to click tracks to mimic original vocals. DJs and labels, especially big players like T-Series, promote these trends, often without crediting original artists, prompting criticism. While some remixes succeed commercially, legendary artists like AR Rahman criticise them for diluting the originals. Recently, there’s been a shift towards authentic, original music, emphasising the preservation of a song’s true essence.

Watch The Full Interview

For more news and updates from the entertainment world, stay tuned to Bollywood Bubble.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Jaya Bhattacharya Confesses To Earning 3X Kyunki’s Salary On Other Shows; Reveals Why She Never Asked For A Raise In The Smriti Irani Starrer

Akankshya Mukherjee is a dynamic and ambitious individual poised to make waves in the realm of Media and Communication. With a passion for creativity and a drive to contribute to forward-thinking organizations, Akankshya embodies adaptability and a hunger for learning. Having already garnered experience through involvement in various organizations, she has honed the skill of quickly adapting to new environments and challenges. She sees each opportunity as a chance for personal and professional growth, eagerly embracing roles in communications and content writing.

December 5, 2025 0 comments

Bollywood

5 Singers Who Have Performed Globally And Taken Indian Culture To The World Stage

by jummy84 November 16, 2025

written by jummy84

As Indian music continues to resonate across continents, a new wave of singers is redefining how the world experiences our culture. They’re blending folk with pop, classical with R&B, Punjabi soul with global beats — proving that Indian music isn’t just a genre, it’s a feeling. These performers are not only touring international arenas but also sparking conversations of identity, heritage, and artistic pride. Here are five artists who are taking Indian music to global stages, loudly, proudly, and unapologetically.

5 Singers Who Have Performed Globally And Taken Indian Culture To The World Stage

Diljit Dosanjh – The Global Punjabi Phenomenon

Diljit Dosanjh has become nothing short of a cultural force. From selling out stadiums worldwide to becoming the first Punjabi artist to perform at Coachella, he has taken Punjabi music to audiences far beyond India’s borders. His live performances are celebrations of language, roots, and cultural pride, reminding the world that Punjabi music has both emotional depth and undeniable swagger, as heard in “Born To Shine,” which blends Punjabi folk character with contemporary pop attitude.

Sid Sriram – The Soul Of South Indian Pop 
With a voice that melts Carnatic tradition into contemporary soul, Sid Sriram is a bridge between worlds. Raised in the U.S. but deeply connected to his South Indian heritage, his global tours and collaborations showcase how seamlessly Indian classical elements can sit beside R&B, indie, and electronic sounds. Sid is not just performing music; he’s carrying memory, language, and emotion into every performance, connecting listeners across cultures, a quality beautifully evident in “Srivalli,” where his folk-rooted phrasing meets modern melodic sensibility.
Lekka – A Pop Voice Rising Across Borders 
Lekka has rapidly emerged as one of Indian pop’s most dynamic voices. With a sleek sonic identity that blends global pop energy with a distinctly Indian confidence, she’s redefining what it means to be a homegrown international artist. Her singles “Kingpin,” “Kaabil-E-Tareef,” and “YOLO,” along with her 2025 debut EP ‘One in a Billion’ featuring tracks like “Haseena,” “Wet Dream,” and “Light Another One,” showcase her fearless experimentation and performance-forward aesthetic. Representing a new generation of Indian artists unafraid to sound global yet rooted in their cultural rhythm. With her seamless blend of Indian essence and global pop appeal, she continues to redefine what it means to be an Indian artist on the world stage.
Hanumankind – The Indie Artist Reimagining Indian Musical Identity
Hanumankind represents a new wave of indie experimentation rooted in Indian storytelling. His music, modern, conceptual, and atmospheric, blends Indian cultural references with global production practices. Performing on international stages and streaming across borders, he’s proving that Indian artists don’t have to fit into Bollywood or folk stereotypes to be authentically Indian. His sound is global, but his voice is unmistakably rooted in home, something that comes through in “Big Dawgs” and “Run It Up”, where emotional nostalgia merges with contemporary production.
Jasmine Sandlas – Punjabi Singer With Raw Energy And A Bold, Redefining Voice
Jasmine Sandlas is one of India’s most dynamic and fearless voices, known for her raw energy, unapologetic style, and powerful high-pitch vocals that electrify every stage she steps on. Her latest album Legal Robbery captures her signature blend of bold lyricism and infectious beats, proving once again why she’s a force in Punjabi music. Whether it’s the fire of “Pols”, the swagger of “Taras”, the intoxication of “Nasha”, or the intensity of “Dhurandhar”, Jasmine delivers each track with unmatched attitude and emotion. Her performances are more than shows.
For more news and updates from the entertainment world, stay tuned to Bollywood Bubble.
Also Read: Diljit Dosanjh, Vicky Kaushal To Ranbir Kapoor, 5 Punjabi Boys Who Light Up The Frame With Charm And Grace
Akankshya Mukherjee is a dynamic and ambitious individual poised to make waves in the realm of Media and Communication. With a passion for creativity and a drive to contribute to forward-thinking organizations, Akankshya embodies adaptability and a hunger for learning. Having already garnered experience through involvement in various organizations, she has honed the skill of quickly adapting to new environments and challenges. She sees each opportunity as a chance for personal and professional growth, eagerly embracing roles in communications and content writing.

November 16, 2025 0 comments

Events

RefTech Marks 10 Years of ISO 27001 Certification: Proving That Security Isn’t Just a Standard, It’s a Culture

by jummy84 November 11, 2025

written by jummy84

RefTech is celebrating a decade of ISO 27001 certification – the internationally recognised gold standard for information security. This milestone confirms RefTech’s commitment to keeping client and employee data secure through robust, continually improving systems that have become embedded in the day-to-day running of the business.

“Ten years ago, achieving ISO 27001 was a huge project,” says Penny Sellers, Sales and Operations Director and joint Compliance Manager at RefTech. “We already had strong systems in place, but we had to elevate everything to the next level to ensure full compliance – from refining processes and policies to enhancing staff training and physical infrastructure. Today, it’s second nature. Our systems and procedures are so ingrained that new staff don’t even realise they’re following ISO standards – it’s simply how we work.”

ISO 27001 is awarded to companies that establish, implement, maintain and improve an Information Security Management System (ISMS) that covers everything from technical measures such as encrypted networks and secure data storage, to physical access controls, CCTV, alarms and strict internal permissions.

“It’s not just about protecting client data,” says Sellers. “It covers all data, including our own employee records. Everything from how we onboard staff to how we handle incoming client delegate data is governed by our ISMS.”

Over the years, ISO standards have evolved; RefTech moved from the 2013 version to the 2017 standard, and now operates under the 2022 revision, but the principle has remained the same: a rigorous, evidence-based audit of how the company protects its information.

Annual independent audits ensure compliance. Auditors are on-site for two days, testing everything from business continuity plans to staff awareness. “They can ask any member of staff a question,” says Sellers. “Everyone has to know their role in keeping data secure.”

Despite widespread recognition of the ISO standard, Sellers notes that only a small percentage of clients specifically seek out suppliers with the certification. More often, it’s once the relationship is underway that the security questions begin. “We get asked to complete increasingly detailed supplier questionnaires. Having ISO helps, but some clients still want extensive extra information.”

RefTech was the first registration company to gain ISO 27001 and remains one of the few to have retained it for a full decade. “Plenty of suppliers claim to be secure, but ISO 27001 proves it. We’re proud to have maintained this standard for 10 years. It shows our clients that security isn’t just a box to tick, it’s a fundamental part of who we are,” concludes Sellers.

For companies wanting to know more about RefTech’s decade of ISO certification, please visit stand C44 at Event Tech Live – 12^th & 13^th November, Excel London.

November 11, 2025 0 comments

Music

South Park’s Trey Parker Says “Politics Became Pop Culture”

by jummy84 November 9, 2025

written by jummy84

This season, South Park has drawn attention for repeatedly targeting President Donald Trump and his administration. In an interview with The New York Times, however, co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker clarified that this wasn’t intentional, but rather a byproduct of the times.

“It’s not that we got all political,” Parker said. “It’s that politics became pop culture.” Stone added that they were also “attracted to” the idea that speaking out against the administration had become “taboo.”

According to the creative duo, they didn’t decide to take on the US president until after their deal with Paramount was delayed by a merger between Paramount and Skydance that required the Trump administration’s approval.

Jennifer Lawrence Says ‘Miss Piggy’ Film Inspired By Cancel Culture

by jummy84 November 7, 2025

written by jummy84

After spilling the beans that she’s producing a Miss Piggy movie in development with pal Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence is teasing what might be in store for the beloved swine.

The Oscar winner recently revealed what sparked the idea for her Muppets offshoot about the “feminist icon,” which Tony winner Cole Escola is penning, marking the character’s first solo outing since Jim Henson debuted her on The Muppet Show in 1976.

“So, during lockdown, one of my good friends who is not in the industry—it was also kind of around cancel culture,” she recalled on The Tonight Show. “It was like both things were kind of happening at once. We were all locked up in our rooms, naughty people were being locked up in prison.”

Lawrence explained, “Miss Piggy is a feminist icon, and she said it would be so funny if Miss Piggy got canceled. Now, that is not the plot, necessarily, but it got the wheels turning.”

Noting “there hasn’t actually been” a solo project about Miss Piggy, Lawrence added, “So, I started kind of producing it. But Emma Stone is the Muppet-head. Also, Emma Stone is a shark … I’m, just like, the ideas guy. So, I went to her to be like, ‘What do we do?’ So, now Cole is writing it, and they’re perfect.”

The Die My Love star previously revealed the news on the Las Culturistas podcast, noting she and Stone also hope to appear in the film.

Starting as a chorus pig on The Muppet Show in the mid-1970s, Miss Piggy gradually became a bigger part of the series, before becoming an icon in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Despite Kermit being the star, she’s long hogged the spotlight from her froggy beau.

Recently marking their milestone 70th birthday, The Muppets have had a year of celebrations leading up to the news last month that The Muppet Show is getting a refresh from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s Point Grey Pictures. Deadline reported that Disney+ has ordered a TV event featuring special guest star Sabrina Carpenter to premiere in 2026, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the classic original series.

November 7, 2025 0 comments

Fashion

Orange Culture Lagos Spring 2026 Collection

by jummy84 November 4, 2025

written by jummy84

Orange Culture was one of those rare, tear-jerking shows that leaves everyone speechless. Before it started, a minute of silence was dedicated to founder and creative director Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s late mother, who passed away last year. The collection, titled “Letter to Her,” was a personal collection, intended to honor one of the most influential in Oke-Lawal’s life. “It’s tough seeing your loved ones really vulnerable, and I wanted to celebrate her… and who she has transcended to become,” he said.

With this collection, styled by Olalu Ebiti, Oke-Lawal bade farewell to the old Orange Culture. The buzzy brand, which launched in 2011, had a reputation for colorful clothes in contemporary silhouettes. “It’s still Orange Culture in its essence, but it’s taking a path that we’ve never taken before,” he said.

To start with, every single look was all-white, something his community would have never expected from the young designer. It’s undeniably challenging to create a full collection using only one color, but Oke-Lawal experimented with shapes, fabrics, and silhouettes to create a captivating lineup. Standout looks included a white shirt with a pleated cream vest top, paired with inflated balloon trousers, as well as a sheer white one-shoulder top with feather detailing and an exaggerated rope hem. The only print featured in the collection was of Oke-Lawal’s brother and mother, designed by artist Yasser Claud Enin.

It’s evident that Oke-Lawal put his all into this collection. Backstage, he was shaking with emotion. Guests rushed over to congratulate, embrace, and comfort the designer. “Your mother would’ve been so proud,” one guest said tearfully. Now, Oke-Lawal is going to take some time away to “finally heal” before turning his attention to Berlin, where he is set to return to the Berlin Fashion Week schedule in the new year.

November 4, 2025 0 comments

Fashion

How Nigerian Brand Orange Culture Beat the Odds

by jummy84 October 31, 2025

written by jummy84

For the collection, Oke-Lawal has enlisted the help of top creatives. Seasoned stylist and fashion editor Ola Ebiti, who has worked with the likes of Tom Ford and Acne Studios, is styling the show. It was Orange Culture’s bold and progressive aesthetic that first drew Ebiti to the brand. “There needs to be a brand that can bridge the gap between Africa and the rest of the world,” he says. While the appetite for African brands is increasing among US consumers, Ebiti says, the styling and the visuals must be carefully crafted to translate the brand’s messaging in an international way. “It’s one thing to have really good ideas, but it’s another to really be able to bring that to fruition and serve clients. For me, that’s always been my goal for Orange Culture.”

Orange Culture, which launched in 2011 in Lagos, quickly became a household name. His clothing brought something fresh to the Nigerian market, providing consumers with interesting silhouettes and clean tailoring. As demand for his clothes grew, the Lagos-based designer quickly amassed a cult-following across West Africa. Three years after the brand’s inception, Orange Culture became the first African label to be shortlisted as a finalist for the LVMH Prize in 2014, catapulting the brand into the international spotlight. Off the back of the prize, Orange Culture secured popular stockists, including Browns and Farfetch, and has showcased collections in Paris, London, New York and at Pitti Uomo in Florence. (Orange Culture declined to share sales figures.)

Though, building a collection that is immensely personal comes with risk, the designer acknowledges. Whether it’s well received by buyers, press or fans of the brand is something that weighs on Oke-Lawal’s mind. “It is a concern, because at the end of the day, it’s still a business,” he says. “Over the last two years, I’ve been very catered to my customers; I can see what they want. But I think this one is for me… It’s a scary sacrifice, but one I’m willing to take right now.”

Orange Culture’s show at the V&A in London in 2024.

Photo: Courtesy of Orange Culture

From Lagos to the world

For many African designers, building a leading fashion brand on the continent is not an easy endeavour. There are several socioeconomic challenges that make the day-to-day running of a fashion business incredibly complex — from power outages to domestic shipping hurdles and challenges importing raw materials. There are also limited opportunities for designers to learn, network and receive mentorship in Lagos, as the local industry remains nascent and fashion schools are incomparable to their international counterparts.

October 31, 2025 0 comments

Bollywood

When Kiss Becomes Culture: Enrique Iglesias, Udit Narayan And India’s Uneven Lens On Celebrity Intimacy

by jummy84 October 31, 2025

written by jummy84

Spanish pop sensation Enrique Iglesias may have kicked off his India tour with a roar in Mumbai, but it was not the vocals that drew attention — it was a kiss. A viral clip from the opening night shows the singer sharing a rather prolonged lip kiss with an excited fangirl on stage, an act that has since triggered a quiet murmur of reflection rather than outrage. It was, by all accounts, a moment charged with adoration, thrill, and the signature flamboyance Enrique brings to his performances. Yet, the absence of collective moral policing over the act — especially in a country known for its swift outrage — is what stands out most.

The same India that once balked when veteran playback singer Udit Narayan kissed an award show host on stage seems, this time, to have shrugged off the moment with global acceptance. The contrast reveals something telling about the evolving — and perhaps uneven — moral compass of celebrity culture in India. When Narayan’s brief peck made headlines years ago, it was treated almost as a breach of cultural decorum. The conversation was not about intent or context, but propriety. Fast forward to Enrique’s concert, and the conversation isn’t about right or wrong at all — it’s about spectacle.

Enrique, who has long carried a stage persona built on romance and intimacy, has performed similar gestures with fans worldwide — kisses, hugs, and the occasional dance-floor swirl. For Indian audiences, this was perhaps a long-awaited glimpse into the raw theatre of Western pop culture, brought to life right before their eyes. But beneath the cheers lies an unspoken acceptance: that when intimacy comes wrapped in an accent and global stardom, it feels less transgressive, even charming.

Enrique Iglesias Instagram Post

Western Pop Culture V/S Indian Pop Culture

This double standard is not new. Indian pop culture has often separated what’s “acceptable” from the West and what’s “inappropriate” at home. The same audience that squirmed at Udit Narayan’s harmless kiss or trolled other Indian celebrities for public displays of affection seemed to interpret Enrique’s act as a sign of charisma and connection. It wasn’t scandal — it was seduction as performance.

What makes this difference starker is how both moments unfolded under the same cultural sky. Udit Narayan’s gesture — a moment of warmth, even clumsy affection — was dissected for crossing a line. Enrique’s, meanwhile, was celebrated as a hallmark of fan engagement. The singer, dressed in his casual black tee and cap, barely hesitated before the fan leaned in, their kiss lasting long enough to blur the line between surprise and intent. Cameras flashed, the crowd roared, and the moment was sealed into social media eternity — without much moral commentary.

This isn’t to say India has suddenly abandoned its conservative streak. Rather, it has learned to selectively suspend it. The incident underscores how global exposure and celebrity hierarchies can reshape moral interpretations. The foreign performer becomes a vessel of cultural aspiration, a kind of acceptable exception. What feels too bold for Indian stars becomes perfectly palatable when delivered through a Western lens — a reminder that admiration often rewrites boundaries faster than reason does.

Also Read:Emraan Hashmi Slams Toxic Masculinity: ‘Men Thinking ‘We’ll Do Whatever We Can’ Costs Women Their Dignity’

There’s also the matter of power dynamics on stage. In both cases — Narayan and Enrique — the act wasn’t coerced. But one was seen as overreach, the other as a dream come true. The distinction isn’t about gender or consent; it’s about the narratives audiences construct around who holds the right to intimacy in public. An Indian singer doing it appears indulgent; a global icon doing it looks romantic.

For India’s entertainment landscape, this moment is more than tabloid fodder. It’s an opportunity to examine how globalisation is quietly reshaping the nation’s moral lens. Western pop stars are often granted immunity under the pretext of performance art — their actions seen as extensions of their artistic identity. But Indian artists are still expected to embody restraint, their reputations tied to social respectability.

Enrique’s Mumbai kiss, therefore, is less about scandal and more about symbolism. It represents how India continues to negotiate modernity through borrowed gestures — accepting the global stage’s freedoms selectively while demanding restraint from its own. The camera captured more than a kiss; it revealed a country still learning how to separate admiration from inhibition, and art from morality.

October 31, 2025 0 comments

Celebrity News

Culture at heart of Blue Jays’ World Series run

by jummy84 October 26, 2025

written by jummy84

TORONTO – Whether it was at the draft, the trade deadline, or during free agency, Ross Atkins has always emphasized the importance of values during his decade as general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Every time there was a potential addition to the team, Atkins never failed to mention their “high character.”

He believes that policy has paid off in 2025, with the Blue Jays reaching the World Series for the first time in 32 years in large part thanks to their cohesiveness and dedication to each other.

“I’ve always been taught and learned and believed strongly that hiring and identification of — whether it be players, coaches, scouts, anyone that’s helping support the organization — that hiring’s the most important thing we do,” said Atkins during a news conference on Friday before Game 1 of the World Series. “If you do that with values that are important to you, then over time, that’s going to pay off for you.”

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Atkins said that centring the team’s personnel policy and the resulting atmosphere is something that he and manager John Schneider actually spoke about earlier in the week.

“The thing that I think about the most is the relationships, the people that we have hired and the people that we have grown with together,” said Atkins, who was hired as the team’s GM in December 2015. “I’ve always felt there’s a big group of people here that I’m working with that will, for sure, be lifelong relationships and lifelong friendships.

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Toronto led all of Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins in the regular season, with 12 of those victories coming when the Blue Jays trailed by at least three runs.

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They also rallied from a 2-0 deficit to the Seattle Mariners in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series. The climactic Game 7 in Toronto was capped by George Springer’s three-run homer in the seventh inning, undoing Seattle’s early 3-1 lead in that series finale.

“I think that’s what forms a good team. It’s talent and it’s players, but it’s people,” said Schneider before the World Series began. “I think that we’ve done such a phenomenal job of creating a culture where people are just welcome.

“It’s what we’ve grasped on to, the standard we’ve set. Not just the type of player we want, but the type of people we want in here, too.”

Schneider has been with the Blue Jays organization since 2002 when he was drafted in the 13th round of that year’s draft. He retired from playing after the 2007 season due to three concussions suffered that year, then became a minor-league manager for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays in 2008, working his way up through the franchise’s different levels of ball.

He said that the relationships that have been built in Toronto during Atkins’s tenure has helped create the culture that made the Blue Jays (94-68) playoff run possible.

“I think that when you’re trying to establish a winning environment and a winning organization that can do it repeatedly, that people come into play,” said Schneider. “People that are going to push things forward and not be satisfied.

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“Even this year, when we acquired (infielder Andres Gimenez) and signed (Anthony Santander) and signed Max (Scherzer), we were talking about what that would do for people around them too and where the people that we had already were in their career and in their lives.”

Schneider said it was also a factor in July as Major League Baseball’s trade deadline approached and the Blue Jays were gearing up for a deep post-season run.

“It was cool to have those conversations with Ross, understanding what we were doing at the time, and not trying to disrupt that,” said Schneider. “You want to try to add people that are going to help.

“So Seranthony (Dominguez), who is about as selfless as there is, Louis Varland, Ty France, they’re good pieces for what we already have, too. We made it a point to be really aware of it this year and, again, it’s been a couple years in the making to get to this point.”

Varland and France were traded to Toronto by the Minnesota Twins on July 31 for Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas. Varland, who has become a fixture in the Blue Jays bullpen in the post-season, said that the strong culture on his new team was immediately apparent.

“From the coaching staff to the players to the support staff to the chefs, like everybody’s great, everybody’s friendly, welcoming,” he said. “I saw this the other day, ‘the Glue Jays.’

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“That’s, like, a perfect way to sum it up. Everybody’s so close and everybody’s a great guy or girl.”