A music festival opening on Wednesday promises to leave aficionados spoilt for choice. Held between November 21 and 25, the India Music Week’s Bangalore edition packs in 20 concerts in five days: the busier days have typically five or six concerts at different venues across the city.
Headlining the festival is the Pakistani pop/rock band Strings, which will inaugurate the festival on Wednesday at E Zone. There will also be a performance by Indian rock veterans Parikrama.
“India is like home now,” Bilal Maqsood, singer and guitarist of Strings, said. “We’ve done 20 to 25 shows in Bangalore already,” Maqsood said.
This edition of India Music Week, the second, is missing Amit Saigal, often called Papa Rock for mentoring Indian rock ’n’ roll: Saigal passed away early this year. The festival is being held simultaneously across Delhi/Gurgaon, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
Focus on SAARC region
There is also a focus on the SAARC region, said Anirban Chakraborty, festival director and from the magazine “Rock Street Journal”. Acts from Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka will also be performing.
Through a collaboration with the Norway Embassy’s music wing — Rikskonsertene — there are also Norwegian bands Casa Murilo and Lemaitre.
“We have had a musical collaboration with India for the past 10 years,” said Solveig Korum Manga, Rikskonsertene representative.
There’s plenty of local flavour, as well, with Bangalore acts Thermal And A Quarter, Galeej Gurus, The Bicycle Days and Swarathma.
The venues will include clubs and restaurants such as CounterCulture, BFlat and E Zone.
Strings and Parikrama perform Wednesday at E-Zone, Marathahalli. Tickets for all events can be purchased at www.kyazoonga.com. For a complete schedule, visit www.indiamusicweek.com.
