Music will create magic at the hallowed walls of Purana Qila when several rock bands from SAARC region will perform at 8th edition of South Asian Bands Festival which is scheduled to be held from 7th – 9th November 2014.
The 3-day music festival is presented by Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Seher. The Festival will feature 14 popular rock bands from eight countries which are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) -Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Observer country – France and host India.
The popular rock bands from across SAARC region are all set to perform on a common stage at the 8th edition of the South Asian Bands Festival (SABF) at the Purana Quila, Delhi.
Music has no boundaries, with the same ideology this festival aims to bring together Asian countries. It also provides a rare opportunity for the Indian audience to enjoy and appreciate the music created across the subcontinent. “Started in 2007, the festival has become one of Delhi’s most eagerly awaited cultural extravaganzas and year after year people of all ages look forward to the best bands from the South Asian region to be showcased at the festival. Coming together of some of the most talented musicians on one platform at the magnificent Purana Qila is the best and truest representation of regional integration through Culture.
This platform brings together the finest acts from the SAARC countries. This year the festival features performance by Alobo Naga and The Band (ANB) from Dimapur, Nagaland formed in 2010, they won the Best Indian Act at a European music awards ceremony in 2012.
Pakistani singing sensation Zebunissa Bangash popularly known as Zeb, who recently made her foray into Bollywood with her hit tracks in films like Madras Café and Highway. She gained popularity though her collaboration with Indian musician in Coke Studio is going to mesmerise the audience through her rich and textured soundscapes and melodies.
The festival will also feature a band from France – ‘Success’ as a Guest Country Band, which is also the Observer to SAARC. The electro-rock band from France consists of vocalist Yann Chéhu, guitarists Julien Richer, Dan Voisin on the Electronic keyboard and drummer Joel Daventry, are known for their unique style of contemporary rock performance combined with traditional heavy metal, rock n’ roll and electro rock.
Apart from them, the audience will be enthralled by the electronic-rock band formed by popular Bombay film composer Vishal Dadlani “Pentagram”. The band’s music has evolved over the years from what used to be described as Alternative to what is now Progressive Alternative Pop.
Schedule 7-9th November 2014
6.00pm onwards Friday, 7th November 2014
Kabul & Rock veda (India),
Chirkutt (Bangladesh),
Nemesis (Sri Lanka),
Mrigya (India)
And
Zebunissa Bangash (Pakistan)
6.00pm onwards Saturday, 8th November 2014
The Forsaken (Bhutan),
Alobo Naga and the Band (India),
The Ska Vengers (India)
And
Pentagram (India)
6.00pm onwards Sunday, 9th November 2014
Band (Afghanistan),
The Kinetic Operations (Maldives)
Donn Bhat+ Passenger Revelator (India)
Mukti & Rivival (Nepal)
and
Success (France)
About the Participating bands
Day 1
Kabul & Rock Veda (India)
This India based Progressive Fusion Band, presents a deep-rooted mix of Classical, Sufi and Ghazal in their music. Kabul & Rock Veda connects with the youth by stylishly blending the traditional Ragas, Thumris, Bandish and their own compositions with much preferred rock and contemporary music. Their performances have always been well received by the audience as they dance to their tunes, irrespective of the age group, be it their own composition, a Bollywood number or a classical bandish with a special Rock Veda twist.
In the past, this band has created magic through their music at prestigious festivals like Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2014-Mumbai, Storm Festival 2014-Bangalore, Jaipur Literature Festival, World Sufi Spirit Festival-Jodhpur, JT PAC- Kochi and Spring Fever Festival-New Delhi.
Chirkutt (Bangladesh)
Formed in 2002, Chirkutt gained popularity in the last 3 years with their energetic live performances and powerful lyrics. Chirkutt’s eclectic compositions defy genre or classification, and they have eventually come to be described as an ‘Epic Fusion’ band, one that has brought radical changes to the modern music industry of Bangladesh. The band member consists of Pavelareen on Drums, Percussion & Sound producer, Emon Chowdhury on Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin & Ukulele, Sharmin Sultana Sumi on Vocals, Lyrics & Tune, Pintu Ghosh on Vocals, Violin & Flute, Didar on Bass and Tamal on Rhythm Guitar.
Chirkutt’s fame has transcended the borders of Bangladesh and reached foreign shores, thanks to their performances at various reputed international music festivals, such as the India Music Week-2012 and the Jaffna Music Festival-2013, Sri Lanka, where they have represented new dimensions of Bangladeshi band music to critical acclaim. And later during the end of 2013, Chirkutt embarked on a grand tour ofNorway with Norwegian rockers Casa Murilo. Both the bands toured through 6 cities – Oslo, Bergen, Molde, Trondheim, Bodo, Salvaer.
Nemesis (Sri Lanka)
Nemesis, which was formed in the year 2005, is one of the few Sri Lankan rock bands to be successful in the Srilankan Rock music arena. With the likes of Tharindu Mathew, Loshaarn Bastian, Mihindu Ariyarathne, and Sithija Dilshan, Nemesis boasts of consisting some of the most brilliant musicians in the island performing under its name. Since the inception, Nemesis has strived tirelessly to promote and improve the standards of rock music in Sri Lanka.
Their first album “Chakithaya” brought Nemesis in to the mainstream music scene. Nemesis became the first Rock/Metal act in Sri Lankan history to be featured on MTV desi and MTV Iggy. The video of “Chakithaya” was nominated for several awards in the Derana Music Awards 2010, including the nomination for the Best Rock Video in 2010.
Mrigya (India)
Mrigya is one of India’s most premier and prodigious World-Fusion bands, hailing from New Delhi. Formed in 1999, the band has blossomed into a fascinating contemporary world music band venturing to stretch the boundaries of Indian classical music becoming the harbinger of a unique fusion band offering a rich blend of Blues, Funk, Folk, Latin, Indian Classical and Jazz. The Band member includes Sharat Chandra Srivastava on Violin, Sachin Kapoor on Keys, Indraneel Hariharan on Bass & Vocal, Karan Sharma on Guitars, Rajat Kakkar on Drums and Gyan Singh on Tabla & Percussion.
Mrigya aims to evolve, share the cultural nuances, and promote the Indian ethos through its music in a global way – drawing attention and inviting one to explore the Indian heritage. The band has toured extensively around the globe winning accolades and representing India at various international festivals.
Zebunnisa Humayun Bangash (Pakistan)
Zebunissa Bangash is one of the most loved vocalists in Pakistan and has been singing since she was eight-year old. She has been trained under some of the eminent musician of the country, currently Ustad Naseer Uddin Saami is helping her develop the semi classical Thumri to further enrich her musical repertoire. As an artist with a truly global sensibility, Zeb has the talent to learn and draw from music from all over the world. In particular she feels an affinity with music from the Central Asian and ‘Indus Valley’ regions. She is working closely with musicians from these areas. She is especially interested in exploring Pakistan’s forgotten rich cultural heritage and it’s linkages through music and song.
Day 2
The Forsaken (Bhutan)
Forsaken or officially known as The Forsaken (Bhutan), is a Bhutanese Heavy Metal band from Thimphu Bhutan. Originally formed temporarily for one fest on May 2013, and after winning the “Battle of Bands” in 1st position the band decided to continue. Each member of the band is from various origin bands, namely The Low Profile Sunday (Punk/Hard core), Demon Nomad (Thrash Metal), Sanctum (Metal core) and Axis 6 (Heavy Metal). At present the band is working on their upcoming EP (Extra Play – Broken Delusion) and so far the band has completed their originals. Although the band mostly plays cover songs of well known rock bands and fewer times their original, the band is best known for their presence, interaction and showmen ship onstage. And As of now, the band is under process in releasing official lyrical video of their debut Single “In His Name” from the EP.
Alobo Naga and The Band (India)
Winner of 2012 Best Indian Act at MTV Europe Music Awards – Alobo Naga & The Band (ANTB) is an Indian rock outfit from Dimapur, Nagaland, formed in 2010. Since 2010, the band has consisted of members Alobo Naga(lead vocals, songwriter, and keyboards), Lima (lead guitar, backing vocal), Fung Walling (bass guitar, backing vocals), Sumika Yepothomi (Turntables) and Theja (Drums). The band rose to fame in 2011 with their video single ‘Painted Dreams’ which was an instant hit; it was premiered in August 2011 at VH1. The popularity of the video also helped the band to earn themselves MTV Europe Music Awards 2012 nominations under Best Indian Act/Worldwide Act.
To date, Alobo Naga & The Band have released one four song extended play– Painted Dreams (2010), hit video single ‘Painted Dreams’ in 2010 and extended dub step version of ‘Painted Dreams’ ft DJ Ina in 2012. The band long play or full-length studio effort will be released by January 2015.
Alobo Naga & The Band’s music has been associated mostly with progressive rock because all the five members like different genres and their music reflects the progression of influence from all genres. Their lyrics are mostly based on youth, society and love.
The Ska Vengers (India)
The Ska Vengers is a new Delhi based band who blend ‘ska’ rhythms with elements of dub, punk, jazz and rap to come up with a form of music that is refreshingly different, energetic and highly danceable. Keys man, Stefan Kaye rounded up a few of his musician friends to form the band in the fall of 2009. The band was put together since there was a lack of energetic, harder edged dance based live music in India.
All members are highly experienced performers in their own right. Nikhil, Stefan and Tony also play in both post rock/disco group Emperor Minge and theatrical jazz outfit The Jass B’stards . They are regular performers on India’s first touring cabaret show ‘The Stiff Kittens’ Medicine Show’. Samara is also an actor and equally well known as a TV presenter on NDTV Good Times. Delhi Sultanate has garnered much praise for his highly skilled, socially conscious rap with drum ‘n’ bass team BASSFoundation and also his own project Word, Sound, Power. Raghav is also known as selecta with DJ collective ‘Reggae Rajahs’.
Pentagram (India)
Few Indian artists have been as crucial to the change in India’s musical landscape as Pentagram. Fewer have been able to represent it better. Easily India’s biggest and most popular act, Pentagram has defined an almost cultural transformation – a metamorphosis, if you may, of a community and an art that’s as vital to India as cricket and movies. Pioneers and protagonists of a scene desperately seeking its own heroes, Pentagram has, since its formation in 1994, been the champion of an important movement; an underground that they’ve carried into our nation’s collective consciousness.
Fronted by the inimitable Vishal Dadlani, the band is a collaboration of some incredibly talented musicians. Randolph Correia, one of the most prolific guitarists in the country, is at the steering wheel of this monster truck, breaking boundaries and conceptions of genres on a path that several have tried to follow. Bassist Papal Mane lays the foundation of this measured assault while Shiraz Bhattacharya, stoic behind the drum kit, is the backbone of this power packed high energy electro rock act.
The band’s debut album We Are Not Listening (1996) was as much a statement in title, as it was in impact – listed by legendary Mumbai music store Rhythm House as India’s fastest selling rock album. The band went on to win every single major competition in India. Their sophomore effort Up (2002) saw the band’s sound evolve to a deliberate, definitive electro rock; a digital progression well ahead of their peers and their time. The album sold over 15,000 copies and signalled the acceptance of a sound that wasn’t derivative of an international trend or a fleeting, one-hit-wonder-esque series of singles. With the release of its third album It’s OK, It’s All Good (2007), Pentagram soared into stratospheric heights previously occupied solely by movie stars and cricketers. Having toured around the country and the world (the band was the first Indian act to perform at the Glastonbury festival in England), the band firmly established itself as India’s premier rock act.
Day 3
Sunday, 9th November 2014
Band (Afghanistan),
The Kinetic Operations (Maldives)
Started as the Sifainge Music Group 20 years ago, the band changed its name to SMG The KOPS and later as The Kops Band. Since 2013, the band has been rebranded to Kinetic Operaations, K-OPS Band. The band has been performing for generations representing as the official band of Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF). The Kops Band regularly performs for all official delegates and at official functions of the Government upon request. The band is also in to forefront of all public and Charity Shows.
In addition to these official performances the Kops Band have performed with major leading artists of this nation on their events including Fasy Live, Easa, Unoosha, Zara, Kayano, Mishy Athif, Ammadey, Ritte to name a few.
Kops Band has also performed in Mr. MNDF Show in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In One Nation Raajje Tour, the band has performed in Fuahmulak, Male’ City, H Dh. Hanimaadhoo. The band also performs in official events of MNDF and in Banquets during visits of Head of Foreign Countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. For the last four years, the band performed in the reception to celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day of USA. They also perform in Chinese New Year Celebrations in Maldives. In addition, they performed in many official dinners of High-ranked Army Officers of many Asian countries.
Donn Bhat+ Passenger Revelator (India)
Mukti & Rivival (Nepal)
During early 80s Kathmandu was still going through hangover of hippie era, it had a strong western music influence in the air. A local who grew up near the hippies’ hang out popularly known as freak streets was not spared. Mukti Shakya picked up guitar, joined one of the most popular bands “Redium” as guitarist and a singer. Mukti was soon regarded as an inspiration to the up coming musician and idol to many musicians of the valley. His fans belong to different age groups from teenagers to old folks still singing his tunes and swinging to his rhythms all over the world. In mid 80’s Mukti went to Spain with his wife, where he played and toured with different other bands.
Mukti came back to Kathmandu in early 90’s. Noticing the change in the scene he decided that he needs to revive the old musical charm. Thus, he collected his old friends and started the Revival. He’s been able to sway many music lovers with his tune. From performing for a crowd of 15000 at Kathmandu Durbar Square to 100’s at small bars and venues, Mukti and Revival’s music has never failed to mesmerize the crowd.
Having performed all over America, Europe, Australia, Canada and Asia, With 4 albums and numerous hits and awards under their belt, Mukti & Revival holds a prominent space in Nepali Rock Music Scenario.
Success (France)
This rock and electronic music band known for its absolute crazy performances gained popularity with their hit number “Girl from New Orleans” that was spotted by RCA / Colombia in the UK underground music of Manchester. Then came the second hit “Hard to come back” which appears on the Box Office next to Mozart and Metallica.
