JOIN USMusic lovers got another reason to rejoice this summer as Clonefest Soundcheck Series’ build-up acts generated momentum in the second season of this mini music festival last weekend.
With the growing number of rock lovers in the country, the mini-music fest aimed to cater to their audiences with a number of build-up acts, much before the main event that is slated for August, this year.
Organised by popular Indian rock band, Them Clones, that has to its credit a number of awards including ‘Best Song', 'Best Vocalist' and 'Best Drummer' in Jack Daniel's Rock Awards 2009. They have come up with this annual fest that not only features country’s headline rock bands but also promotes new acts by giving them a platform that they share with experts in rock music.
Surojit Dev, drummer and founder of Them Clones, said, “We love the concept of festivals with a great line-up and wanted to host our own festival. A festival where we could call in bands we admired. Simple! This will be Clonefest’s second year, in the month of August. The format will remain the same for Clonefest - Soundcheck Series which will be a series of build up gigs to be hosted at clubs/pubs leading to the main festival”.
“We would like to support the scene with one promising band getting an opportunity to open for a massive line-up,” he added.
Last Friday, Guvment restaurant in Hotel Bristol, Gurgaon witnessed the first event of the festival’s this year editions with bands like Them Clones (themselves), Menwhopause, Undying Inc., Indigo Children, and Plok participating in the gig.
The event opened up with a 45-minute performance by this year’s promising band Plok, which got a opportunity to share platform with four prominent rock bands of the country.
“We have known these guys since a long time and sharing the stage with them is really an amazing feeling. They are not just good friends but have also become amazing mentors to us,” Neeraj Aggarwala, lead vocalist of Plok, told Metrolife.
The event faced a technical snag in the beginning but failed to lower the enthusiasm of music lovers who thronged the venue. “In colleges and other festivals they usually call Bollywood artists to perform, so rock music lovers like us usually have a very small scope to get what we actually want. With more music festivals in our country dedicated to every specific genre, I think we are moving towards achieving international standards” explained Karan Singh, a 24year-old rock lover.
Last year, Clonefest had a star studded line-up featuring Parikrama, Indigo Children, Thermal and A Quater, Midival Punditz, Them Clones and a fresh new act Avi And The Uprising. With the first gig proving to be a success among audience, this season, being the successor of the initial one, is expected to take the festival to new heights.