Music to unite South Asia

Get set for an enticing weekend. Fifteen rock bands from across nine nations of the sub-continent are set to perform in the City.

A three-day South Asian Bands Festival, in its sixth edition, is bringing some of the best rock music bands from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Myanmar together. Many of these are making their debut in the festival.

While India is being represented by the famous Bollywood singer-composer Clinton Cerejo who has films like Vicky Donor, Saat Khoon Maaf, Wake Up Sid, Ishqiya, Rock On, Yuvraaj etc to his credit apart from Nasya (Delhi), Tough on Tobacco (Mumbai), Shkabang (Mumbai), Digital Suicide (Assam), Shaair and Func (Mumbai) and Galeej Gurus (Bangalore), what is going to be a highlight feature of the festival is Noori, the band from Lahore, Pakistan.

Noori was formed in 1996 by songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist, Ali Noor, along with his younger brother Ali Hamza, and is considered as one of the pioneering forces behind what is dubbed as the ‘21st Century pop revolution of Pakistan’. District Unknown, the first metal band of Afghanistan, with member all under the age of 24, is the other name to watch out for.

The festival will open at Purana Qila on December 7, with the performance by Delhi-based fusion band Nasya, which will play a blend of Sufi, Haryanvi and Punjabi Folk with rock influences.

Their sound is distinctly characteristic, finely balancing classical Hindustani vocal with Western elements like jazz, blues and rock music.
Sanjeev Bhargava, the Festival Director, says, “In the packed cultural calendar of Delhi, the annual South Asian Bands Festival stands out as one of the most popular music festivals of India. It’s magical to see people from all ages throng to the majestic Purana Qila to enjoy the best of rock music from South Asia.”

The other rock bands are Souls (Bangladesh); Thriloka (Sri Lanka); E- SA & His Troupe (Maldives); The Likens (Bhutan); Blaze (Myanmar) and Jindabaad (Nepal), all of whom are making their debut at the festival, being organised by ICCR in collaboration with MEA.

DG, ICCR says, “The festival aims at uniting the whole South Asian region through a youthful energy emanating through rock music and articulates awareness about South-Asian regional cultural themes. We are proud to bring these countries together on one stage through music which is so refreshing.”