Notes from the desert in the city
29 Nov 2012 3:53 AM IST
Fifty artistes, 12 bands, four continents and a mix of modern and ancient sounds right in the heart of Delhi. Throw in the right ambience and you just might have a winner on your hands. We are talking about the second Amarrass Desert Music Festival that will be held in Delhi.
Held at Siri Fort last year, the music festival is literally headed to greener pastures this year as the number of artistes are doubled, more collaborations are on board and hopefully bigger crowds this time around. The festival this year has quite an interesting line-up featuring the likes of Bombino, often called the Hendrix of Niger, BaBa ZuLa (creators of Istanbul Psychedelia) and Sakar Khan, Padmashri Awardee in one of his rare public performances, and the Barmer Boys.
Spread over two days, the festival will also play host to a large number of young, upcoming talents from across the country which include names like Dischordian, Tritha Electric, Harpreet Singh, The Blue Infinity and Alan Rego.
There will also be a special Indo-Welsh collaboration I Adra with Tauseef Akhtar (ghazal singer) and Gwyneth Glyn (singer/songwriter) along with Georgia Ruth Williams on the harp. ‘We are looking forward to more collaborations this year,’ says Ankur Malhotra, co-founder and director of Amarrass. After the success of the festival last year, the record company decided make things bigger this year, thus the change of venue and the doubled list of performers, explained Malhotra.
The best part of the festival, besides the chance to listen to some electic sounds from across deserts, are the ancient instruments that will be a part of the performers repertoire. The audience will not only have a chance to hear them on stage but also can touch, feel and learn of the instruments up close in an exhibition and they can interact with performers over the two days. While the organisers promise a refreshing change, we say head over and check it out for yourself this weekend.
DETAIL
At: Zorba, 166 Mehrauli Gurgaon Road
When: 1, 2 December
Timings: 2 pm and 10 pm
For Passes: http://www.amarrass.com/events/desert-music-festival
Held at Siri Fort last year, the music festival is literally headed to greener pastures this year as the number of artistes are doubled, more collaborations are on board and hopefully bigger crowds this time around. The festival this year has quite an interesting line-up featuring the likes of Bombino, often called the Hendrix of Niger, BaBa ZuLa (creators of Istanbul Psychedelia) and Sakar Khan, Padmashri Awardee in one of his rare public performances, and the Barmer Boys.
Spread over two days, the festival will also play host to a large number of young, upcoming talents from across the country which include names like Dischordian, Tritha Electric, Harpreet Singh, The Blue Infinity and Alan Rego.
There will also be a special Indo-Welsh collaboration I Adra with Tauseef Akhtar (ghazal singer) and Gwyneth Glyn (singer/songwriter) along with Georgia Ruth Williams on the harp. ‘We are looking forward to more collaborations this year,’ says Ankur Malhotra, co-founder and director of Amarrass. After the success of the festival last year, the record company decided make things bigger this year, thus the change of venue and the doubled list of performers, explained Malhotra.
The best part of the festival, besides the chance to listen to some electic sounds from across deserts, are the ancient instruments that will be a part of the performers repertoire. The audience will not only have a chance to hear them on stage but also can touch, feel and learn of the instruments up close in an exhibition and they can interact with performers over the two days. While the organisers promise a refreshing change, we say head over and check it out for yourself this weekend.
DETAIL
At: Zorba, 166 Mehrauli Gurgaon Road
When: 1, 2 December
Timings: 2 pm and 10 pm
For Passes: http://www.amarrass.com/events/desert-music-festival
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