Global comedy superstar Russell Peters is bringing his brand-new critically acclaimed Relax World Tour to India for shows in seven cities including New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Kolkata. Peters arrives in India fresh off sold-out performances in New York, London, Paris, Sydney, Stockholm, Dubai, Riyadh, Singapore and Toronto. Previously, The Emmy, Gemini and Peabody Award-winning comedian has toured India five times—beginning with his 'Somebody!' Tour in 2007, followed by the 'Notorious' World Tour in 2013, the 'Almost Famous World Tour' in 2015, the 'Deported World Tour' in 2019, and most recently the 'Act Your Age' World Tour in 2024. The 2026 Relax World Tour marks Peter's most expansive tour of India till now, giving fans across the country the chance to experience his all-new material as well as his signature, razor-sharp crowd work. Presented and promoted by BEW Live in association with EVA Live, the Russell Peters Relax World Tour, will kick off in March 2026 as he travels to Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai and Kolkata over a span of one month. Russell Peters states, “I love coming to India. It’s home. It’s my roots and one of my favourite places to visit. Performing here is always an incredible experience – the energy, the food, hospitality and the audiences, who are smart, lively and have supported me from day one. I can’t wait to come back!” Deepak Choudhary, founder and managing director, EVA Live states, “As someone who has seen the evolution of live entertainment and comedy in India, it is truly special to present an artist of Russell Peters’ calibre. His comedy cuts across ages, cultures and generations. His ability to innovate while staying true to the humour people admire makes this massive comedy tour a must-attend experience. Only a few iconic comedians of our time have sustained such incredible relevance and popularity over thirty years. Hosting Russell Peters’ Relax World Tour in India reflects EVA Live’s commitment to delivering world-class and multi-genre live entertainment experiences.” Tickets for all shows will be available exclusively on District by Zomato. A pre-sale will begin on December 15 at 12:30 pm and run for 48 hours, followed by a pre-sale for other users starting December 17 at 12:30 pm for five consecutive days. General ticket sales will open on December 22 at 12:30 pm. Tour date and venueMarch 15, 2026 - New Delhi March 18, 2026 – PuneMarch 20, 2026 – Bengaluru March 22, 2026 – Mumbai March 25, 2026 - HyderabadMarch 27, 2026 - Chennai March 29, 2026 - Kolkata
17 December,2025 04:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMusical comedian Morgan Jay, the viral sensation on the internet, is making his India debut with 'The Goofy Guy World Tour' in November 2026. Bringing his unique brand of high-energy musical comedy to two cities including Mumbai and Bengaluru. Jay is a musician and comedian based in Los Angeles, who has made appearances on MTV’s Wild 'n’ Out, NBC, and Comedy Central and was a 2023 Just for Laughs New Face. First-generation American, he takes his musical influences from his Brazilian and Italian background and 90’s upbringing. He got his start in New York where he attended the Tisch School of the Arts while at the same time doing stand-up in the backrooms and bars of the alternative New York comedy scene. Who is Morgan Jay? As an actor, Morgan just wrapped production on Joey Power’s upcoming feature, Love Language, alongside Chloe Grace Moretz and Anthony Ramos and can be seen in Stick opposite Owen Wilson and Marc Maron for Apple TV+ and NBC’s St Denis Medical. Morgan is also the star of J Pinder’s action-comedy Cotton Candy Bubble Gum, which will premiere at SXSW 2025 in the Narrative Spotlight section. Attendees can expect original comedic musical pieces performed live, lightning-fast improvisation, and genuine audience interactions that pull you into the performance. He blurs the lines between standup, concert and theatre, delivering chaotic energy wrapped in infectious enthusiasm. With material spanning relationships to cultural observations, all delivered with musical flair, his shows have become quite popular around the world. Here is a glimpse of his India schedule: Mumbai on November 27 in 2026 at Shanmukhananda AuditoriumBengaluru in November 29 in 2026 at Prestige Srihari Khoday Centre for Performing Arts Commenting on his India debut, Morgan Jay said, “India, I have been grateful for the love I have received virtually over the years. And now, I cannot wait to experience the same with you live.” Rahul Ganjoo, CEO, District by Zomato, said, “India's comedy audience has evolved dramatically. They're hungry for fresh, bold experiences that challenge conventions. Morgan Jay delivers exactly that." The app's users can now add the event to their ‘Hotlist’ to mark their calendars and stay updated. The tickets are live from 10 am on December 17, 2025.
17 December,2025 12:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Vatican unveiled its Nativity scene Monday, December 15, and lit the 25-metre (82-foot) Christmas tree that towers above it in St Peter's Square as a band, chorus and dancers in traditional costumes from Italy's northernmost South Tyrol province performed. The spruce tree hailed from Italy's German-speaking majority autonomous province on the Austrian border, while the life-size Nativity scene was designed by the Nocera Inferiore-Sarno diocese in the southern Campania province, featuring architectural elements from the region. The deputy governor of South Tyrol, Rosmarie Pamer, underlined that three language groups live together peacefully in South Tyrol: Italian, German and Ladino. "This is not to be taken for granted, but is a great gift and a great fortune," she said. The inauguration of the Nativity scene and tree lighting are part of Christmas season events that also will include a Christmas Eve Mass and the traditional Urbi et Orbi, or 'To the City and the World,' address by the pope on Christmas Day. This holiday season will close the Jubilee Year opened by the late Pope Francis. Pope Leo XIV did not attend the evening inauguration of the tree and creche, but earlier in the day denounced the antisemitic violence behind the Hanukkah massacre in Sydney, Australia, during an audience with the donors of the Vatican's Christmas decorations. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 December,2025 09:44 AM IST | Vatican City | APFor 150 tribal students from Arts, Commerce and Science College, Onde, in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, Mumbai became more than just a distant city—it became a classroom beyond textbooks. Organised by the KAASH Foundation, Mumbai, the one-day educational and exposure tour was designed to broaden perspectives and introduce students to academic, cultural, and civic spaces rarely accessible to them. Travelling from Palghar aboard the Flying Ranee Express, the students began their day with a visit to Girgaon Chowpatty, where Mumbai’s coastline offered lessons in history, culture, and urban life. The experience set the tone for a day focused on learning through observation and interaction. A key highlight was their participation in the 20th National Workshop on "Inclusiveness" at the Xavier Institute of Management and Research (XIMR). Discussions on leadership, higher education, and career pathways were led by academic leaders, while interactions with postgraduate students gave participants a relatable view of life beyond undergraduate studies. In the afternoon, the students attended the 21st International Symposium, “Tribal to Global: Connecting Communities and Creating Change”, at the National Gallery of Modern Art. Exposure to international diplomats and senior Indian administrators underscored how local communities connect to global conversations. Speakers encouraged students to pursue education, creativity, and responsible citizenship. The day also featured a cultural performance by the students, warmly received by the audience, reinforcing pride in their identity. A visit to the Gateway of India concluded the tour, leaving students with a lasting impression of Mumbai’s historical legacy. Through initiatives like this, KAASH Foundation continues its work in education, health, skill development, and self-reliance in the Vikramgad region, using exposure as a powerful tool to inspire confidence and ambition among tribal youth.
15 December,2025 09:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCreepy, zany and demonstrably fake content is often called 'slop'. The word's proliferation online, in part thanks to the widespread availability of generative artificial intelligence, landed it Merriam-Webster's 2025 word of the year. "It's such an illustrative word," said Greg Barlow, Merriam-Webster's president, in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press ahead of Monday's announcement. It's part of a transformative technology, AI, and it's something that people have found fascinating, annoying and a little bit ridiculous. 'Slop' was first used in the 1700s to mean soft mud, but it evolved more generally to mean something of little value. The definition has since expanded to mean "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence". In other words, "you know, absurd videos, weird advertising images, cheesy propaganda, fake news that looks real, junky AI-written digital books," Barlow said.AI video generators like Sora have wowed with their ability to quickly create realistic clips based merely on text prompts. But a flood of these images on social media, including clips depicting celebrities and deceased public figures, has raised worries about misinformation, deepfakes and copyright. Such content has existed online for years, but the tools are more accessible now, and used to political ends by, among other figures, the head of the Pentagon. Last month, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a manipulated image of a beloved cartoon turtle, reimagined as a grenade-wielding fighter, to defend US military actions in Venezuela. The Canadian animated show 'Franklin' teaches preschoolers about kindness, empathy and inclusivity, but in Hegseth's hands, its 6-year-old main character became a tool to promote violence. The word 'slop' evokes unpleasant images of mud-caked pigs crowding around a dirty trough, or perhaps a bucket of steaming, fetid stew. Or AI amalgamations of algorithmic biases laden with offensive or nonsensical imagery. For some, the word induces dread. But to Barlow, it brings a sense of hope. The dictionary's president says the spike in searches for the word reflects that people have grown more aware of fake or shoddy content, and desire the inverse. "They want things that are real, they want things that are genuine," he said. "It's almost a defiant word when it comes to AI. When it comes to replacing human creativity, sometimes AI actually doesn't seem so intelligent." To select the word of the year, the dictionary's editors review data about which words have risen in search results and usage. Then they come to a consensus about which word best reflects the span of the year. "We like to think that we are a mirror for people," Barlow said. Over the years, there are words that are consistently looked up, but they're filtered out as the dictionary's editors pick the one that best defines the year at hand.Words like ubiquitous,' paradigm,' albeit,' irregardless,' these are always top lookups because they're words that are on the edge of our lexicon," Barlow said. 'Irregardless' is a word in the dictionary for one reason: It's used. It's been used for decades to mean regardless.' The dictionary has selected one word every year since 2003 to capture and make sense of the current moment. Last year, shortly after the US presidential election and amid the shifting national mood, Merriam-Webster chose the word 'polarisation'. A fresh edition came out last month that adds over 5,000 new words, a rare step that involves fully revising and reimagining one of its most popular dictionaries. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2025 12:39 PM IST | Washington | APA two-day music festival will be organised on December 14 and 15 to commemorate the first death anniversary of legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. The tribute event, titled ‘Maestro Forever – A Tribute to Zakir Hussain’, will be hosted at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Nariman Point, and will feature performances and discussions involving over 50 eminent artistes from India and abroad. The festival will take place on December 14 and 15, 2025, from 9 am to 9 pm at the NCPA. Live screenings will be held on both days from 6 pm to 9 pm. Besides the main venue at Nariman Point, live screenings will be arranged at three locations across Mumbai—Prabodhankar Keshav Sitaram Thackeray Theatre in Borivali (West), Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Olympic Swimming Pool in Dadar (West), and Anna Bhau Sathe Theatre in Byculla (East). Over 50 acclaimed musicians and collaborators associated with Ustad Zakir Hussain will take part. The list features leading Indian and international artistes such as John McLaughlin, Shankar Mahadevan, Amjad Ali Khan, Rakesh Chaurasia, Louis Banks, Ajay Chakrabarty, Ranjit Barot, V. Selvaganesh, Ganesh Rajagopalan, Sanjay Divecha and Chris Potter, among others. Members of Ustad Zakir Hussain’s family, including his wife Antonia and daughters Anisa and Isabella, will also attend. The programme will feature music concerts, panel discussions, interactive sessions, documentary screenings and a photographic exhibition showcasing key moments from the maestro’s life and career. Civic authorities have extended logistical support for live screenings to facilitate public access to the tribute across multiple locations in Mumbai.
14 December,2025 03:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndian singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad captivated thousands of Mumbaikars and fans from all over with a spellbinding performance in the city on Friday, December 12, in the city. Mumbaikars welcomed him with palpable excitement, transforming the night into a heartfelt celebration of emotions, melodies and cherished moments. Taking the stage to thunderous applause, Kuhad delivered his signature mix of tender ballads, indie favourites and crowd-pleasing anthems. With beloved tracks like ‘CO2’, ‘Mulaqat’, ‘All I need’, ‘Teri Hi Hum’, the atmosphere evolved into a sea of swaying lights, soulful sing-alongs and shared nostalgia. Shoven Shah, founder & CEO, TribeVibe Entertainment, added, “Prateek is an artist who can command an entire arena with nothing more than his voice and a guitar that’s the power of his artistry. Mumbai showing up in such impressive numbers reflects both his remarkable reach and the growing appetite for independent music.” After Mumbai, House of McDowell’s Soda Yaari Jam, produced and promoted by TribeVibe Entertainment, will continue its journey across Jaipur, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati, inviting fans to immerse themselves in an experience of music, food and more. Tickets for all the shows are exclusively available on BookMyShow.
13 December,2025 04:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRenowned author Ruskin Bond has been admitted to a hospital in Dehradun due to discomfort in his leg. He is currently undergoing treatment under medical supervision. Bond's family members said that one of Ruskin Bond's legs has weakened, causing difficulty in walking. They added that he is expected to be discharged from the hospital in the next few days. Born on May 19, 1934, in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, Ruskin Bond is known for his captivating stories. Over several decades, he has written many novels, short stories, essays, and children's books. His writing often reflects the peaceful landscapes of his early years in the hills. Bond published his first novel, titled "The Room on the Roof" at the very young age of 17. The novel won the prestigious John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957. He is known for his love for nature, small towns, and children. His work collection expands to over 500 short stories, novels, essays, and poems. His style of writing is focused on telling stories of life in small towns, feel-good stories with deep meaning hidden between the lines, evoking nostalgia, etc. Some of Ruskin Bond's most significant works include novels such as "Vagrants in the Valley", "A Flight of Pigeons", "The Blue Umbrella," and, of course, his award-winning debut novel, "The Room on the Roof." He has written countless heartwarming short stories, including "The Night Train at Deoli," "Time Stops at Shamli," and "Delhi Is Not Far." His poems and essays, such as "Rain in the Mountains" and "A Book of Simple Living," have also earned him global recognition. 91-year-old Ruskin Bond has charmed readers of all ages with his beloved characters. His writing is simple, nostalgic, and deeply evocative. He has received many awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Padma Bhushan, the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, and the Padma Shri. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
13 December,2025 12:09 PM IST | Dehradun (Uttarakhand) | ANIArchaeologists in Turkey have uncovered one of the most important finds from Anatolia's early Christian era: a fresco of a Roman-looking Jesus as the "Good Shepherd." The painting was discovered in August in an underground tomb near Iznik, a town in northwestern Turkey that secured its place in Christian history as the place where the Nicene Creed was adopted in AD 325. Pope Leo XIV recently visited the town as part of his first overseas trip. At the time, the region was part of the Roman Empire, and the tomb in the village of Hisardere is believed to date to the third century, a time when Christians still faced widespread persecution. The Good Shepherd fresco depicts a youthful, clean-shaven Jesus dressed in a toga and carrying a goat across his shoulders. Researchers say it is one of the rare instances in Anatolia where Jesus is portrayed with distinctly Roman attributes. Before the cross was widely adopted as Christianity's universal symbol, the Good Shepherd motif played a key role in expressing faith, indicating protection, salvation and divine guidance. Despite its central role in early Christianity, however, only a few examples of the Good Shepherd have been found in Anatolia and the one in Hisardere is the best preserved. Lead archaeologist Gulsen Kutbay described the artwork as possibly the "only example of its kind in Anatolia." The walls and ceiling of the cramped tomb are decorated with bird and plant motifs. Portraits of noble men and women, accompanied by slave attendants, also decorate the walls. Eren Erten Ertem, an archaeologist from Iznik Museum, said the frescoes showed "a transition from late paganism to early Christianity, depicting the deceased being sent off to the afterlife in a positive and fitting manner." The excavation uncovered the skeletons of five individuals, anthropologist Ruken Zeynep Kose said. Because of poor preservation, it was impossible to determine the ages of two of them, but the others were two young adults and a six-month-old infant. Pope Leo XIV visited Iznik last month to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea that produced a creed, or statement of faith, that is still recited by millions of Christians today. Joined by patriarchs and priests from the Eastern and Western churches, Leo prayed that Christians might once again be united. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, presented a tile painting of the Good Shepherd discovery to Leo during his visit. Anatolia witnessed pivotal moments in Christian history: St Paul was born in Tarsus, St John spent his final years in Ephesus and the Virgin Mary may have lived her last days near the same city.
13 December,2025 09:10 AM IST | Iznik (Turkey) | APIran's art of mirror-work in Persian architecture, UAE's traditional art form that blends performing arts with oral tradition and Switzerland's yodelling -- a vocal technique involving the use of different registers -- were on Thursday inscribed on the UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. A total of 67 cultural elements, including India's Deepavali, have been added to UNESCO's various intangible heritage lists over the period of December 9-11. These include 11 elements put on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and over 50 inscriptions on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The new inscriptions also include Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab Emirates, and Hezhen Yimakan storytelling from China, both of which have been moved from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision was taken during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) being hosted at the Red Fort in Delhi from December 8-13. The phase-wise examination of the 67 nominations submitted by nearly 80 countries had begun on Tuesday, and it was completed on Thursday. This is the first time that India is hosting a session of the intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of ICH. 'Deepavali', Italian cooking, and Al-Muhaibis: social practices and traditions associated with it, from Iraq, among others were inscribed on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. "A total of 67 living heritage elements have been added to UNESCO's lists," a senior official said. On Thursday, Ayeneh-Kari, the art of mirror-work in Persian architecture from Iran was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ayeneh-Kari, or mirror-work, refers to the handcrafted art of decorating architectural surfaces such as ceilings, walls, domes, columns and panels using cut pieces of mirrors, the UNESCO said. India at UNECSO in a post on X said Ali Darabi, Vice-Minister and Deputy for Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of the Islamic Republic of Iran, gifted India's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Vishal V Sharma, an Ayeneh-Kari art depicting the 'Indian emblem', adding that it was "handed over to the Ministry of Culture for display". Cobza, traditional knowledge, skills and music, a joint nomination by the Republic of Moldova and Romania was also accorded a UNESCO tag on Wednesday. The cobza is a pear-shaped string instrument with a short neck and wooden body, traditionally used to provide rhythm and harmony in folk music. It can be played solo or in groups and is usually strummed with a folded goose feather, the world body said. Corina Calugaru, Ambassador of Moldova to France and the country's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO said, "Moldova and Romania share a border and share a culture, whether it is our language or clothing". "We two countries are like sisters, and have fondness for each other. We both have a few other joint elements already inscribed on the UNESCO list such as the art of 'Ia', the traditional blouse with embroidery on the shoulder, inscribed in 2022," Calugaru told PTI on Thursday. She said she was wearing an 'Ia' blouse while attending the UNESCO session in Delhi. The two countries share a border and incidentally, the desk of the members of the Romanian delegation is placed next to the one of Moldova, separated by an aisle. On Tuesday, the traditional saree weaving art of Tangail from Bangladesh and Behzad's style of miniature painting from Afghanistan were among the elements inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The skills and practices of making 'Bisht' (men's Abaa or gown), a transnational nomination, were also inscribed on this list. Besides, 'Lastovo Poklad' carnival custom of Croatia, UAE's Al Sadu and China's Hezhen Yimakan storytelling and have been selected for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices of Intangible Heritage. The joy among the members of the UAE delegation was double as Al Ahalla -- a traditional art form that blends performing arts with oral tradition -- was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, while Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills, was moved to this list from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Abu Dhabi-based Walid Al Halani, a member of the UAE delegation at the session, told PTI, "First or ultimate goal of such meetings is to safeguard the memories of the people, memories of the place, soul of the place... amid rapid urbanisation, we are trying to save what we can, before it's too late." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 December,2025 05:53 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIWeeks after announcing the dates for the upcoming edition, Mahindra Blues Festival, which is set to take place on February 14 and 15 in 2026, has now announced an interesting lineup for the two-day blues music festival in Mumbai. This year’s lineup marks the reunion of several of the festival's legends, along with artists who have captivated audiences with their distinct interpretations of the genre at the iconic Mehboob Studios in Bandra. It spans generations and geographies. From multi-award-winning artists to homegrown acts, to young voices defining blues in the new era. Across both evenings, the audience will witness soul-stirring music, gritty basslines, soaring trumpets, and defiant pulsing through every performance. Matt Schofield, one of the prominent names in the British blues scene, performs on Day 1 of the festival. With over 30 years of experience commanding stages, including 20 years of his solo act, his artistry lies in channelling deep emotion through every note, his improvisational brilliance leaving the audience spellbound. He is the first guitarist inducted into the British Blues Awards Hall of Fame, marking his return after his first appearance in the first edition of the festival. All the way from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the dynamic quintet, Altered Five Blues Band, has been dominating charts and ruling hearts since 2002. The collective’s frontman and singer, Jeff Taylor, may remind you of legends like Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King, but his smooth, buttery voice remains authentic and unmistakably his own. The group has remained at the forefront of contemporary blues for over a decade, and now the band is all set to make the audience groove to its tunes on day one of the festival. Multi-Grammy Award nominee, Shemekia Copeland, will grace the Mahindra Blues Festival’s stage again. Daughter of the legendary blues artist Johnny Copeland, Shemekia’s music is shaping the soundtrack of modern America—powerful, ferocious, and hopeful. The Harlem-born artist established herself as a powerful blues and R&B artist at the age of 18 with debut album Turn The Heat Up. After mesmerizing the blues fans with her acts in 2011 and 2017, she is bringing back her deeply soulful roots voice which will be a perfect end to the power-packed first day. India’s original blues-rock pioneers, Blackstratblues, returns to the festival. Founded by Warren Mendonsa, the collective made instrumental blues cool. Composed of drummer Jai Row Kavi, bassist Adil Mistry, and keyboardist Beven Fonseca, this quartet has seamlessly infused electronic and psychedelic influences, while also drawing heavily from ‘60s and ‘70s blues-based melodic rock. The collective’s inspirational work led to the Soulstrat Saloon, a stage named as a tribute to them at the festival. Amidst this wave of a renewed interest in blues, young voices like D.K. Harrell are taking the baton forward. His debut album Talkin’ Heavy has already made him the defining voice of this generation. The 27-year-old's musicality is adventurous, exploratory, and a fusion of traditional music and contemporary compositions. The 14th Edition marks his debut at Asia's biggest celebration of blues. Central to this resurgence, we must acknowledge Eric Gales, who has become a driving force in this new era. With a unique style and a genre-defying grunge sound, the Grammy-nominated artist has easily become a favourite in the blues circuit. Recently, he was featured on the soundtrack of Ryan Coogler’s globally acclaimed and smash-hit horror film Sinners. This isn't his first rodeo at the festival. In 2017, he was a guest feature with the headliner Supersonic Blues Machine. Now, the Memphis blue-rocker is all set to bring the house down with his act, transporting the audience in a musical trance. Talking about the 14th edition of the festival, Jay Shah, who is the vice president, Cultural Outreach at the Mahindra Group, said, “We are witnessing a growing interest in blues. This cultural shift is significant, as there are so many talented individuals and pioneers who are striving to preserve and propel the magic of this genre. This year’s line-up is as diverse as it can get, an act from the homeland, a British act, along with veterans and the future voices. This gives us hope that through our efforts, the globe is becoming a unified village, basking in the glory of the blues.” VG Jairam, founder of Hyperlink Solutions, said, “The world is rediscovering the resilience, love, and power that blues holds. Blues has been one of the genres that told diverse and authentic stories in the most audacious ways. Like every edition, we have an ensemble of the best talents across the world coming together for evenings filled with love, hope, and everything Blues.” Like the past two editions, the Mahindra Blues Festival will continue its tradition of giving a platform to the young artists through the Kanakia Beatz Crew and Nanhi Kali Choir. The girls performing are part of one of the company’s philanthropic endeavours called the Nanhi Kali Project, a programme helping the underprivileged girls to continue their education. While empowering young girls, the festival also nurtures and promotes young artists through The Big Blues Band Hunt competition. The winning band performs at the Garden Stage during the festival.
12 December,2025 01:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
