The months to come promise all the music action that you can get
The months to come promise all the music action that you can get
If you are a lover of folk music then make the most of the long weekend and take a trip to Jodhpur. The Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival) is irrefutably the best place to go on a goose-bump ride watch not just one or two artistes but communities of musicians tracing their roots against the spectacular backdrop of the Mehrangarh fort. The five-day festival (October 1-5) has a range of performances including traditional and urban folk music and original collaborations involving maestros and a night long of Dharohar, an original Rajasthani club act put together especially for the festival by festival director Divya Bhatia Jodhpur RIFF. "I created it in 2005 and Dharohar performed for the first time at the Bandra Festival last year. It's not fusion but original organic music. Dharohar (which means tuning into legacy) will be touring UK and India next year." Bhatia, who speaks to us from Jodhpur, is in the thick of production. There will be some crazy jams, he vows. Catching a performance which shows off other rare traditional instruments such as the morchang, khartal and nagada are also some of the big highs of the festival. Bhatiau00a0 recommends that traditional folk music buffs should catch the performances on October 3 and 4 (see calendar).
Next up is the Eastwind Festival. The first Eastwind was the biggest jamboree that the country had seen last year with over 60 bands putting up shows. Rising stars such as East India Company, menwhopause, oidua, Cassini's Division and Span made a splash alongside big guns such as Indian Ocean, Parikrama, Thermal & A Quarter and Pentagram. The actual dates of the festival are no longer October 23, 24 and 25 but the stage had been set for an eco-friendly Eastwind 2009.
The Jazz Utsav previously known as the Mumbai Jazz Yatra has been downsized to two days from three, beginning November 21. There's been a change in the venue too the fest has moved from the Bandra amphitheatre to South Mumbai's Priyadarshini Park on Nepeansea Road. Seven international bands including drummer Andrea Marcelli, Beatles Jazz who as the name suggests do jazz versions of Beatles' hits will perform at the festival over two days and Indophile Saskia Laroo amongst others.
2009 also marks the beginning of a brand new festival in the North East the North East Youth festival. The three day festival which begins on October 8 also includes a rock competition. "We're sending Diatribe from Nagaland," says Gukhato Chisi, head of Nagaland's music task force of the Kohima-based metal act. The year draws to a close with the week-long Hornbill Festival, which opens on December 1 in Kohima. A huge draw for locals and tourists, the Hornbill Festival showcases folk music and dance performances although it's more tourist exotica than a cultural experience. The bigger attraction is the National Hornbill Rock Contest that spans over four days and it sees some of the best rock and metal acts across the North East.
BLAZING RIFF
Some highlights at the Jodhpur RIFF
October 1
Performances including Braj ki Holi from Deeg, Bhapang and Jogis of Mewa, Chakri dance of Shekawati, Kalbeliya dances and vocal concerts by Qawaal Ghulam Hussain
October 2
Devotional songs based on the works of Kabir, Mirabai, Ramdev and Sufi legends such as Baba Bulle Shah, Rasool and Ghulam Farid. Vocal recitals by Rekha Bhardwaj, Rehana Mirza, Bhanwari Devi. Club night by Rajasthani club act Dharohar and folk rock bash by Bengaluru-based Swarathma
October 3
Performances including traditional instruments narh, surinda, maate, madal, raavanhatta, murla, jantar and the kaawad. Rajasthani string special: performances on the sarangi, the khamachya and the surinda. A classical-folk jam by Ustad Sultan Khan and Lakha Khan Manganiyar, Langa community's act
October 4
Folk music maestros on wind instruments of the desert murali, algoza, pungi, mashak and morchang. Riff rustle with percussionist Sivamani in a crazy jam with RIFF artistes
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