A Week of Song & Dance

Almost five years ago, when the indie music scene in Mumbai was going through a slump of sorts, owing to a lack of venues primarily, Mumbai boy Sameer Malhotra decided to do his bit. He began hosting the Windsong Nights at Il Terrazzo in Juhu. Dominated by young singer-songwriters and city-based bands, the monthly event gradually gained popularity and became an important part of the city's cultural calendar. Now that the Windsong Nights are no longer held, Malhotra has come up with the first Windsong Festival, to be held in Goa in collaboration with Percept Group. The festival will take place on December 24 and 25 at Baga beach. "There is only one criterion for participation — good music, irrespective of the genre," says Malhotra. True to his words, the festival boasts an impressive line-up with Delhi-based rock outfit Menwhopause, Punjabi folk rocker Rabbi Shergill and electro-pop band Shkabang, led by vocalist Anuska Manchanda. The tickets are priced at Rs 999 per day.

Closer home, too, the indie music industry is getting in a mood to raise the tempo during the festive season. Chilly winds, jungle setting and a concoction of guitar riffs and mean drums is what the Wild, Wild Fest offers. Being organised by National Geographic channel, the festival will take place on December 22 at Zorba, 2 pm onwards. Solo acts and outfits from various genres are part of the line-up — classic rock band Barefaced Liars, electronica duo Blot! and percussionist Suchet Malhotra. "Till a few years ago, there weren't a lot of such events but the indie music industry is now bubbling with young energy. These fests are a way of celebrating this," says Ranjan Chopra, owner of Zorba.

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