When the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB) begins with Livewire — Mood Indigo’s platform for the best bands in India—¿ students, band members and rock-lovers alike will pay tribute to the victims of Mumbai terror strikes in a unique way.

For the first time, an international band will perform on a city stage without charging the audience an entry fe— ¿ something unheard of in a city where entertainment tax is often the biggest dampener for audiences and bands alike.

The concert will be dedicated to victims of the terror attacks, something organisers of the festival feel they must do as a means to show their solidarity with them.

Finnish rock band Ensiferum will perform on December 20, at the Open Air Theatre at IITB. The band comprises Petri Lindroos (vocals, guitar), Markus Toivonen (guitar, vocals) Sami Hinkka (bass, vocals), Janne Parviainen (drums) and Emmi Silvennoinen (live/ session keyboards).

“We had called the band in September. They confirmed it recently. When we told them about dedicating it to the victims, they were extremely willing and said it gave them an even better reason to come,” said third year mechanical engineering student Ishank Gupta, co-ordinator, Media and Public Relations.

As a policy, says Gupta, Mood Indigo has never charged an entry fee for the concerts. “But this is the first time that an international concert is being held without an entry fee being charged. Professional rock bands usually have high charges for entry, anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. But we decided to waive it as a symbolic gesture,” he said.

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