Jailhouse Ska

In an age when indie music is living off alternative gig spaces,the prison too has emerged as a venue for music performances. After Delhi band Menwhopause got on stage in Jail Number 7 at the Capital’s Tihar Jail last December,it became one of their most unforgettable gigs. Following the guitar riffs of this band,The Ska Vengers (in the picture) are also set to perform in Tihar’s Jail Number 4 on April 26. Known for mixing dub with Jamaican ska,punk,jazz and hip hop,this Delhi band’s sound is known to have paved way for offbeat genres to enter the indie music scene. “We wanted to have a New Year’s gig at Tihar jail but that didn’t work out,” says Stefan Kaye,keyboardist of The Ska Vengers.

Inmates of Jail Number 6 that comprises women prisoners and Jail Number 7 that houses young offenders aged 18-21 years,apart from those living in Jail Number 4,will form the audience at this gig. “It will be a very different and discerning audience and I think far more responsive too. It should be a treat for them and us,” says Kaye.

Though their songs are mostly in English,the band is working on their own version of the popular Bollywood number Dum maaro dum and are also translating some of their songs in Hindi. “One doesn’t need to know the language to enjoy a performance. We are also planning to come up with songs on the jail,” says Kaye. The performance will be opened by Delhi-based hip hop and break dance collective,SlumGods.