Fire starters

Arriving at the venue,one got the sense that it was very different from other music festivals that have been organised in the country so far. Each stage had a distinct look and feel. The Eristoff Wolves Den,which hosted the electronica acts,was definitely the best looking of the lot,with white streamers and multi-coloured lights getting the ‘club’ look just right. The wildest crowd gathered here for international act ADF’s performance on the final day. The Dewarists Stage,which saw the folk and fusion acts performing,had paper lanterns strung up inside,with the interactive art feature,Exhibit NH7 on one side of it. Rohit Pereira,a.k.a,The P-Man,of Khiladi,even hosted a small Koffee with Karan spoof,called Coffee with P-Man,where he interviewed Sid Coutto of Zero and Randolph Correia of Shaa’ir + Func. There was a small crafts corner for children and we did indeed see many families turn up for the festival with their young ones in tow. The Bacardi Black Rock Arena had the most personality,though—big tin drums painted black,a bar made of discarded audiotapes and a small television screen with a bottle smashed right through it—everything here screamed of rock and heavy metal.

What was really great was the Weekender actually looked like what it was meant to be— a music festival for all music lovers,young and old,musicians and non-musicians. Most attendees were spoilt for choice when it came to music and kept shuttling between the different stages. The happiest perhaps,were the artistes. Dixit was emphatic when he said,“We’ve been treated like kings here. In festivals abroad,we have to make our our own travel and living arrangements and carry our own equipment. Here we were free of those worries and could simply focus on the music.” This was seconded by Ameeth Thomas,vocalist for Junkyard Groove. “Every little detail has been taken care of,and I haven’t come across a better organised festival in India.”

The happiness and satisfaction showed in the way artistes hung back for other gigs,even after their own shows had ended. Scribe frontman Vishwesh K. gave a delightful impromptu performance along with Swarathma and was seen right at the front of Pentragram’s gig as well. Junkyard Groove was seen enjoying Zero’s gig,Vishal Dadlani and Bobby Talwar were spotted all over the place,while Monica Dogra jammed with Ashu and the Petri Dish,right before Shaa’ir + Func went live at the Eristoff stage.