THE WEEKENDERS

Meanwhile,Ankur Tewari played his first solo Bacardi NH7 Weekender set,accompanied only by an accordion player,at MTS Other Stage. Your Chin,the solo project of Sky Rabbit-frontman Raxit Tewari,drew one of the largest crowds of the day,playing favourites from his debut EP such as I want a lake and Fall someplace. Bangalore’s blues rock band Parvaaz opened The Dewarists stage,and their tight set received an excellent response as they played material off their acclaimed debut EP,Behosh. The last act at The Dewarists stage was by Indian Ocean,who performed a number of hits such as Ma Rewa and Kandisa to a cheering audience.

For shoppers and hipsters

The Bacardi NH7 Weekender has a very vibrant flea market,loaded with merchandise from several upcoming designers,brands as well as established shops. Some interesting stalls that call for attention include first-time entrant Dark Reflections,where one can buy hand-crafted dream catchers and accessories made from feathers. The shop Mai Mai,run by young designer Maiti Shahani,sells wreaths made from cloth and plastic flowers,along with delicate hair accessories. The “not-even-a-month-old” brand GO YOLO is a treat for television show lovers,as the shop has a wide range of T-shirts,badges and other accessories inspired by shows such as Game of Thrones,Breaking Bad and Dexter. If you need inspiration for gifting,the stall What’s In A Name makes personalised,glow-in-the-dark photo frames designed with personal messages — in a canvas form.

For Foodies

The festival might be picnic-like,but you can’t take any food or drinks inside. The food court,however,offers a wide range of options for those with a large appetite. From Olive Bistro,Kimling,Tim Luck Luck,Woodside Burgers,to Faaso’s and Chokolade,a foodie has no reason to go hungry while feasting on music.

The Flipside

While the festival is well-organised and smooth,the scene outside is total chaos. Late entrants struggled for parking. While a guard was overheard threatening people that he will deflate the tyres,others were sending people off to the designated parking area,more than one kilometre away. “I can’t walk all that way,” rued 20-year-old Srishti Dongra,who was wearing high heels. Erratic mobile phone network was another problem for many.

Things to Look Forward To At the Bacardi Arena,check out performances by Sky Rabbit and Pentagram on Sunday. While Dualist Inquiry will perform at Eristoff Wolves Den at 7:30 pm,The Vinyl Records will be at the Red Bull Tour Bus at 4:30 pm. Check out the act by Papon and the East India Company at The Dewarists stage and the act by Vir Das’ Alien Chutney at MTS Other Stage,on Sunday.