FIRESTARTERS

However,there is more than a grain of truth in what Dixit said: the NH7 Weekender,which was held from December 9-12 in Pune,was a definite success,as hordes of peoplelocal and outsidersturned up to listen to the smorgasbord of music that the festival offered. Its fair enough to say that not a single performance went under-attended,even though some of the countrys best-known independent music artists were performing at the same time at the different stages. Over 10,000 people attended this three-day festival. Pentagram,Indian Ocean,Susheela Raman,Zero,The Raghu Dixit Project and Asian Dub Foundation ADF were among the most well-attended shows,but even relatively younger bands like psychedelic rockers Bicycle Days and Pune-based metal outfit,Noiseware got a good turnout. We knew the first edition of the festival would be special,but this exceeded all our expectations, says Vijay Nair,CEO,Only Much Louder.

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 ADFs 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 Shaair 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,thoughbig tin drums painted black,a bar made of discarded audiotapes and a small television screen with a bottle smashed right through iteverything 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,Weve 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 havent 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 Pentragrams gig as well. Junkyard Groove was seen enjoying Zeros gig,Vishal Dadlani and Bobby Talwar were spotted all over the place,while Monica Dogra jammed with Ashu and the Petri Dish,right before Shaair Func went live at the Eristoff stage.