The much awaited annual music festival, Baajaa Gaajaa is back with it’s fourth edition! Dedicated to diversity in music and curated by Shubha Mudgal and Aneesh Pradhan, this three-day festival provides a much needed platform for upcoming musicians with talent and energy that deserves the appreciation of music lovers. From February 10th-12th, make sure you’re at Ishanya in Yerawada, Pune. And to make it easier for you, here is a stage-wise selection of acts we suggest you catch if you’re in town for it:
Amphitheatre
The sessions in the amphitheatre are the highlights of each day of Baajaa Gaajaa. Great musical performances coupled with the winter chill of early February make each of these evenings a warm memory to take home for all age groups.
Feb 10, 2012
7pm – Inauguration:
The festival curators, Aneesh Pradhan & Shubha Mudgal will inaugurate Baajaa Gaajaa, 2012 along with chief guest, Javed Akhtar, the eminent poet and film personality who needs no introduction. If for nothing, reach in time to hear his (possibly poetic?) speech.
7.30-10pm – Songs for Papa Rock: A tribute concert to Amit Saigal
As a tribute to the recently deceased and beloved founder and editor of Rock Street Journal, Amit Saigal, a three band tribute performance will kick off the festival in the Ishanya amphitheatre:
The musical spectrum of Adil Manuel and Vasundhara Vidalur spans Jazz Fusion, Funk, RnB, Blues and Gospel. Extensively working with artists based in India and abroad, their focus has been the creation of new sounds and energies through collaboration, exchange and cross-influence.
Pink Noise is the late night alter-ego of Kolkata-based band, Skinny Alley. The quartet was formed in 2006 to create sophisticated improvised rock. The band has since morphed into a performance-art platform featuring sound, theatre, image and space. [Note: It’s a family band in the true sense of the term. You’ll understand when you watch them live.]
Hailing from Shillong, Soulmate is said to be made up of blues-guitar player, songwriter and singer, Rudy Wallang, vocalist Tipriti Kharbangar who also plays rhythm guitar, bassist Ferdy Dkhar and drummer Sam Shullai. One of India’s pioneer Blues bands, Soulmate is a must watch for blues and jazz fans.
Feb 11, 2012
7.30-9.30 pm – More Stories in a Song: A Musical collage of Theatre, Literature & History
A musical theatrical performance directed by Sunil Shanbag and conceptualized by Shubha Mudgal. All the research, music composition & selection for this performance has been done exclusively by the curators, Shubha Mudgal and Aneesh Pradhan.
Feb 12, 2012
7.30-9.30 pm – Dhamaal: A celebration of drumming and percussion styles
Curated by Aneesh Pradhan, Dhamaal is a celebration and showcase of the diversity in drumming techniques. The ambiance for the show has been designed by Sabyasachi. The performance will see folk drummers from various parts of the country collaborating with other percussionists, vocalists and guitarists. Some musicians featured are Dilip Das and group (Kolkata), Manipuri drummers from Anjika, Ramanbaug dhol-tasha pathak (Pune), Shahir Azad Naikawadi kala pathak (Kolhapur), Punjabi dhol players (Pune), Haridas Shinde and group (Alandi), Ben Walsh and Bobby Singh (Australia) along with vocalist Avadhoot Gandhi (Alandi), guitarist Max Clouth and bassist Marc-Inti Mannel Saaved-era (Germany) among others. This is a rhythmic evening one should definitely not miss out on.
Aangan
The Aangan is where you will find a melodious range of singer-songwriters and musicians experimenting with their voice and instruments or collaborating with artistes of similar or distinctly different musical styles. For those keen on a more Western sound rather than Indian classical, you’ll probably find yourself sitting here throughout Day 2 & 3 of the festival. The entire line up for this stage sounds quite good overall, but these are the acts that you cannot miss:
Feb 11, 2012
11-11.30 am – Ben Walsh
Ben Walsh, an Australian percussionist, composer and performer was at last year’s edition of Baajaa Gaajaa playing the Circle of Rhythm, as he calls his set up. This time round, he will be conducting another demonstration of his Wheel of Life while in conversation with tabla player Bobby Singh.
12.15-1 pm – Max Clouth, Marc Inti, and Benoni Soans
The three are all renowned musicians in the field of jazz with a variety of influences that they bring into their music. Max Clouth is a young seasoned German guitarist who has also received training in Indian classical music, Marc Inti-Mannel is the bassist of Flamenco/World Jazz group, Triotonos, of which Max is also a part, Benoni Soans is a veteran jazz drummer who gigs with various jazz ensembles including Shubha Mudgal’s fusion band, Koshish. Expect something of an Indo-Jazz instrumental fusion for the 45 minutes they’ll be on stage.
3.45-4.30 pm – Prateek Kuhad and Vir Singh Brar
Prateek is a pop rock singer-songwriter from New York/Jaipur who released his self-titled debut EP last year. Prateek will be playing many of his OCs in his set and will be accompanied by Vir Singh Brar on the percussions.
Feb 12, 2012
12.15-1 pm – Arjun Verman and Brian Citro
This seemingly odd combination of musicians played Escape Festival at Naukuchiatal last year, and their set was one of the highlights of the festival. Arjun Verman is an aspiring singer from Delhi who has done his diploma in music from the London School of Music. Brian Citro, who is from a jazz background, is known for providing texture to the music on his electric guitar. Their set should be a breath of fresh air!
3-3.45 pm – Dhruv Visvanath
Dhruv Visvanath is a 19-year-old experimental guitarist and singer based in New Delhi. Alongside the guitar he’s a trained pianist, a self taught drummer, bassist and even plays the djembe. Dhruv will be doing some of the covers that he usually does in his set along with some new OC. It will be both a vocal and an instrumental set and a guaranteed memorable listening experience.
Jalsaghar
Think Hindustani classical music in an open air environment and a wide range of instruments ranging from the harmonium and tabla to the pakhawaj and jaltarang filling up each nook and corner of the space. That is the Baajaa Gaajaa Jalsaghar stage. Our recommendations:
Feb 11, 2012
11.45-12.15 pm – Pung Cholom & Dhol Dholok Cholom
Enjoy a short set of Manipuri music performed by Sanjoy Singh, Ranbir Singh, Sunder Singh, Neelachandra Singh.
3.45-4.15 pm – Dhak folk music of Bengal
This will be another short set but worth catching: Dilip Das and his group of Dhak players from West Bengal.
5-5.45 p.m – Emotions
A lovely performance of instrumental thematic music to allow the emotions to come out through the medium of music. The line up comprises of Santosh Sant and Amit Kavthekar (tabla), Ajay Joglekar (key-board), Atonu Gautam (guitar) and Deepak Borkar (additional percussion).
Feb 12, 2012
11.45-12.15 pm – Prachi Dublay & Naran performing Adivasi music of Gujarat
Prachi Dublay is a Pune-based vocalist trained in Hindustani Music. She has even explored the depth and beauty of adivasi music in an effort to revitalize traditions within the tribal communities. She has re-sung many tribal songs originally sung by adivasi women of Gujarat in their traditional way. She will be accompanied by Naran.
3-4.30 pm – Bandish Dangal (musical game)
We are not sure what kind of ‘musical game’ this will be but just go attend to see for yourself. The one consolation you can attend this with is knowing that since it’s an Indian classical stage, the game probably won’t be the Musical Chairs kind!
5-5.30 pm – Siddhesh Bicholkar on the jaltarang
Hailing from Goa, 26-year-old Siddhesh Bicholkar is one of the few jaltarang players in the country. The Jaltarang, one of the most rarely heard and oldest instruments in the world today. It consists of china bowls filled with water and struck by means of two cane sticks. Siddhesh will play this unusual instrument and will be accompanied by Swapnil Bhise on the tabla.
