Six Bands, five genres, four countries and two continents will rock at one venue in the Sikkim Music Fest 2010 in Gangtok, Sikkim on Sunday, November 21. The seven hour day-night gala celebration from 2:00pm – 9:00 pm at Palzor Stadium in Gangtok will see local bands rubbing shoulders with teams from Iran, Canada and Nepal.

A unique Music Festival and the biggest of its kind in the History of Sikkim the Music Fest will see “Mainstream POP/Rock Bands to Hard hitting Right on your Face Metal”, to quote from the promo of the fest. The fest has been conceptualised by Darjeeling based Defenders’ of Metal.

The six teams which will feature in the event are: Arsames {Iran, Genre: Ancient Death Metal}, Avatara {Canada, Genre: Metal}, X-Mantra {Kathmandu (Nepal), Genre: Metal}, Sabin Rai {Dharan (Nepal), Genre: Rock/POP}, Still Waters {Gangtok (Sikkim, India), Genre: Rock} and Dark Murder Scheme {Darjeeling (India), Genre: Groove Metal}. The fest will also feature Guitar Solo Act by Kusang the Guitarist of “Grungy Morphins”.

The organiser of the event Hozo Rai of Defenders’ of Metal told iSikkim that the motivating factor behind the event is to get international exposure for the local music talent. This is the first time such an event is being organised but he has plans to hold it every year and rope in more bands. “We never have big events in this region. We want to make a brand out of it”, says Mr. Rai. How do you meet the expenses? “We have hardly any sponsorship till date. We are meeting the expense from our pocket”.

Ask him why he felt the need to organise such an event and Hozo tells, “I have been a musician for over ten years now. If you take the case of Indian media, we have always been neglected. We never get invitation for the big events that are organised every year across the country.” How do you expect to benefit from the event? “We are trying to accommodate more and more bands from across the world and do some exchange kind of thing. It’s like we invite bands from their place so that we also get invited to perform in their country”, says Hozo. What are the future plans of the man behind the show? Hozo says excitingly, “This time we could accommodate only one band from Sikkim and one from Darjeeling. The rest teams are coming from Napal, Canada and Iran. But this time we had to set up a brand kind of thing so we have more international teams. We plan to organise Sikkim Music Fest in May 2011 and rope in talents from Darjeeling, Gangtok, Namchi and other local places. ”

The Official Magazine Partner for the event is the U.S. based Rolling Stone and Radio Partner is Radio Misty Sikkim 95 F.M.
The tickets for the event will cost: Early Birds @ Rs. 150 and Counter Sales @ Rs. 200. The early bird tickets can be purchased against cash from Baker’s Café, M.G.Marg (220195) and Cafe Live and Loud, Tibet road, Gangtok, Sikkim.

 

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