Gangtok, January 21, 2013

The first audition for the Red Ribbon Unplugged Contest 2013 concluded here at 31-A Studio, Deorali on January 19. A total of 20 bands from the North and East districts qualified for the second round of the annual musical extravaganza.

Out of 43 bands registered for the contest 24 bands took auditioned in which only 20 bands from the 24 have been given the go-ahead by the judges to compete in the next round.

The organiser said that the winners of the Red Ribbon Unplugged contest will be awarded with a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while the second and third runners-up will receive Rs 50,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively.

The winner of the contest will have the option to choose either the Cash Prize or a package that has an album recording contract with Viacom Studio, Mumbai and making of a video album that will be directed by local film maker, Prashant Rasaily.

The Red Ribbon Unplugged 2013 is part of Red Fest under the Multi Media Campaign that is being sponsored by the Sikkim State Aids Control Society (SSACS) and is being organised by Serenity Home, rehabilitation and detoxification centre, Gangtok.

Auditions for the same is being held at two venues — for the East and North districts in Gangtok and for the South and West districts at Karfectar, Jorethang.

The quarter finals of the contest will be held on February 2 at Gangtok, the semi finals will be held at Municipal Hall, Namchi on February 9 and the finals will be held at Manan Kendra, Gangtok on February 17.

The judges for the Red Ribbon Unplugged are SK Pradhan, Albert Gurung and Niki Rai, who will be judging the contestants in three categories — the first being vocals under which the judges will evaluate their tone, diction and lyrics clarity.

Secondly the judges are looking at the overall balance of the contestants where once again the band’s vocal output, guitars, drums and keys will be tested. The last category where the judges will evaluate the participants will be on the overall presentation.

The participants will not make use of any electrical guitars including gadgets in their presentation because the competition is unplugged. However, the judges and the organisers have allowed one electric bass guitar and a synthesizer on piano mode to all participants. Instruments like tabla, violin, congo and thumba along with acoustic guitars with pick-ups have been allowed.

The organisers informed that for the West and South districts, a total of 15 bands and solo artists have registered for the auditions slated for Januray 26 at Jorethang.

The 20 bands which make it to the next round from Gangtok are Arch Angels, Perfect Encounter, Lazy Fingers, Cloud Canyon, Off-Strings, 80’s Engine, Silent Soul, Reverb, Secret Union, Milestone, Smaran, Purple Hertz, Road House Invasion, Atonals, Ban Jhakri Rejects, Heroes of Faith, Sanskriti band, B-Tunes, Butt Punch and Suspended Animation.

 

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