Someplace Else ushered in World Music Day on Saturday night with a special treat for music lovers: a line-up of all its in-house bands! Orient Express, Krosswindz, Span, Insomnia, Crystal Grass, Hip Pocket and The Saturday Night Blues Band rocked the packed pub till 2am. From the Deep Purple favourite Highway Star (by Krosswindz, in picture) and Van Halen’s Jump (by Hip Pocket), to funky covers by Orient Express, blues classics by The Saturday Night Blues Band to Span and Crystal Grass’s originals, it was a very cool way to celebrate the day — or night!

Kolkata Music Academy celebrated World Music Day a little differently than others, with sonatas, canticles and rondeaux. On Sunday, St John’s Church saw a congregation that was rapt in the music conducted by Abraham Mazumder. The evening began with Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and ended with the classic Moheener Ghoraguli tune Hay bhalobashi. The Rabindrasangeet Godhuli gagane meghe by Saheb Chatterjee was impressive, while Mohua Das’s rendition of Scarborough Fair and the trumpet solo by Eddie Taber had the audience holding their breath. Young musicians from Hope Home joined in the celebrations in the true spirit of Fete de la Musique.

Aliance Francaise du Bengale celebrated World Music Day eve at Tollygunge Club on Saturday, offering French, Bengali and English songs. Students of the institute sang favourites like Dernier Baiser with as much ease as Aami chini go chini. Director Claude Alexandre Martinez sang a charming Couleur Café, joined in by the students. The guest performance by Five Little Indians, quite a contrast to the choir, raised the energy level at the tea lawns with its popular songs Go Back In Time, I Just Learned, Gleam and a revamped Survive. Complemented by entertaining chatter, FLI kept the spirits up,capping the musical evening.