TWO DAYS. SIX STAGES. 46 GIGS. 8,000 MUSIC LOVERS. THE CALCUTTA DEBUT OF BACARDI NH7 WEEKENDER, IN ASSOCIATION WITH t2, WAS A ROCKING SUCCESS

at ibiza! the dAY two highlights...

This little big man with his raw voice, rustic melodies and Sufi philosophy sent the crowd into a tizzy, of course without a note out of place. That was Kailash Kher and his band Kailasa who ruled the Dewarists stage at Ibiza Resort (Merlin Greens) on Sunday evening with Aaoji, Teri deewani, Saiyyaan, Na bataati tu (Na dhin dhin na) and Tauba tauba. On Kailash’s invitation, all the “beautiful, wonderful girls” in the audience joined him on stage to jive to Joban chhalke.

It was a blast on the Bacardi Arena as well as off it when The Ska Vengers, the Delhi-based band wearing hats and lots of attitude, rapped and rolled. Sounds of reggae, dancehall, dub, punk and jazz on saxophone blended with in-your-face lyrics.... CRPF could rape your daughter/ Some youths wear the balaclava/ Ready to come and unleash the lava/ Kashmir look like Gaza/ It’s an intifada…. Taru Dalmia and Samara C rapped before going a cappella on the words per second. Takeaway message from the band: “If you’re tired of your businessman alcoholic husband, come to The Ska Vengers,” Taru, aka Delhi Sultanate, told the women. Samara C, aka Begum X, warned: “You can have my husband but don’t mess with my man.”

The grand finale was a power-packed performance by the Karsh Kale Collective + NH7 All Stars, featuring Karsh on the tabla and drums, and Apeksha Dandekar, Benny Dayal, Vishal Dadlani, Scribe and Nucleya taking turns to stage the closing act.

the crowd and their cool styles made a real carnival out of NH7 Weekender

Head-Turners: (L-R) We loved Nayantara’s fanhawk, Abby Abdullah’s half-shaved hairstyle, Benno from Germany who sported many piercings, the ‘Got beer?’ girl, Adrija Maulik’s floral headband, Diya Bhattacharya’s Pirates of the Caribbean hat and Vaibhav’s funky sunglass-moustache

Text: Mohua Das, Pramita Ghosh, Mathures Paul
Pictures: Anindya Shankar Ray

What did you like best about Bacardi NH7 Weekender? Tell t2@abp.in