• It’s great to be a part of this — Rupam Islam, frontman of rock band Fossils

• It’ll be two days of happy mayhem — Neel Adhikari, singer-songwriter

• We’re getting to be part of a cultural renaissance in India — Mutemath, Grammy-nominated American alternative rock band.

All riffs lead to one festival — Bacardi NH7 Weekender, in association with t2, at Nicco Park. Want it in figures? Thirty-nine gigs. Five stages. Two days (Saturday-Sunday). And 12,000-plus people expected at the “happiest music festival” in the country.

“There is a marked difference in the crowd from city to city and you can recognise the venue by the people,” said Vijay Nair, the founder and CEO of OML Entertainment, the organiser of the show. “Pune has the most chilled-out crowd for NH7. In Delhi we get a calm audience, compared to Delhi standards. Bangalore has a more generic crowd. Calcutta is where we have found a younger crowd; a lot of college kids here. If Pune is about 22/25-plus, here it’s 17/18-plus,” added the 31-year-old behind the Weekender series.

This is the segment that enjoys music across a range of genres, rock to alternative to metal and electronic. And as singer Subholina Sen says, there is “something for everyone” at the second edition of NH7 Weekender in Calcutta.

Top of the charts, of course, is Mutemath, slated to take the stage on Sunday evening. “I’m their mad fanboy,” said drummer Sambit Chatterjee. “I’m really looking forward to Mutemath. I love their energy on stage,” added drummer Rohit Nandi.

Rupam Islam and his band Fossils at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender venue on Friday. “Our concerts usually play over two hours. To make a set list for 45-50 minutes is a difficult proposition. We have managed it and there will be some surprises for the audience,” said Rupam. Picture: Anindya Shankar Ray

But it’s not just about Mutemath. Amit Trivedi, Indus Creed, Indian Ocean, Soulmate, Fossils, Blackstratblues and Shaa’ir+Func will all be at Nicco Park this weekend along with The Inspector Cluzo, Mr Woodnote & Lil Rhys, Sickflip, Appleonia and many more.

They will be rocking five stages — Bacardi Arena, Red Bull Tour Bus, The Dewarists, MTS Discover and Micromax Mega Mix.

“The line-up curates the audience. And the quality of audience makes so much of a difference,” said Vijay of OML Entertainment.

According to him, Amit Trivedi is the twist in the tune of this Weekender bash. “He is the biggest risk we have taken. He is almost like a rock guy in Bollywood. When he produces stuff he comes from a different world; he doesn’t do regular Bollywood music. You won’t find him playing at weddings or corporate shows.... We go out of the brief only if it makes sense.”

The man behind the sound and songs of Queen and Lootera and more, is looking forward to his Calcutta debut. “After Monta re from Lootera I feel I have a special connect with people here. I have never performed here and it’s a good time to start,” said Trivedi.

So is NH7 Weekender — covering Bangalore, Pune, Delhi and now Calcutta — positioning itself as India’s answer to Glastonbury? “We’re not remotely close to it. We have a different vibe and it’s much, much smaller. One major shortcoming is we are starved for venues,” said Vijay.

Whatever the shortcoming, the organisers refuse to give away free tickets. “I would rather have 5,000 people who pay than 8,000 people who are just there. Once people pay, the music is taken seriously. The attendance in Calcutta last year was the highest ever for any NH7 debut, proving that Calcuttans are keen to pay for their music,” added Mr NH7 Weekender.

No wonder Vijay is bullish on Calcutta. “People have a perception that it’s hard to make things happen in Calcutta. But it’s not so for us. Licensing in Calcutta is easier than in Delhi or Pune for that matter. People here are very cooperative across the board, be it government officials or the venues. And the crowd at the venue is fantastic.”

’Nuff said. Let the music play.

Sorry, no Pentagram.

Vishal Dadlani tweeted on October 31: “Due to unavoidable reasons, @PENT4GRAM will NOT be performing at #NH7Weekender in Calcutta on the 2nd. Apologies to fans, friends & OML.” The Ganesh Talkies will be replacing them.

Mutemath

Genre: Alternative rock

Claim to fame: 2007 Grammy nomination and a cult following among fans

When: November 2 evening

Their sound: Swerves from heavy-duty rock and roll to pop, soul and quieter tunes with splashes of thunderous choruses, electronica and atmospheric sounds

Watch out for: Paul Meany and his boys are known to crowd surf on a giant mattress at their shows. Will they do it at Nicco Park?

Song wishlist: You Are Mine, Backfire, Reset, Typical, Stall Out and Armistice