The eagerly awaited second edition of India’s first music festival amidst the mountains, The Ladakh Confluence, has been announced to take place from July 15 to 18, 2010. The organisers of the Confluence have released the first line-up of musicians, who’ll be playing for music lovers at the height of 11,500 feet at Leh. Rajasthan Roots, who mesmerised the audience at the first edition of the confluence last year, will be back this year. The rest of the line-up is consists of stellar talents from across the world — there’s multi-instrumentalist and producer Karsh Kale, renowned percussionist Vikku Vinayakram, saxophonist Christoph Pepe Auer and hang player Manu Delago and singer-songwriter Jamie Catto (founding member of Faithless).
Mumbai is represented in the form of band Something Relevant. Another welcome addition to the line-up is children from the Young Musicians Of The World non-profit organisation, which works with youngsters from needy villages and trains them in traditional music. Says festival director, Swaati Langeh, “Last year, we learnt that it’s a huge task to manage a festival of this scale, and all of us organizers barely slept a wink. We are more prepared this year, and promise that the festival will be bigger and better.”
“The theme of the festival remains the same – percussion – but there’ll be many more musicians this year,” she adds. The first edition of the festival took place in August, towards the end of the tourist season in Ladakh. But the organisers have placed this edition of the Confluence in the middle of the tourist season, in mid-July, so even regular travellers could join in. “The support and love we’ve received for the festival is amazing,” Langeh says. “Even before the line-up was announced, 200 tickets were sold out.”
Karsh Kale, who was to play at the festival last year but had to miss out due to a scheduling conflict, is also excited about playing at the highest venue for showcasing music in India. “I love the idea of different takes on rhythm, that the Confluence is trying to promote, and I definitely support the cause of making people more aware of how to sustain ourselves in this environment without altering or harming it,” he says. “I was looking forward to being a part of the first one, but am equally excited about 2010.” The New York based multi-instrumentalist says he caught some of last year’s acts on YouTube and loved them. “I’m planning to play a mainly acoustic set. I’m also really looking forward to the music of Vikku Vinayakram and The Young Musicians Of The World,” he adds.
{{/usCountry}}Karsh Kale, who was to play at the festival last year but had to miss out due to a scheduling conflict, is also excited about playing at the highest venue for showcasing music in India. “I love the idea of different takes on rhythm, that the Confluence is trying to promote, and I definitely support the cause of making people more aware of how to sustain ourselves in this environment without altering or harming it,” he says. “I was looking forward to being a part of the first one, but am equally excited about 2010.” The New York based multi-instrumentalist says he caught some of last year’s acts on YouTube and loved them. “I’m planning to play a mainly acoustic set. I’m also really looking forward to the music of Vikku Vinayakram and The Young Musicians Of The World,” he adds.
{{/usCountry}}Stuart DaCosta, of Something Relevant, reveals that his band was contemplating paying from their own pockets to play at the Confluence last year, and is glad to have got an opportunity from the organizers this year. “We are quite excited, especially because we are the only funk-ish band to play this year, while all the other performers have a folksy vibe,” he says. The next line-up of artistes will be announced in a few weeks time. To know more about the confluence, and to book ‘early yak’ tickets, visit http://theconfluence.in