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IIT-B to host Global Battle of Bands
Winning bands at IIT-Bombay fest will get to be India’s entry for Global Battle of Bands finals at Bucharest.
Winning bands at IIT-Bombay fest will get to be India’s entry for Global Battle of Bands finals at Bucharest.
This year, as bands compete at the finals of Livewire, the music competition at IIT-Bombay’s annual fest Mood-I, they will also be vying to represent India at the Global Battle of Bands at Bucharest, Romania, next year.
The annual international competition, which sees entries from bands across genres, has tied up with the college fest to host their Indian round this year.
“This is the first time that Global Battle of Bands is coming to India. We are extremely happy to be hosting their national round,” says Ritanshu Kashyap, core team member, Mood-I, adding, “Livewire has been an established platform for bands for the past 40 years and we wanted to take it a level higher. Global Battle of Bands liked our multi-city selection structure, where we short-list bands from different zones, and that’s how everything worked out.”
Kashyap reveals that the collaboration was a result of tedious planning and coordination, "It was a considerably long process. It took over three months to finalise everything and we’re now looking forward to this competition even more," he says.
Sixteen bands, chosen from four regional zones will go on to the semifinals on December 17.
The West-zonal eliminations will be held tonight at Hard Rock Café, Worli. The top three outfits chosen from the semifinals will get a chance to open for the headlining Australian progressive rock band Karnivool on December 18, even as judges choose the winning band based on their acts.
Some of the past winners of Livewire include Parikrama, Pentagram, Vayu, Zero and Something Relevant.
The winning band would represent India at World Finals, next year, and get a chance to win a band development package worth $100,000, “By participating in our annual fest, the winning band will also receive international exposure,” says Kashyap.
Kicking off in 2004, Global Battle of Bands witnessed participation from over 30 countries last year.
Previous winners of the competition include Jamaican reggae band Dubtonic Kru (2010), Chinese punk outfit Rustic (2009), and rock band Floor and Walls from Brighton(2008).
