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Music in the mountains
Forty-eight hours, 60 artists, three continents, one playstation. In the lunar landscape of Ladakh, a musical revolution is about to take place.
Forty-eight hours, 60 artists, three continents, one playstation. In the lunar landscape of Ladakh, a musical revolution is about to take place.
The didgeridoo is coming from Australia, the dzembe from Africa and viola from Europe. The sitars and santoors will be there. On July 31, sounds of the World Music Festival will resonate at Leh.
“The fest will see increased collaboration between international musicians,” said Bikram Singh Thockchom, director of the festival that’s being organised by the Namgyal Institute for Research on Ladakhi Art and Culture (NIRLAC).
The idea originated in a Melbourne pub, said Gavin Spokes, event manager and member of the band The Nail Factory. Spokes and fellow band member Andrew Grenenger had been to Ladakh before, and had come away spellbound.
What’s on offer? Primitive Wizards, Growlsman and The Nail Factory (Australia), The Esquisse Project (France) SONIA (US). There’ll be Orange Street and HFT from India.
The Nail and Growlsman are already in India. Nail vocalist Raychel Stone dresses like a Gypsy queen. She says she’s “always” like this.
Tim Hulsman and Nina Grant from Growlsman play at Melbourne pubs and teach music. Hulsman was once a rocker who “composed and sang dark melodies”. Both are multi-instrumentalists, who play the violin, piano, guitar and several other things. Thousands of feet above sea level, these will be sounds to savour.
