City rockers to play Woodstock tribute

Last year in August, at what used to be Zenzi Mills, an unusual congregation of flower children from the city made way. The highlights were the Woodstock music, an air of bonhomie and Sapna Bhavnani taking off her top. This year, however, the Woodstock tribute...

Last year in August, at what used to be Zenzi Mills, an unusual congregation of flower children from the city made way. The highlights were the Woodstock music, an air of bonhomie and Sapna Bhavnani taking off her top. This year, however, the Woodstock tribute, which happens tonight, sounds a bit toned down. “There is no free entry for those in their hippie best, but dressing up is always fun,” says Vinay Lobo, guitarist of bands The Vinyls and Airport, who has been organising the tribute gig for a while now.

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Ask him why now and Lobo says, “It’s a pre-celebration of the 42nd year of the music festival.” Paying homage to the era, Lobo along with bassist Kenneth Rebello, drummer Aditya Ashok and keyboardist Jonathan Paul will be playing covers of songs by artistes like Janis Joplin, Arlo Guthrie, The Who and more. Apart from the core band, the tribute gig will also feature guest performances by artistes like Nikhil D’Souza, Sidd Coutto, Pradeep Matthews and others, who have zeroed in on over 30 songs from the original Woodstock for the night.

Says artiste Jeet Thayil, who will also be performing tonight, “It’s Vinay’s idea, he’s the bandleader. Also, he’s bald like me, so I had to do this with him,” he jokes.

Thayil will perform Jimi Hendrix songs, All Around The Watchtower... and Purple Haze... “It’s all about putting together some great classics,” says Thayil, who will soon be performing with his partner Suman Sridhar at the Great Escape in London.

Attend the Woodstock tribute night tonght at Blue Frog, 10 pm onwards. Entry after 9 pm: Rs 300.