Gear up for a mixed bag

Keeping promises from 2009, Shubha Mudgal’s music expo Baajaa Gaajaa will hold its second edition from February 5-7 in Pune. Read on to know the details.

Music

Here’s a slightly delayed New Year wish, but as they say, better late than never. Gigabyte was off tangent for a bit, but our music scene for sure wasn’t.



Keeping promises from 2009, Shubha Mudgal’s music expo Baajaa Gaajaa will hold its second edition from February 5-7 in Pune.

The expo was a successful attempt at bringing together diverse Independent artists of India, but let’s hope that artist and Indie enthusiasts attend in good numbers this year. Indian Ocean and Cochi’s Motherjane will be playing at the fest, among others. Panel discussions, documentary screenings and sessions on various aspects of the upcoming segment are truly worth witnessing. Give it a thought, and log on tohttp://baajaagaajaa.com/.

Later in February, the fantastic Bangalore’s Rock In India heads to Delhi albeit with a twist. ‘Rock In India’ will have two pop artists for headliners: Backstreet Boys and Richard Marx.

Yes, of course, the ke pichhli gaali ladke are popular, but I’m not sure how the regular rock crowd will survive the fest with their music or how the pop junta would react to the other headline act, Prime Circle. Marx here is the safest bet, along with our desi young ’uns Swarathma and Indigo Childern (formerly Superfuzz). All in all, the fest (February 20) will be interesting to watch with all these contrasts. The guys at DNA Networks usually know their stuff, so I guess we have something to look forward too.

Till then, here are a few gigs ahead that merit. Contemporary Jazz from South Africa by Marcus Wyatt, at NU.Delhi by Q’ba, Malcha Marg, 8 pm on Saturday, January 23; Big Band Blues and Five 8 at Turqouise Cottage on Sunday, January 24, 8 pm; and a sufi evening with Indus rock band 'Manthan' featuring Javed Bashir of popular Pakistani act Meekal Hassan Band at Sai Centre Auditorium, Lodhi Road, on Monday, January 25, 6.30 pm onwards.