South Asian Bands Festival Dates, Lineup

The South Asian Bands Festival is an annual music festival held in New Delhi. Organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and Seher, the three-day affair sees bands from the SAARC countries perform at the Purana Qila in the capital. The lineup has consistently been pretty solid, at least with respect to Indian acts; last year’s bill (for an event that happened this year in February) included Shaa’ir + Func (watch video of their performance), Swarathma and Skinny Alley.

This year’s lineup maintains the QC, but throws in a surprise as well. Here’s the list

11th December 2009, Friday
1. Half Step Down (Delhi)
2. Kabul Dreams (Afghanistan)
3. Nagarbaul & James (Bangladesh)
4. Raghu Dixit Project (Bangalore)
5. Strings (Pakistan)

12th December 2009, Saturday
1. Afflatus (Shillong)
2. Fa’thu & the Early Birds (Maldives)
3. Paranoid Earthling (Sri Lanka)
4. Faridkot (Delhi)
5. Pentagram (Mumbai) (pictured)

13th December 2009, Sunday
1. Who’s Your Daddy (Bhutan)
2. Robin & the New Revolution (Nepal)
3. Avial (Trivandrum)
4. Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy (Mumbai)

That’s right. Opening Day two of the event is Shillong’s best Wheatus cover band/Soulmate side project The Afflatus. Here’s why their inclusion is perhaps a bit odd. Apart from that though the lineup is pretty good, and this should be a fun winter event for Delhi folks.

More from SABF when we hear it. Till then check out the Facebook event page, which has more information than the official website.

(Pic: Shirley)