Editor’s Week In Review: Nov 20-26

Arjun S Ravi takes a look back at the week in Indian music, tracking November 20-26.

Dear reader, to say this week has been exciting is as much an understatement as saying that RIO is only heavier than a bag full of spanners. First off, we announced our very own music festival – the Bacardi NH7 Weekender! The three-day (December 10-12, mark your Palm Pilots or whatever it is you kids use these days) jaunt in Pune will feature some of the most exciting performing artists from India and around the world (check out the entirely delicious lineup). I’m super stoked about catching Asian-underground pioneers Asian Dub Foundation (our headliners, pictured) who will perform in India for the very first time at the festival. Tickets are on sale now, and are cheap competitively priced.

Speaking of awesomesauce music festivals, tickets for the first edition of the Invasion Festival are also on sale. The festival will be headlined by The Prodigy (check out our interview with the band) and will also feature performances by Pendulum, Pentagram, Midival Punditz, Jalebee Cartel and others.

Kick yourself if you missed Canadian indie pop act Tegan and Sara in the country this week. The twin sisters played two incredible gigs at Hard Rock Cafes in Mumbai and New Delhi, performing material spanning their excellent catalog. The HRC Mumbai gig was one of the best we checked out at the venue this year. Check out our interview with the band.

I hope you followed our in-depth coverage of music conference SoundBound held in Mumbai over last weekend. The conference saw some excellent keynote addresses (including one with Metal Hammer editor Alex Milas who announced and Indian metal comp CD) and dealt with real, grassroots issues faced in our independent music scene with an additional focus on electronica. It also featured a pretty kickass metal showcase at the Blue Frog.

I was in the capital this week for the launch of a new music project by whisky brand Dewar’s. The Dewarists saw a one-night-only collab featuring six top axemen, including a surprise opening set by Aussie beatboxer Dub FX. Check out this selection of pictures from the gig at the scenic Garden of Five Senses. The Dewarists kicks off a series of collaboration-based tours around the country, starting with Dub FX and sarangi player Sabir Khan.

Here are a few international records I’ve been listening to this week that you should check out

1. London Sessions – LCD Soundsystem
2. Forget – Twin Shadow
3. Broken Dreams Club EP – Girls

Stay cool, stay tuned.