Catch Mumbai’s Best Musicians Coming Together to Play the Blues This Sunday

If you were lucky enough to squeeze through the crowd and enter the International Jazz Day gig on April 30th at Antisocial in Mumbai earlier this year, what you witnessed was a stellar cast of musicians putting on a great big jazz show. The man who curated that successful show ”“ Mumbai guitarist Adil Manuel ”“ is now back with another fantastic gig. International Blues Day Jam is set to take place on August 6th at Mumbai’s Antisocial in Khar and it will feature no less than 16 versatile musicians.

“I’ve wanted to do this for the last two years actually,” says Manuel. “I was like, ”˜Let’s just set up a Blues Day gig as well because the blues and jazz and all its various forms are really close to me; it’s my music.’” Although International Blues Music Day falls on August 5th, Manuel was unable to lock that date and therefore settled on having the gig the following day. “It’s going to be a blast,” he says.

“I’ve wanted to do this for the last two years actually,” says Mumbai guitarist and International Blues Day Jam organizer Adil Manuel. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Some of the revolving cast of musicians set to perform at the gig includes vocalists Shannon Donald, Samantha Edwards and Edwin Joseph. “Edwin is an incredible vocalist, he has that big throw,” says Manuel. Wilson Kenneth and John “Jo” Thirumalai will share bass duties while drummer Karun Kannampilly (from Mumbai alt rockers Last Remaining Light) will be behind the kit. Says Manuel, “Karun is an incredible young drummer and he really gives it his all.” Manuel, who will handle guitars for the day, will also be joined by fellow musician Pozy Dhar and keyboardist Jayakrishnan Unnithan. “The whole idea was also to bring musicians together on one stage, because Bombay as a city is really hectic and everyone is really all over the place. So this gave me the perfect opportunity to gather all my friends at one gig,” explains Manuel.

On what people can expect at the gig, Manuel says the band will play everything from Texas and Chicago blues to blues rock and good old rock & roll. They will cover legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary Moore and B.B. King. “Blues and jazz is all about the repertoire. You keep taking from the old,” says Manuel. “I want people to just come, have a beer and have a blast with us.”

Click here for event details for International Blues Day #Jam w/ Adil Manuel & Friends.