Lively Up Your Earth 2013 Line-up Announcement
Third edition of eco music festival in Auroville turns to crowdfunding, will feature performances by Emergence, Grey Shack, Blues Conscience among others
Mishko M’ba performing with Jaco Pastorius Tribute Band at LUYE 2012
Auroville band, Emergence, has always had ”˜alternative’ leanings. The band’s frontman Krishna McKenzie set base at Solitude Farms in Pondicherry, where he formed a community endorsing sustainable lifestyle. McKenzie, who moved to Auroville from England in 1993, and his bandmates [including French bassist Mishko M’ba] grow their own food and are as enthusiastic about music as they are of the environment.
Every year, the sustainable farming community opens up to city dwellers by hosting Lively Up Your Earth [LUYE] music festival. “Frustrated at playing in clubs that were not the right forum to hear our message, I thought I’d start my own festival,” says McKenzie about kickstarting LUYE in 2010. Slated to take place on February 2nd this year, the third edition of the eco music fest [think solar bikes, natural dyes, bamboo jewelry, permaculture, acro-yoga (topsy-turvy yogics), stalls on electric bicycles and spirulina and organic food, and yes music performances] will feature sets by bands such as Chennai blues trio Blues Conscience, blues rockers Grey Shack also from Chennai, Afro Brazilian jam act Yemadas and Auroville’s Emergence among others.
Other homegrown acts performing at the day-long event include covers band, Anna Rocks and Shakti & Vera, who perform Ukranian folk and 60 and 70’s Soviet era songs. “There is fusion funk, world music, acoustic indo pop, soul, hard rock, blues and Tamil rock,” says McKenzie adding that his band will debut their new Tamil song “Kuthu” as well as play a cover song by Jimi Hendrix.
The green crusaders have also opted for crowdfunding the  event this year. “The ticket pricing has been done on a sliding scale, so everyone who wants to come can make it, starting at Rs 250 basic ticket to the Rs 500 “I feel generous” and the “I love you” Rs 1,000 tickets. But the tickets will not cover all the expenses, so we thought we would try and get some additional help from a crowd sourcing campaign,” he adds.
To support LUYE 2012, click here
LUYE will take place on February 2nd at Auroville, near Pondicherry. For more details, click here
Line-up for Lively Up Your Earth 2013:
Suryan TrioÂ
Anna Rocks
Shakti and Vera
Yemadas
Grey Shack
Emergence
Ed Degenaro’s Elektric Circus
Blues Conscience
