Mumbai’s NCPA to Host Band Baja Contest for Upcoming Musicians

Running well into its third year, the Band Baja contest has become one of the highlights of the OWMM festival. The contest, which was launched in January 2013, aims at promoting upcoming talent in the independent music scene apart from showcasing some of the most talented and established musicians from across the country.

In explaining the objective behind contemporary music in an institution that is usually reserved for classical forms of art and music, Dr. Suvarnalata Rao, who is the programming head of Indian music at NCPA, says, “The present generation is experimenting with contemporary sounds and creating alternatives to Bollywood music. The OWMM festival recognizes this genre of independent music and showcases established bands of independent music and gives an opportunity to fresh talent.”

Band Baja offers winners the chance to be the opening act for some of the biggest Indian/folk acts like Indian Ocean and Strings in the Wind, as a part of a tribute to U. Srinivas. The winners of last year’s competition included Mumbai-based bands Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Café and Anand Bhaskar Collective, who opened for Papon and the East India Company and Stringstruck, comprising Purbayan Chatterjee, Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi.

Amateur bands [having a minimum of four members] are invited to participate in the contest, where they could stand to win a chance to perform on the NCPA stage and open for Indian rock veterans Indian Ocean and Strings in the Wind.

Click here for more details on participating in Band Baja.