The Meghalaya and Pune editions of the music and comedy festival bank on reliable international and Indian names in their 10th edition
Swedish prog metal/rock band Opeth. Photo: Stuart Wood
Despite the public backlash faced by parent company Only Much Louder (OML) last year, annual music festival Bacardi NH7 Weekender floated just fine into public consciousness with the lineup announcements for their Meghalaya (November 1st and 2nd) and Pune (November 29th to December 1st) editions.
To mixed but steadily positive responses, the festival announced they will host the return of prog frontrunners such as Opeth (arriving on the back of their new album In Cauda Venenum) and Karnivool as headliners for the Pune and Meghalaya editions, respectively. Also headlining the 10th edition in Pune are Irish indie rock band Kodaline and Australian singer-songwriter Nick Murphy (Chet Faker). While more artists are expected to be announced for the Meghalaya edition, top billed acts include Canadian prog band Intervals making their India debut, alongside Indian classical powerhouse Shubha Mudgal and a special North East Blues Special from Shillong blues veterans Soulmate. Seasoned singer and composer A. Hariharan (of the indiepop group The Colonial Cousins) and Sufi music singers The Wadalis will also perform.
The 10th edition of Bacardi NH7 Weekender in Pune also sees the India debut of London Afrobeat group Kokoroko, Los Angeles rapper Cozz and Atlanta duo Earthgang (representing American hip-hop artist J. Cole’s label Dreamville), plus U.K. grime-punk group Pengshui, among others. The festival also brings back a heavier dose of metal to Pune, with Nepal metallers Underside, a comeback performance by Mumbai thrash/death metallers Devoid, alongside Mumbai metallers Bhayanak Maut and brutal death metal band Gutslit.
Pune’s must-see alternative acts also include singer-composers Sid Sriram and Raja Kumari, electronic music producer Sandunes, singer-producer Lifafa, rock bands such as Parvaaz and Anand Bhaskar Collective and more.
The Meghalaya edition, now in its fifth year, piles on rock and indie from the North East, including Bengaluru-based Gauley Bhai, shoegaze band Lo! Peninsula, hip-hop group Khasi Bloodz, singer-rapper Meba Ofilia and more. Also performing are singer Benny Dayal and the Funktuation, Kerala indie/folk act When Chai Met Toast, singer-songwriter Tejas and more.
Get tickets for the Pune edition of Bacardi NH7 Weekender here and the Meghalaya edition here.
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