Our Picks From Bengaluru Bacardi NH7 Weekender Day 1

The Bacardi Black Rock Arena at Pune NH7 Weekender Photo: Kunal Kakodkar

 

Six stages, over 60 bands and a couple of visits to the bar call for some nifty footwork and planning at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender. If you’re a festival glut like us, this primer will help you make the most of the festival with our picks of the must-watch acts on day one in Bengaluru. Be prepared, since it may involved some manic stage hopping.

Day One- December 15th

The Idan Raichel Project – 3.50-4.20pm ”“ The Dewarists

The Israeli artist puts electronica and folk influences from the Middle East, Latin America and Ethiopia together. It may be difficult to understand unless you know your Hebrew, but it isn’t called world music for nothing. 

 

Ox7gen ”“ 4.30-5.20pm ”“ Pepsi Dub Station

The Mumbai-based drum & bass artist and drummer for electronica duo Shaa’ir + Func hits the stage for a 50-minute set, promoting his new first EP Any Minute Now. 

Skrat ”“ 4.50-5.30pm ”“ Fully Fantastic Stage

The Chennai alt rock band are probably going to blaze through their set with their pure unfiltered, fuzz-filled rock tunes including “Tin Man Can,” “Big Bad Bombs” and “High.”

Bruce Lee Mani and Friends ”“ 5.50-6.30pm ”“ The Dewarists

Bengaluru’s favorite frontman from alt rock band Thermal And A Quarter will turn on the charm as he plays a special set with the likes of singer-songwriter Sidd Coutto, Amyt Dutta [veteran guitarist of PINKNOISE and Skinny Alley], Warren Mendonsa [Blackstratblues] and Ramanan Chandramouli [guitarist of Chennai metallers Blind Image].

 

The Staves ”“ 6.30-7pm ”“ The Other Stage

The English folk trio of sisters are performing as part of their first ever India tour, supporting fellow folk artist Fink. Look out for “Winter Trees,” “The Motherlode” and “Snow” off their latest album Dead & Born & Grown.

 

Pentagram ”“ 7-7.30pm ”“ Eristoff Wolves Den

The Mumbai electro-rock vets have now played at all three Weekender cities, and the intense show they put on playing tunes both old and new has not disappointed thus far in Pune and NCR Delhi. Watch the Mumbai band’s latest video here:  

 

Kryptos ”“ 7.20-8pm ”“ Bacardi Black Rock Arena

After their set at the Pune edition of Weekender last month, local metal heroes open for thrash metal giants Testament. Their set features songs from their 2012 album The Coils of Apollyon to get the moshing started.

 

Foreign Beggars ”“ 8-8.50pm ”“ Eristoff Wolves Den

The British invasion of the Weekender continues with hip hop/dubstep MC trio Foreign Beggars bringing an intriguing crossover sound to the Wolves Den. With their latest album The Uprising released on EDM star Deadmau5’s label mau5trap, be prepared for the beats to drop.

 

Fink ”“ 8.20-9.10pm ”“ The Dewarists

Fin Greenall is the English folk artist, who caught national attention with his appearance on an episode of The Dewarists last month, collaborating with classical singer Shafqat Amanat Ali and the music director duo of Salim-Sulaiman on “Let Go.” Currently touring India with band, this will be Fink’s second stop in the currently. And though at Bengaluru they will be playing on a bigger stage than they are accustomed to, our bet is they’ll pull it off very well. 

 

Testament ”“ 8.40-9.50pm ”“ Bacardi Black Rock Arena

We’ve lost count of how many metal bands have found their way down to Bengaluru this year. The city is spoilt for choice as French metallers Gojira perform on the same day [at Manpho Convention Centre] as American thrash metal band Testament, who are on their first visit to the country. At Weekender, Testament’s set will feature songs old and new, from their latest album Dark Roots of Earth and thrash classics such as “Over The Wall” and “First Strike is Deadly.”

Bengaluru edition of Bacardi NH7 Weekender will take place on December 15th and 16th at Bangalore Embassy International Riding 
 School. . For details and tickets, log on here