Ragasthan Festival Line-up Announcement

Dualist Inquiry. Photo: Naman Saraiya

Not too many multi-day Indian music festivals encourage fans to camp out considering audiences here aren’t accustomed to tented fests. But this year, festival goers can bring out their tents in the middle of Thar Desert as Ragasthan festival makes its debut starting November 16th. Unlike most events marred by city deadlines, this multi-genre festival will bring electronica, rock and folk artists together outside Jaisalmer city to jam until the wee hours of the night.

Earlier this month, the Jodhpur Riff took place in Rajasthan for pure Indian folk music enthusiasts. Ragasthan hopes to carry on well into the night with over 40 artists from varied genres. MIDIval Punditz’ Tapan Raj will be playing a DJ set on the first night. Raj says, “I had a few friends who were organizing and programming for the festival, and they asked me to play. My set is actually on 16^th late night or 17^th early morning. It’s really interesting because a lot of dance artists play only post-midnight at clubs, and here we get to play open air at the same time slot. It’s great having that freedom.” Organizers say they have arranged artist time slots to match the day’s setting. This means mornings filled with performances by folk artists and rock acts in the evening, while electronica acts take over the night. Being away from city limits gives Ragasthan the advantage to push curfew times beyond the usual 10 pm deadline enforced by city cops.

Parikrama vocalist Subir Malik feels it’s “not very easy” to  organise a festival “that far away”. He adds, “I played in the area last year as well, it’s going to be brilliant.” Malik’s Parikrama Inc has also helped add performers to the festival bill.

The festival grounds and camping area are four hours away from the nearest airport in Jodhpur, but there’s also a bus service to the site. There’s a clear target audience here, though, especially since Swiss cottage tents for campers cost up to Rs 40,000 for four people. If you prefer to bring your own tent (if you can buy or rent one), camping tickets are going for Rs. 7,000.

Ragasthan festival takes place at Kanoi Dunes, Jaisalmer from November 16^th to 18^th. For tickets, click here 

Complete lineup for Ragasthan: 
 

NOVEMBER 16th 

MORIO ”“ ALTERNATIVE STAGE

Peter Cat Recording Co.

Blakc

Them Clones

Brahma (Acoustic set)

AMMARA ”“ ELECTRONIC STAGE

Sandunes

Akshai

Nucleya

Bay Beat Collective

Tapan Raj (Midival Punditz)

Dualist Inquiry

NOVEMBER 17th 

MORIO ”“ ALTERNATIVE STAGE

Jazz B’stards

Big Bang Blues

Indigo Children

Half Step Down

Menwhopause

Advaita

AMMARA ”“ THE ELECTRONIC STAGE

San Pedro

Shantam (Audio Ashram)

MoodyBoy

Andrey Petrov (Russia)

Breger

Cyrus (Urban Distortion)

Kalyug (Audio Ashram)

Kohra

Jitter

Boombaba (Urban Distortion)

OLUN ”“ THE WORLD MUSIC STAGE

Negra Pradera (Latin salsa flamenco)

Chandaan Khan

Space

Mame Khan

Tritha

Rajasthan Roots

Sanidhya

Swarathma

OPEN MIC STAGE

Shakey Rays

Pragnya

Bharat Aptekar

Alisha Pais

Swaati

Harbour Light

NOVEMBER 18th 

MORIO ”“ ALTERNATIVE STAGE

The Family Cheese

Spud in the Box

Sky Rabbit

Parikrama

AMMARA ”“ THE ELECTRONIC STAGE

Spiritual Gangsta

AFM

URI

Moniker (Wild City DJ)

Mother Perera (Berlin – Jahcoozi/ Bpitch Control)

Shiva Soundsystem (UK)

Ash Roy (Jalebee Cartel)

Ashvin Mani Sharma (Jalebee Cartel)

Fibre Stomp

Shivamoon (Go: Madras)

OLUN ”“ THE WORLD MUSIC STAGE

Tribal Flora

Donn Bhatt

Bismillah Khan

Shubhraj/Harish

Ali and Swaroop

Rang

Reggae Rajahs

Chalo (Republic of Congo)

OPEN MIC STAGE

Thu Le

Emperor Minge

Stella by Starlight

Gaurav Jagwani

Winit Tikoo

Shantanu Pandit