Sennheiser Top 50 Zonal Finales Dates and Lineups Announced

After receiving over 500 entries from bands across India for Sennheiser’s annual battle of the bands competition, Sennheiser Top 50, the audio company has shortlisted the final 12 bands. This year, the contest will follow a new format in which bands will take part in on-ground zonal battles to be held in four zones: East ”“ Guwahati, North ”“ New Delhi, West ”“ Pune and South ”“ Bengaluru.

The first leg of the zonal finales takes place in the East zone, at popular Guwahati venue Terra Mayaa on August 23rd. The finalists competing are Kolkata alt rockers The Buddha Therapy, Guwahati-based blues outfit Spreading Roots and pop-rock band Avora Records. The judges listed for the East zone include vocalist Papon and guitarist Rudy Wallang (from Shillong blues band Soulmate). Prog rockers Lucid Recess will headline the evening.

The North zone finale will be held at Hard Rock Café in the capital on August 24th. The bands that qualified include Chandigarh-based rock band Naalayak, New Delhi rockers Knight Shades and metal outfit Warwan. The judges for the event will be Them Clones drummer Surojit Dev and keyboardist Subir Malik (from rockers Parikrama). New Delhi pop-rockers Faridkot are all set to headline the North zone finale with a special unplugged set.

The on-ground zonal battle for the West will take place at Hard Rock Café in Pune on August 31st. The acts that will battle against each other include Mumbai-based artists such as singer-songwriter Vernon Noronha, progressive blues band The Family Cheese and alternative pop-rock group Fame The Band. The finalists will be judged by music producer Ashish Manchanda and indie scene veteran Uday Benegal (from Mumbai rock band Indus Creed). Bengaluru pop/funk outfit The Peepal Tree will headline.

The Humming Tree in Bengaluru will host the South zone finale on September 1st. The top three bands from the south are Kochi-based folk rock band When Chai Met Toast, Bengaluru rockers All The Fat Children and Bengaluru hip-hop artist Big Deal. Indian-folk artists Raghu Dixit and Swarathma are slated to judge the event. The South zone will also witness a headline performance by Swarathma’s Vasu Dixit’s other band, Vasu Dixit Collective.

“We have received an exceptional response this season. We are really looking forward to the zonal battles in all four regions,” says Vipin Pungalia, the director of Sennheiser Professional Segment India. “It was, as it is, difficult to shortlist the top 12 but the real struggle will be finalizing the zonal winners as there is so much of talent in our country. To make this a bigger success and support the bands, we are sure we will get an exceptional response from the audience as well.”

The winners from each zone will go on to battle it out at the grand finale which will be held at Hard Rock Cafe Worli in Mumbai. The ultimate winner of Sennheiser Top 50 season three will walk away with prizes worth Rs.20 lacs and also receive a two-year endorsement deal with Sennheiser.

Zonal Finale Dates:

August 23rd, Terra Mayaa, Guwahati w/ The Buddha Therapy, Spreading Roots, Avora Records

August 24th, Hard Rock Café, Delhi w/ Naalayak, Knight Shades, Warwan

August 31st, Hard Rock Café, Pune w/ Vernon Noronha, The Family Cheese, Fame The Band

 September 1st, The Humming Tree, Bengaluru w/ When Chai Met Toast, Spreading Roots, Big Deal

September 21st, Hard Rock Café, Mumbai (Grand Finale)