In what seems like a conglomeration of Bengaluru's favourite talent, Opus is putting up a boom-tastic show for 10 days, from December 16 to Christmas day, celebrating its 10th year anniversary. With nostalgia-inducing performances from the likes of Pentagram, The Raghu Dixit Project, Swarathma, Usha Uthup and the traditional Mark Rego's Booze and Brains, the city's people are likely to fall in love with their home town all over again.
“The past 10 years have been a fun ride. We've gone from having 20 people to 200 people; really crappy sound systems to a definitive stage. It's a place where you can feel at home, whether you're in stilettos or shorts. It's going to be a sentimental ride for all of us," says Carlton Braganza, proprietor of Opus.
“These bands are ones we have seen grow from strength to strength in the city. A few of them had their first-ever performance at Opus around 2007. So this celebration is something that is very close to our hearts," says Priyanka Chandrasheker of Opus. “We also have several game stalls, a small flea market and a wall of photographs, called Wonder Wall, to give it a carnival-like feel," she adds. Although Opus celebrates its anniversary every year, a lot of special effort and thought has gone into this one since it's the 10th year."
Karthik Iyer, a stand-up comedian who is known for the Higher Iyer show, says, “My first-ever performance was at Opus. In fact, I was made to get on stage by Carlton because I used to go for the Karaoke nights too often, and he thought I was funny," he says. Needless to say Opus is mighty special to him because of the homely atmosphere and the comfort level. “Opus has been the pioeneer in providing a platform for live performances, right from the r beginning," he says.
Not only has Opus been the home of some big bands, it has also honed and polished several college bands. Lagori, one of Bengaluru's favourite bands, is really looking forward to playing in its backyard. “During our first year, we performed many shows there. Our connection with Opus goes back a long way . So we're throwing in a few surprises into our performances, with a very special, unusual set list," says Geeth Jason Vaz, the guitarist.
“My old band Bleed is collaborating with Chutney Mary Assassin and Polly Wants a Cracker under the name Bloody Mary Wants a Cracker. We're all looking forward to jamming together," says Dheeraj Kumar, from Bleed. Not only have the organisers gone all out with music, they have even created a special menu, adding 11 Christmas special items, like wine based cocktails and fruit cake!
The top acts
- Usha Uthup on December 18
- Pentagram on December 20
- Christmas special brunch featuring Viviana on December 15
- The Higher Iyer Show on December 17
- Mark Rego's Booze and Brains on December 19
