Polluted lakes, a disappearing green cover and peak summers in November – is that telling you something? Bengaluru is slowly shedding its tag of being the green, Garden City that we all so fondly remember. At such a point comes India’s first ecologically-conscious music festival crafted in the city and by it. Come November 26 and 27, Echoes of Earth Music Festival is all set to celebrate music from around the world with one goal – to give back to the earth, at the Embassy International Riding School.
Every big scale event comes with its share of waste and mediocre disposal systems. That’s what Roshan Netalkar hoped to change. Having been in the industry for over 20 years, he realised that the path we were going down was dangerous.
“We hope that this festival will not just bring people with varied tastes in music together, but educate them on environmental consciousness and what they can do to help the earth,” says the Bengalurean who is the festival director and is using sustainable energy, waste management and means of construction to echo what it stands for.
They also short-listed a lineup of artistes whose sound was clean and fresh, just like the environment they hope to create. The festival boasts of names such as Submotion Orchestra, Alo Wala, Susheela Raman, Talvin Singh, The F16s, The Ska Vengers, Sitarsonic, Youngr and Thaalavattam amongst others and the music heavyweights are happy as their music fits the green bill too!
“We can’t keep destroying the land we party on. Why can’t we party AND respect the land we do it on? It’s not a big ask. This is definitely a step in the right direction. Well, the only direction,” says UK-based artiste, Youngr aka Dario Darnell.
“And if everyone came together and did their bit for Planet Earth it would be a better place!” he chimes in. Another musician who is thrilled about the concept is Montry Manuel. The Bengaluru-based percussionist who goes by the moniker Thaalavattam is known to create music out of instruments he fashions from waste plastic and metal! “Being a part of something like this is the easiest way for me to convey my message – if we take care of Mother Earth, she will take care of us and our future generations,” he says.
The green-at-heart-festival is getting nods of approval from the city folk too. “I’m most excited about the pop-up museum of lost folk and tribal ethno-musical instruments. As a student of history, it will be amazing to catch a glimpse of what we’ve lost over the years and come together for what we can’t afford to lose. Ever,” says Smitha Satyanarayana, a student from the city.
