On a musical trail

The prospect of a weekend off is something everyone loves. And if needing a holiday wasn’t reason enough, now there’s a new excuse to travel — music! Music fests are offering new destinations, where fans can get together and bond over their favourite groups.

Exploring the venue for its food and what it has to offer was the highlight of Sean D’mello’s recent trip to Pune for the NH7 Weekender. “Pune is so unlike Mumbai...I found a rare food joint like a diner which served food at midnight!” he exclaims. Going for a music fest at a new location is the best way to spend the weekend, he says. “This allows you time to get away from city stress. Also, a weak cell phone network means minimal disturbance. You can just walk around and stop where the music interests you!”

For many the concept of a camping music festival is exciting – like the Storm festival that happens every year. “This year the destination is Coorg and I can't wait to be a part of it!” says Neville Matthews, who is a regular at music fests. “The first draw is always the music, of course, but once you get there you start exploring the venue, meet new people and make friends and then make a trip out of it. Like I went to Kodaikanal from Bangalore after the Lamb of God show,” he says. For Ermoth, a visual editor, such trips are work and play together. “I am currently in Jaisalmer for Ragasthan. I can’t go for a music festival and not record it!” he says.

Loyal Sunburn festival fan Bunty Chellani, sums up his recent NH7 experience saying, “Taking a couple of days off from work, heading to a city that’s a few hours away, meeting up with friends from different parts of the country at a music festival that’s spread across three days at a beautiful venue, with multiple bands and good food. Things really don’t get much better than that.” Other music festivals coming up, are the Amarrass Desert Music Festival and India Music Week.