How Not To Organise A Music Festival

Delhi-based guitarist, music producer and curator Anup Kutty shows Ziro tolerance towards rice beer and reasons.

1. Don’t go to a remote place somewhere in northeast India where the roads are bumpy but the people are shiny and happy. Don’t sit on a hillock overlooking the paddy fields taking swigs off fresh rice beer and dream up a festival that will celebrate diversity through music.

2. Don’t even try selling this idea to corporates who will look at you like you’re high on rice beer. No one wants to go THAT far. Never mind if their brand ethos includes words like wings, adventure, discover… And don’t try to sell it to government agencies. They might just buy into it.

3. Don’t do it in September right after the monsoons because it could still rain. When it does pour, people get their wellies out and muck around. We don’t want that now, do we? If there’s been a landslide and people are stuck in their vehicles, someone usually gets out a guitar and the beer starts flowing. So please don’t do it.

4. Don’t get diverse musicians like a Rajasthani kartal player and a Naga blues guitarist together on stage. You never know what might come of it.

5. Don’t put all your savings and then borrow money from your folks and friends to do all of the above. It’s a clear sign of madness and you should seek professional help.

Since no one told us any of this, we bring to you the fifth edition of Ziro Festival of Music (September 22–25). The ride is five years old now and here are some reasons why you should be there this year:

1. Shye Ben Tzur and the Rajasthan Express (Israel/India)
Israeli qawwal Shye collaborated with the Rajasthani ensemble Rajasthan Express and Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood last year to produce this phenomenal album that pushes the idea of coming together. Come together to watch it live at Ziro.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ9uZLOWlso[/embed]

2. DIVINE (Mumbai)
Last year it was FAADU, this year’s rap sensation will be DIVINE from Mumbai. Mark our words.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wsi7YTI2nY[/embed]

3. Dawda Jobarteh (The Gambia)
Ok, be honest, how many of you knew about a country called The Gambia? Let’s put it this way. How many of you have watched a kora (African harp) player in a little village in Arunachal Pradesh? Answer — No one.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEt3FCTlBcI[/embed]

4. Abiogenesis (Nagaland)
If you haven’t watched Abiogenesis live, we’d like to pull you by your ear and make you watch them. Why? Here’s why.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RDnfTSOXsA[/embed]

5. Natasha Humara Ejaz (Pakistan)
She sings of the fear of growing up. Enough said. Now get her through those tough borders.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn6pDCOKrhE[/embed]

Photo credit: Himanshu Rohilla