Anurag Jain's Blog on Bangalore Events, Travel, IIM Bangalore, IIM, IIMB, Management

Saturday, October 16, 2004

Posted 10:29 AM by Anurag

Pondy Freedom Jam

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The Freedom Jam, free music festival is a platform for creative musicians of all genres. The artistes perform for free and the audience comes in free - it's "freedom jam, no bread".

It started in Bangalore on 14th August,1996 on the eve of India's 50th anniversary of independence as a reaction to the acute commercialisation in the music industry and consequent dilution of 'music' per se as an art form. Since then it has grown to be one of the biggest concerts in the country. At the Freedom Jam 2004 in Bangalore more than 50 bands performed on 3 different stages to an audience of over 12000 through the night. (www.freedomjam.net, www.guruskoolmusic.com)

The Pondicherry Freedom Jam was held for the first time last year on 16th August 2003 at the ITDC Ashok in Kalapetto coincide with the union territory's "de jure" independence day in association with the Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation.

This year the PONDY FREEDOM JAM is scheduled on Sat 23rd & Sun 24th October to commemorate the "de facto" eve of independence - the indian tricolour replaced the french flag on Nov 1 in association with the Govt. of Pondicherry Dept. of tourism & P.T.&T.D.C. Instead of one Woodstock like stage, multiple venues have been planned like an Edinburgh arts fest or SXSW in Austin, Texas. Each different venue will showcase different styles of music Hindustani, Karnatik & Western Classical, Light Music, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Alternative, World Music etc., etc. These venues will be mostly on the beach road or close by and easily accessible like Le Cafe, Mairie Hall, Alliance Francaise,Seagull, Port grounds, the AFPA/Lycee sports ground opposite Seagull. Many musicians from Bangalore, Chennai and other parts of the country will be joining Pondy musicians in celebrting this golden jubilee and thereby create an unique festival.

Jazz guitarist Gerrard Machado, World music band Esperanto, Rock acts Infinite Dreams, Pranava are among the convoy of performers and music lovers leaving Bangalore on the 22nd for participating in the music festival.

An interactive seminar : "What Musicians Need, Not Corporate Greed" will be held during the daytime on the 23rd October at the Alliance Francaise de Pondicherry auditorium. Topics ranging from 'how to make a demo' to 'running your own cottage industry - music label' and even 'prevention of titinitis' will be discussed by leading performers, composers, sound engineers, and industry executives. This seminar will be an annual affair and address a long felt need of the music community in south India.

WE WELCOME YOU TO COME & PLAY / PARTICIPATE @ FREEDOM JAM '04 -AND JOIN US IN ASSERTING THE INDEPENDENCE OF MUSIC ......
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