Jaipur Literature festival or #JLF as it’s popularly known has something for everybody. Not only does the event include interacting with some of the most inspiring writers from across the globe, it is a huge draw for music lovers also. The Literati ‘Maha Kumbh’ of our times in its 10th year brings in the confluence of Music and prose like never before. Prepare to be blown away by an eclectic mix of talent that has descended in the historic and beautiful ‘Pink city’. There truly couldn’t be a more apt setting to this high octane yet soulful unraveling of the most incredible Literature festival on earth.
Here is a lowdown on JLF, the musical just for you. Plan your morning and evenigs so that you don’t miss out this incredible treat!
19th January 2017
9.15 AM / Diggi Palace, Front Lawns
Shillong chamber Choir : After Winning India’s got talent, this talented group went on to win 3 gold medals at the World Choir games. Equally adept at Western Classical, Hit-rock, Khasi folk Music and opera, they are indeed a treat to watch.
Nathu Lal Solanki : He hails from the legendary ‘Pushkar Sangeet Gharana.This master percussionist and his Nagara are a part of Rajasthan’s musical heritage. He is a master of ‘Kuchmani Khayal’ and his performances are mesmerizing and unforgettable.
7.30-9.45 PM / Clarks Amer
Rajasthan Josh : Who doesn’t know Chugge Khan and band, also called Rajasthan Josh. They fill in this incredible space which brings together Rajasthani, Punjabi and Sufi influences of Music together.They come from the tradition of ‘Bhakti’ and ‘Sufi’ wherein the each musical piece is a guftagoo of deep divine love between the almighty & the mortal soul.
Kabir Cafe : Neeraj Arya will be the Voice of Kabir. Over last 8 years, he has taken his poetry across the country. Mir mukhtiyar and Prahald Tipanya and their folk music together with poetry of Arya is Kabir Cafe.
20th January 2017
9.15 AM / Diggi Palace, Front Lawns
Swanand Kirkire : The multi-talented writer, poet, lyricist, actor, music director, singer and theater personality is here at JLF. You have heard him on Coke-studio and Dewarist, collaborating with Zeb and Haniya on the exceedingly soulful ‘Kaho Kya Khayal Hai ?, you have heard his ‘Bande Mein Tha Dum’ from Munnabhai MBBS, ‘Behti Hawa sa tha woh’ from 3-Idiots and ‘Manjha’ from ‘Kai Po che’. You can’t give him a miss.
Ankur Tiwari & Ghalat Family: He is a playback singer and Music-director from the Indian music industry. Through his 10 year journey from a hotel trainee to music can be nothing but a story of passion. He is actually a storyteller who is just narrating his beautiful simple stories through music.you have heard his ‘Galliyan’ from Ek Tha Villian, ‘O-Yara’ from Bin roye‘ and ‘Sun raha hai na tu’ from Aashiqui -2.
7.30-9.45 PM / Clarks Amer
Bombay Bassment : The first Indian hip-hop band to perform at the prestigious ‘Glastonbury’ , members of Bombay Bassment are two Goans, one Mumbaiker, and one Kenyan. Together, Levin Mendes (drums), Ruel Barretto ( bass), Chandrashekhar Kunder and Bob Omulo aka MC Bobkat make tunes that brings together hip hop, drum ‘n’ bass, and elements of funk and reggae.
Inna Modja : she is a Malian-french singer.With hits like Mr H, La File Du Lido and French Cancan. She is a singer and song writer who expresses her music based on Motown Soul, Sahel Desert Blues, Mandinka guitars and Kora meets hip-hop.
7.30 / Ganesh Pole, Amer Fort
Rhythm and Rhyme : will be an evening of poetry readings held at Amber Fort, Jaipur on Friday, 20th January at 7.30 PM. Bringing together voices from two sides of the globe, the session will witness readings by celebrated American poet Anne Waldman and the renowned Bollywood lyricist Swanand Kirkire. This will be followed by Sarod Recital by Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan at the Amber Fort.
21st January 2017
9.15 AM / Diggi Palace, Front Lawns
Padmini Rao : Classical Singer Padmini Rao has quite a lineage. From the North Indian Classical Gharana of Kirana‘, she has trained under ‘Padmabhushan’ Dr Prabha. She has learnt Sitar from ‘Padmini Dagar’ and Drupad & Veena from Diwangat Maestro Zia Moinuddin Khan Dagar‘.
7.30-9.45 PM / Clarks Amer
Soulmate : Inspired by the roots and groove sounds of the Blues, Blues-rock, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, funk and R&B, Soulmate was formed when Rudy Wallang and Tipriti Kharbangar decided to form a band dedicated to spreading awareness about the Blues genre.
Beth Orton & Sam Amidon : Beth Orton is a singer and songwriter who has released six trailblazing albums, including the BRIT Award-winning Central Reservation, and 2012’s ‘Sugaring Season’, which Vogue described as ‘a beautiful and timely album, filled with melancholy’. Sam Amidon is a singer/banjoist/fiddler/guitarist originally from Brattleboro, Vermont. He has released five acclaimed albums of radically reimagined folksongs on the Bedroom Community and Nonesuch labels, most recently 2014’s Lily-O.
Mujra se Multiplex tak : will take the audience on a journey through the magical realm of entertainment at Hawa Mahal. Coursing through the ever changing world of cultural entertainment, the session will explore how the audiences at entertainment venues have evolved over the years. Writer and musician Vidya Shah will reflect on these changes through song while actor Luke Kenny punctuates them with poignant poetry and quirky banter.
22nd January 2017
9.15 AM / Diggi Palace, Front Lawns
Debashish Day : He is a classical singer specialising in Thumri, Dadra, Thappa , Chaiti and Kajri. He is also well known for his Bhajan style of singing.
7.00-10.00 PM / Clarks Amer
Lisa Hannigan : Lisa Hannigan’s haunting voice has featured on soundtracks for TV series Fargo and Oscar-winning Gravity and she has collaborated with artists as diverse as Ray LaMontagne, Richard Hawley and Herbie Hancock. Her new album At Swim is her most bewitching yet.
Aga Khan All Stars : Aga Khan Music Initiative, a programme of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, is an inter-regional music and arts education programme to preserve, transmit and develop musical heritage in contemporary forms. The Aga Khan Music Initiative Ensemble brings together the Initiative’s leading artists and AKTC’s collaborators of the past fifteen years. These master musicians are not only brilliant performers, but also pioneering composers, arrangers, improvisers, teachers, and mentors. They bring all of these talents and abilities to bear on their work with the Aga Khan Music Initiative, drawing inspiration from the past to create new music, and playing an active role in the Music Initiative’s education programme. Homayoun Sakhi on the Afghan rubab, Wu Man on the pipa, Saxophonist and composer Basel Rajoub, Salar Nader on tabla, Andrea Piccioni on single-headed frame drums, and qanun player Feras Charestan. The Ensemble will perform a newly created repertoire of compositions, improvisations and contemporary arrangements inspired by tradition.
Raghu Dixit : Their infectious, happy music transcends age, genre and language. From playing to over 100,000 people in Karnataka, to Glastonbury and even playing for the Queen of England, Dixit has done it all! Have a great time to their earthy, rooted, vibrant yet simple fun.
23rd January 2017
9.15 AM / Diggi Palace, Front Lawns
East meets Middle East : It’s a confluence of Middle East and South Asian Musical heritage. Subrat bhattacharya (Tabla), Abhishek Lohiri (Sitar), Rony Maili on Barbat and George on the percussion. They will dissolve boundaries as their music will bring together North African, Middle eastern and South Asian nuances of music.
So go ahead, book your tickets here and spend your evening in the company of the musical greats that India and the world is here to offer at JLF.
Jaipur Beat 