New Delhi: Come December and Delhi will rock and roll once again with the most awaited rock fest of the year, the South Asian Bands Festival which will be held from December 12, 2010 to December 14, 2010 at Purana Qila from 6:00 p.m. onwards daily. Presented by SEHER in collaboration with ICCR and Ministry of External Affairs, the three-day music festival, now in its fourth edition, will feature fifteen popular rock bands from across nine nations of the sub-continent. Entry is free. For further details, one can log on to www.sehernow.in

Apart from Band Bangla (Bangladesh) and East India Company (Assam) who have performed in the first edition of the festival, the other participating rock bands are making their debut this time. Mrigya (Delhi), Mawj (Afghanistan), 4TH Element (Shillong), Mekaal Hasan Band (Pakistan), Ankur & The Ghalat Family (Mumbai), Traphic Jam (Maldives), Funeral in Heaven (Sri Lanka), Indus Creed (Mumbai), Tashi Tagay Cultural Group (Bhutan), Metal Zone Oasis Band (Myanmar), Nepathaya (Nepal), Thermal & A Quarter (Bangalore), Kailasa (Kailash Kher,Mumbai) are the bands which will take part this time.

Suresh Goel, Director General, ICCR says: “South Asian Bands Festival has emerged as one of the most popular festivals of ICCR. The groups presented in this festival-touch the hearts of people from all age groups, especially the youth. This is one of the few initiatives of ICCR which are aimed at the youth of this nation and to create amongst them, an articulate consciousness of the South Asian regional cultural themes. The presentation and working together of artistes of various genres also enables creative artistes of this region to get to know each other’s creations and opens up possibilities of working together in the future. This festival therefore has become a major melting pot for talent in the South Asian neighborhood.”

According to Sanjeev Bhargava, Founder, SEHER & Festival Director, South Asian Bands Festival: “The growing popularity of this festival is evident from sheer numbers of people that throng the ramparts of Purana Qila every year. But what gives us immense delight as a team producing this festival is the age groups this festival touches – it’s great to see people from 16 to 70 years of age, young people bringing their grand parents on wheel chairs to students of schools and colleges coming in large groups. Even the city of Delhi assumes a real festive air during these three days!”

Programme

Sunday, December 12, 2010: 6:00 p.m. onwards

Mrigya (Delhi)

Mawj (Afghanistan)

Band Bangla (Bangladesh)

4TH Element (Shillong)

Mekaal Hasan Band (Pakistan)

Monday, December 13, 2010: 6:00 p.m. onwards

Ankur & The Ghalat Family (Mumbai)

Traphic Jam (Maldives)

Funeral in Heaven (Sri Lanka)

East India Company (Assam)

Indus Creed (Mumbai)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010: 6:00 p.m. onwards

Metal Zone Oasis Band (Myanmar)

Tashi Tagay Cultural Group (Bhutan)

Nepathya (Nepal)

Thermal & A Quarter (Bangalore)

Kailasa (Kailash Kher, Mumbai)