Music lovers in India are blessed with some great music festivals to attend in different cities throughout the year. Starting from the serene spots in the mountains to hubs by the beach, the locations are beautiful, and the music is of great quality, coupled with food and a cultural showcase of the cities chosen for hosting the festivals. Festivals like the NH7 Weekender, Vh1 Supersonic, Ziro Music Festival, Hornbill, Mahindra Blues and more bring global artistes and it’s always a grand affair! On World Music Day, t2 picks some of the best music festivals in India that have been happening for some years now.
Hornbill Festival
A seven-day cultural fest, that takes place in the scenic areas of Kohima, Nagaland, the Hornbill Festival is one of the biggest in India. Taking place in December every year, it’s an initiative by Nagaland’s state government to showcase the talents of the ethnic tribes there. Artistes and musicians from different parts of the country meet and make it a colourful one. The Hornbill Festival comprises 16 unique tribes of the state and has made a mark on an international scale over the years. It was started by Nagaland State Tourism and Art & Culture Department and takes place between December 1 to 10. Named after the forest-dwelling Indian hornbill, the festival celebrates traditions, culture, fashion and other aspects of the tribes. Held at the Naga Heritage Village (12km from Kohima), 2023 will celebrate the rock music festival’s 16 years.
Nh7 Weekender
Nh7 Weekender held at Pune, Bangalore, Calcutta, Delhi and Shillong for over three days each year is a tribute to the indie music scene. The ‘I WAS THERE’ mug is an asset you collect from there and it’s all worth it. From Guthrie Govan, Poets of the Fall, to other international artistes, Weekender over the years has witnessed some quality music. The superior production quality and a high-quality lineup are what’s led to it being touted as India’s best-organised music festival. If you attend it at Shillong, don’t forget to try out the signature local — roasted pork!
Ziro Music Festival
Bobby Hano and Menwhopause guitarist Anup Kutty co-founded the incredible occasion of musical festivity hosted in the Ziro Valley at Arunachal Pradesh every year. Home to the Apatani tribe, Ziro Valley brims over with its hospitable and friendly folks, making it one of the best festivals in India. The showcase of local talent and fantastic artistes of North East India and the country, the Ziro Music Festival celebrates a variety of genres in music across four days during September-end.
Mahindra Blues Festival
Mahindra Blues Festival is synonymous with a cultural movement. It’s not just another festival of sorts. Eleven years since its inception, the festival has played a major role in putting the blues genre on the Indian map and happens to be one of the largest blues festivals in Asia. It’s held in the iconic 70-year-old Bollywood Studio (in Mumbai) during the second weekend of February every year.
Vh1 Supersonic
It’s a songverse that celebrates multiple genres of music like electronic dance music (EDM), pop, hip-hop, experimental genres, indie and live to create a blend of a musical experience. Indie artiste Anne Marie, afro-pop and R&B singer CKAY, hip-hop musician and Indian rapper, DIVINE and the EDM duo Camelphat among others, were a part of the 2023 line-up.
