15 March,2011 06:44 AM IST | | Rinkita Gurav
Bombay business body organises a two-month-long fest in city to promote British era open-air evening shows
Continuing its crusade to revive the near-extinct bandstand culture, the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry has decided to take the British era open-air musical shows to different parts of the city and to a diverse audience.
17 groups including police, army and MCGM bands will perform at the musical extravaganza at
different bandstands across the city
The musical fest, which kicked off at Hanging Gardens in Malabar Hill on Saturday, will continue till May 28 when the finale is scheduled.
"Just when we thought the cultural spirit of the city was dying a slow death, it got a panacea in the form of the recommencement of the Kala Ghoda and Elephanta festivals, and now revival of after-dusk musical shows at bandstands across the city," said a band member.
MiD DAY had earlier reported how various cultural festivals were vanishing from the city wherein we had mentioned all the near-extinct cultural fests and the reasons behind their slow death.
But the bandstand shows are back with a bang, much to the satisfaction of Mumbaikar, known for their love of such open-air evening musical treats.
The joint director of Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kavita Sharma, said, "We also want to provide a platform for youth bands to showcase their creative skills to a diverse audience.
Free entertainment
The fest will also provide free entertainment to people who cannot afford to visit pubs or clubs to watch live performance."
There are 17 groups, including Police and MCGM bands, participating in this musical extravaganza being organised in different bandstands of the city.
Sharma said, "We are still awaiting a confirmation from the Navy Band to play on the finale day. They would give it the historic touch. Earlier only the Navy and the Army bands played at the bandstands."
Unlike in the previous years when the programme was restricted to performances in Malabar Hill, this year the bands would be staging live performances at Kamla Nehru Udyan, Dadar Chowpattyu00a0 Bandstand, Malabar Hill, Veer Prabhu Deshpande and Sant Dyaneshwar Udyan, next to Kirti College, near Shivaji Park, and Carter Road Amphitheatre in Bandra.
Ek Cutting!
Bandstand
The bandstand culture in Mumbai took birth during the 1800s wherein the regimental band would play for the governor in the evening at Horniman Circle. This eventually got deeply embedded with its cultured
SCHEDULE
>> Kamala Nehru Udyan (Hanging Gardens), Malabar Hill:u00a0 March 12, March 19, April 2, May 14, May 28
>> Veer Prabhu Deshpande & Sant Dyaneshwar Udyan (Dadar Chowpatty): April 16, April 30
>> Carter Road Amphitheatre, Bandra: May 7, May 21
