5 NE Indian bands & 1 Mumbai act shake hands with Grammy winner

Nagaland's music society, Rattle & Hum gets folk bands, rock artists and classical virtuosos to shake hands over a unison of sorts. Besides FREE entry, there is more to look forward to at The Hand Shake concert

The North-East may seem like the rock capital of India to buffs in Mumbai, but with their hyperactive approach to their passion expressed by an indelible love for Bob Dylan and Bob Marley, musicians from here can't believe the opportunity to perform live in our city.

It's for the first time that bands from NE India get the chance to share stage with musicians from Mumbai, and Grammy Award-winning veena maestro Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, who is also patron to the organisers of this concert, the Rattle & Hum music society of Nagaland formed in 2007.
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Musician and president of the society, Theja Meru believes in promoting upcoming contemporary acts as much as dying traditional arts and genres of rock.

The society is not just named after rock band U2's hit album, but is inspired by rock gods who have the ability to extend their celeb power into a larger role.
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"Bono and Co. are heavily into charity work in Africa. I want musicians to open their mind to various subjects other than music, which they can contribute to," he says.

Folk band The Tetseos, Nagaland

Formed by four sisters from Kohima (Mercy, Azi, Kuvelu and Alune), this one wishes to revive the traditional folk music of their tribe.

The Tetseos sound is predominantly a mix of vocals and a traditional one-string instrument called Tati a musical learning that has been passed down generations.
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Recently, they have added a few Western elements using violins, guitars and the tambourine to give folk a more fusion feel, they say.
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"Folk music is fading from Nagaland. People don't perform it as often as they used to, unless at special occasions," says Mercy.
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Sunday's act sees only two of the four sisters perform, and will be pure folk plucking the string of the Tati with one finger, and determining the tune of the track with another, along with vocals.

Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Jaipur

The creator of the Mohan Veena, this Grammy Award winner and Hindustani classical exponent will inaugurate the festival and perform classical-based compositions that have a world music element.
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"That's to make them catchy so that they are appreciated by the younger audience. My performance will be based on improvisation and I hope I get the chance to jam with some of the bands," he says.

What: The Hand Shake Concert
On: June 21, Sunday, 7 pm onwards
At: St. Andrew's Auditorium, Bandra (W).
The line-up: Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt Hipnotribe Soulmate The Tetseos Asin Eximious Cultural Vibrants