Spend a night swaying under a Banyan tree

This weekend all roads will lead to a single musical destination. There are fewer delights that compare to a starlit night filled with music and the ninth edition of the Fireflies Festival of Music is out to give you just that. With 12 hours of non-stop live performances under a giant old banyan tree overlooking a lake on the outskirts of the city those with an ear for music have reason enough to rejoice and keep their calendars marked.

Pic/ Anuo katukaran

From 15 performing bands that participated in the festival last year, Fireflies may have moved down to 12 bands covering various genres this time but they still claim to maintain the essence of what now has cult value in town.

"There is a greater emphasis on production and sound quality this year. We are trying to raise the bar from the audience perspective," says Akshath Jitendranath, Festival coordinator. Nearly 60 band profiles were received for the festival this year and the 12 selected cover genres all the way from Metal to Carnatic music. "There is no fixed pattern we follow for the selection of bands for the festival. We usually make a list of bands depending on what we would like to see at Fireflies," says Akshath.

Besides being the only all-night music festival, Fireflies brings together niche music lovers on the city's musical map. "There are so many things that make Fireflies different from other music festivals, yet there is no one thing you can point your finger at.

The atmosphere, especially the venue with the banyan tree and the overlooking lake hold a special charm. Overall, there is an ethos of oneness that comes across through Fireflies," Akshath says. "Don't forget to carry some insect repellant and warm clothes though," he adds.

The proceeds from the sale of tickets for this music festival will be dedicated to the education of children in Kabini. The Guide takes you through the line-up for the evening

Thermal And A Quarter
Genre: Bangalore Rock
Band line-up: Bruce Lee Mani (guitars, vocals), Rajeev Rajagopal (drums), Prakash KN (bass)
What to look out for: Live versions of songs from their four original albums and some covers in their trademark style.