Magic in the Sands – Ragasthan 2012

Ragasthan 2012 in India-

A place where the myriad colours of the world comes together, forming a melodious harmony of arts, culture and music over three days, four stages, over 50 artistes and one vast desert.

India’s first global music, arts and culture festival, Ragasthan (November 16th-18th 2012) is a unique playground set amidst thousands of acres of the Thar Desert. Set in the Kanoi Dunes in Jaisalmer, the festival will be home to many festival revellers for three days and nights as they make their way into the wild open dunes to listen to live music, watch movies under a midnight starry sky, shop at the nomad market, take a camel safari, and participate in workshops while camping on-site.

With a long term plan to discover, support and showcase sustainable collaboration initiatives between musicians, literary figures as well as nature conservationists and heritage experts within India and across the globe, Ragasthan isn’t just a celebration – it is the beginning of an era, a coming together of nomads on the lost desert trails of Rajasthan.

From the big boys of the Indian rock scene like Parikrama and Advaita for the Rock stage, to metal band Brahma playing a rare acoustic set, to international artists such as Shiva Sound System (UK) and Berlin’s bass-heavy electronica queen Mother Perera (Jahcoozi, Bpitch Control) for the electronic stage and Chalo Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Negra Pradera (Latin Salsa Flamenco), and not to forget local Rajasthani acts such as Kalbeliya Ghoomar and Mame Khan, are just some of the names that will lend the landscape their energy, colour and performances.

Video by: Ragasthan

Endorsed and supported by the ICCR (Indian Council of Cultural Relations) and The Embassy of Iceland, Ragasthan has taken the first step forward in ensuring a solidly backed and holistic festival.

‘BBC’ Credits: Janka Husta 

In the Ragasthan road trip, bands will depart from 2 cities in the first year of Ragasthan playing to crowds in cities and towns along the way. Each convoy will also carry with it a crew of bloggers, tweeters, film-makers and photographers chosen through social media contests.

These lucky winners will get to travel with the bands on a road trip to the festival all the while documenting and sharing in detail the experience – all in real time. 

‘Swiss tents at Ragasthan venue’

STAGES

Morio (Peacock in Rajasthani)

Genre: Rock, Pop, and Alternative

In a desert a peacock adds a stark contrast to the landscape – reminding one that even in a place such as this, life is beautiful. Old folklore believes that a dancing peacock signals the arrival of the monsoon – irony in a desert. Like the peacock, the festival area is an elegant, colourful and vibrant space designed using local artwork and artisans spread over the sometimes flat and sometimes hilly dunes.

Artists to look out for: Parikrama, Advaita, Brahma, Menwhopause, Them Clones, Sky Rabbit, Peter Cat Recording Co.

‘Advaita’ 

Ammara (The Open Sky in Rajasthani) 

Genre: Electronic, Experimental, Progressive, Trance, DNB, Psychedelic

In the words of the great poet Rumi: Magnetic fields draw us to Light; they move our limbs and thoughts. But it is still dark; if our hearts do not hold a lantern, we will stumble over each other, huddled beneath the sky as we are. Ammara: where the glitter, the psychedelia, the strobes and the lasers are all divinely setup by the stars, moon, sand and the open sky. Local artists will work together using indigenous art forms and live art to fuse with the music flowing with the desert winds.

Artists to look out for: Shiva Sound System, Dualist Inquiry, Bay Beat Collective, NUcleya, Kohra, and Uri

‘Big Bang Blues’ 

Olun (folk songs in Rajasthani)

Genre: Folk, World Music

In a land as lost as the desert, paper was equivalent to gold. History was preserved in songs of valour, pride, morals, values, good, evil, victory and loss. These songs have been passed on from generation to generation with the influences of the various lands the nomads and warriors walked and visited. This is a smaller and more personal stage where artists are almost in conversation with the listeners. The stage is designed using elements from around the world and put together by local Rajasthani artists working with design and art students from across the country.

Artists to look out for: Swarathma, Rajasthan Roots, Chalo Africa, Negra Pradera, Reggae Rajahs, Mame Khan.

Open Mic

Genre: Singer songwriters / spoken word

This is a unique platform for original songwriters, composers and acoustic bands to showcase their undiscovered talent. This stage invites artists and talent from all over the country to show up with your instrument and your voice and we will give you the space and an audience to play for.

Artists to look out for: Shantanu Pandit (composer of the title track Get Up & Go used in the Ragasthan promo), Harbour Light, Alisha Pais, and Winit Tikkoo Band.