In its fifth year of existence, the NH7 Weekender music festival brings a fifth city into its fold. The event that is now the cover, masthead and spiral binding of the country’s musical calendar has come to define festival culture in the country. The NH7 Weekender has grown from one year to the next – expanding to new cities, roping in international headlining acts, bringing recognition to scattered local talent and consolidating a nationwide fan base for contemporary musical genres. By raising, and then matching, the expectations of a hitherto untapped audience, it has taken the role of the resourceful older sibling who not only introduces you to this one legendary band but also sneaks you out of the house for that concert way past your curfew.After Pune, New Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata, Shillong in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, is the newest stop on the Bacardi NH7 Weekender circuit. In fact, this year the festival kicks off in Shillong, with American heavy metal giants Megadeth and Jamaican reggae act The Wailers headlining the two-day event. Considering the substantial audience for heavy metal in the country, the multi-platinum superstars and thrash metal ‘Big Four’ pioneers from the 1980s, Megadeth, are no newbies on the Indian concert scene. They’ve performed previously at the Rock in India Festival 2008 in Bangalore, the NH7 Weekender 2012 and the MTV Xtreme 2014 in Delhi. The Wailers, on the other hand, will perform in the country for the first time. Originating in 1974 as Bob Marley & The Wailers, the existing nine-member band continues the tradition of Marley’s ‘one-drop’ reggae sound. Currently touring the USA, they intend to perform in Shillong on October 23 and Kolkata on November 1, 2015, before continuing their tour in Europe, Mexico and Canada.The lineup gets an overhaul by the time the festival reaches Delhi in late November. Making their debut at the Delhi leg of the festival will be three heavyweight headlining acts – Indian composer A.R. Rahman, British producer Mark Ronson and American experimental electronic act Flying Lotus. While Rahman needs no introduction, having established his credentials not only within the country but abroad, Ronson is the producer behind many hit records and Grammy-winning albums by artists such as Adele, Amy Winehouse and Bruno Mars. Rapper, DJ and visionary producer Flying Lotus a.k.a. Steven Ellison from Los Angeles, California, has won accolades for his recent album “You’re Dead!” and collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Thom Yorke and Kendrick Lamar. He is also the grandnephew of legendary jazz musicians Alice and John Coltrane.The festival organizers created a buzz last week by finding a novel way to publicize the NH7 Weekender artist lineup. They revealed names of artists/bands that are set to perform this year to different fans of the festival, who in turn were encouraged to make these announcements via social media using the hashtag #lineup2015. Soulmate, The Ska Vengers, The Raghu Dixit Project, Madboy/Mink, Bhayanak Maut, Nicholson, Dualist Inquiry, Swarathma, Parikrama, Indus Creed are some of the other acts performing at the festival. Tickets for the festival are available here.Lineup of Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2015 so far:Shillong (October 23 - 24, 2015): Megadeth, The Wailers, Kailasa, Papon and the East India Company, Parikrama, Indus Creed, The Raghu Dixit Project, Nucleya, Soulmate, Lou Majaw and Friends, Scribe, Dualist Inquiry, Shaa’ir + Func, Swarathma, Reggae Rajahs, Ankur and the Ghalat Family, Bhayanak Maut, Blackstratblues, The Ska Vengers, The F16’s, Skrat, Undying Inc, Madboy/Mink, Nischay Parekh, EZ Riser, Sandunes, Nicholson, Bombay Bassment, Borkung Hrangkhawl, Pangea, Street Stories, Sound Avtar, Lucid Recess, Imphal Talkies, Summersalt, Your Chin, Acollective.Kolkata (October 31 - November 1, 2015): Megadeth, The Wailers, Kailasa, Papon and the East India Company, Parikrama, Nucleya, Cactus, Dualist Inquiry, Swarathma, PINKNOISE, Shaa’ir + Func, Niladri Kumar, Arka, Reggae Rajahs, Anish Sood, Dhruv Voyage, The Bartender, Baiju Dharmajan Syndicate, Spud In The Box, Nicholson, Nikhil D’Souza, Nischay Parekh, Undying Inc, Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Cafe, Parvaaz, Prateek Kuhad, Zygnema, Underground Authority, Sickflip, Neel and the Lightbulbs, Zoo, Sukanti and Anushree, Oh Rocket!Delhi (November 28 - 29, 2015): A. R. Rahman, Mark Ronson, Flying Lotus, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Parikrama, The Raghu Dixit Project, Nucleya, Selvaganesh, Vir Das’ Alien Chutney, Soulmate, Ankur and the Ghalat Family, Reggae Rajahs, Advaita, Bipul Chettri, Maati Baani, Noori, Faridkot, Pierce Brothers, The Map Room, Parvaaz, Dhruv Vishvanath, Spud In The Box, Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Cafe, Hriday Gattani, Rehan Dalal, Hidden Orchestra, Thumpers, The Clameens, Peasant’s King, Frisky Pints, Begum, Sapta, Chayan and Smiti.Pune (December 4 - 6, 2015): A. R. Rahman, Mark Ronson, Flying Lotus, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, The Raghu Dixit Project, Arka, Vir Das’ Alien Chutney, Soulmate, Dualist Inquiry, Swarathma, Fossils, Dhruv Voyage, Niladri Kumar, Bipul Chettri, Raghav Sachal, Baba Sehgal, Nicholson, Pierce Brothers, The Map Room, Soul Clap, Madboy/Mink, Nischay Parekh, Prateek Kuhad, Hidden Orchestra, Thumpers, The Clameens, Peasant’s King, Erotic Market, Peepal Tree, Peter Cat Recording Co., DJ Uri and the 3Stylers, Sapta, Until We Last, Blakc, Rehan Dalal, Hriday Gattani, Max Godman, Gully Gang, Last Remaining Light, Aayushi Karnik, Alisha Pais.Bangalore (December 5 - 6, 2015): A. R. Rahman, Mark Ronson, Flying Lotus, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Dr. L. Subramaniam, The Raghu Dixit Project, Vir Das’ Alien Chutney, Arka, Swarathma, Clinton Cejero, Dhruv Voyage, Noori, Thaikkudam Bridge, The F16’s, Nikhil D’Souza, Pierce Brothers, The Map Room, Soul Clap, Hidden Orchestra, The Clameens, Thumpers, Peasant’s King, Erotic Market, Rehan Dalal, The Ganesh Talkies, The Colour Compound, Tails On Fire, Brodha V, Mad Orange Fireworks, Mahesh Raghunandan, Gabriel Daniel.Follow @ARTINFOIndia
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