New-age music blends with traditional at SAARC bands festival

Music from various SAARC countries are set to bring alive the charm of the city's oldest fort Purana Quila during the South Asian Bands Festival that begins here on November 7.
The eighth edition of the three-day festival would feature 14 rock bands from countries, which are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India along with the observer country France.
This year, the festival features performance by "Alobo Naga" and "The Band (ANB)" from Dimapur, Nagaland formed in 2010. They won the Best Indian Act at a European music awards ceremony in 2012.

Among the line up is Pakistani singing sensation Zebunissa Bangash popularly known as Zeb, who has forayed into Bollywood with her hit tracks in films like "Madras Cafe" and "Highway".
Another Bollywood component at the festival would be provided by "Pentagram" the electronic-rock band formed by film composer Vishal Dadlani. The band's music has evolved over the years from what used to be described as Alternative to what is now Progressive Alternative Pop.
"The popularity of the festival is immense. We started out as an event to attract the youth and now it has become popular across people from all ages from 17 years to 65 and above," says Sanjeev Bhargava,festival director and founder, Seher.

"Success" an electro-rock band from France known for their unique style of contemporary rock performance combined with traditional heavy metal, rock and roll and electro rock are also scheduled to perform.
"The Kinetic Operations" which has been for generations representing the official band of Maldives National Defense Force is from the Maldives.