Bangaloreans ‘jam’ to celebrate Independence Day

BANGALORE - Over 200 people - from school children to software professionals and teachers to full-time artistes - are offering a feast of music for three days from Friday to celebrate Independence Day (Aug 15).

Called “Freedom Jam”, the musical treat, which started in 1996, features a wide range of styles - Indipop, rock, metal, veena recitals - at various venues across the tech hub.

“There will be 63 groups performing for three days from Aug 13 to celebrate freedom,” P.N. Siddharta of the group ‘Bharat Mata Nach Kud Baja’ and one of the organisers of the Freedom Jam, told IANS.

“The number of persons in each group varies. We welcome all styles of music. The idea is to take music to everyone,” Siddharta said.

There is a group of four or five school students who call their band ‘Maye’ (the Sanskrit word for illusion) and they will sing Sanskrit songs, he said.

“What brings us together is our passion for music. There are software professionals, teachers, full time music teachers, some in construction sector and some full time musicians who will be participating in Freedom Jam,” Siddharta said.

The Freedom Jam idea took off ahead of the 50th Independence Day celebrations in 1996 and has steadily grown with the number of musicians participating in the annual musical tribute to Freedom.

The passion for music is such that the groups participating in the Freedom Jam are footing the bill themselves wherever it is required.

The ‘Freedom Jam’ is not a ticketed event. “Entry is free,” Siddharta said.

“The venues where the groups will perform for three days have been given to us free of cost. But we will need to spend for other requirements like sound facilities as they may not be up to the mark at some venues,” he said.