Colombo comes alive to the sound of music

As Senses and Soul, Colombo Music Festival 2012 to be held from 23 to 26 August gathers momentum behind the scenes, this festival, the first ever of its kind to be held in the region, promises to deliver a superlative show worthy of the effort that is being put into the making of an overwhelmingly successful event.

According to Mantra Moods Founder and Director and Senses and Soul, Colombo Music Festival Founder and Event Director Haadia Galely, this event will be the unparalleled meeting place of all musical styles, genres, essences and forms to be showcased in Sri Lanka.

“Waters Edge will be the ‘Official Festival Village’, where not only diverse forms of music will be heard, but will also host to a more intense part of the festival which involves workshop discussions and master classes which will be extended to students and professionals alike who wish to avail themselves of the opportunity that will be presented to them, setting a very high bar for such future events in this country,” said Galely.

The festival is being marketed to reach an overseas clientele of travellers to Sri Lanka and as such, promoting the festival has begun in order to attract those interested in Asian music makers, which is very much on the lines of festivals and events that are hosted annually elsewhere in the world.

As a result, Senses and Soul, Colombo Music Festival 2012 is fast gaining impetus with both local and foreign artistes who have confirmed their participation, whilst other events showcased under the umbrella of SSCMF 2012 will be held at approximately nine other venues in and around Colombo.

According to Galely, foreign countries who have confirmed their participation include UK, India, Norway, USA, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Algeria, Japan, Maldives, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong, Russia, while a few more countries are still to confirm. “Another first for Sri Lanka is that international music labels Sony, Universal and World Wide Records, The Fridge, Dubai (record label and talent scout company) too have confirmed their presence at this prestigious event,” said a justifiably pleased Galely.

Apart from Waters Edge which will be event venue / festival village, other event venues confirmed are the Lionel Wendt where the finals of the ‘Spirit’ music competition produced for the festival by the David Academy of Performing Arts (DAPA) will be staged.

Applications for the ‘Spirit’ competition are being posted on the website as well as through the media. This competition is expected to bring in participants from across the country to contend at the grand finale in Colombo. The Galle Face Green is tipped to be the official ‘Youth Park’, whilst the National Museum, the National Theater, Taj Samudra, Hotel Galaldari, Sivam Kovil, Park Street Mews, as well as several other unusual locations, hitherto not associated with musical events, will host specialized sessions and categories.

A strong working committee is actively working to bring the event to life, with the support of the local business chambers, the tourist board and allied representatives in the hospitality and travel sector to ensure that Senses and Soul, Colombo Music Festival 2012 meets international standards.  

The festival will be conducted in association with the Mantra Moods Executive Committee, Waters Edge, M-Entertainment and the Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau.

A Sri Lankan Food Festival featuring food particular to our nine provinces is also on the cards and is scheduled to be held concurrently, during this period.

“Musicians in Sri Lanka will receive the much needed support they need, and Senses and Soul will honour both local as well as Sri Lankan expatriate musicians (who wish to participate), of varying and diverse musical genres, covering a rich variety of styles, all of whom will be encouraged to play a vital role at this event. The focus will, in the overall, be on what is derived from the Western, and internationally popular cross genre and fusion trends in music and song. As such, the artistic capacity of Sri Lankan musicians to reach across the globe will be on display,” said Galely.

– Pix by Upul Abayasekara



Artistes who have confirmed their participation to date include the Colombo Percussion Trio comprising of Ravi Bandu, Upula Madushanker and Krishna, Rukshan Perera, Kumar De Silva, Sureka Amarasinghe, Shanelle Fernando, Leon Michael Wijeysooriya, Tilanka Jayamanne, Ashane Bernard, Dinali David, Rcky Bahar, Shyanne Bahar, Rajitha Rupasinghe, Triloka, Billy, Iraj, Chinthy, Rukshan Mark,Stigmata, Saman Panapitiya,

representing the Mantra Folk Music Ensemble, Krishan Maheson, and Shaman Ranaweera, while foreign artistes confirmed are Hari Prased Chaurisia, Niladri Kumar, R.K. Bikramjit Singh, The House Jacks, Pipa Wilson, Cathy Menzes, Thomas Caplin and Moon Baziz.

The Artistic Directors to the festival include renowned musicians of the caliber of Ravi Bandu Vidiyapathi - World Music/Fusion, Arunthathy Sri Regnanathan - Oriental/ Folk/ World Music, Rukshan Perera – Jazz, Melanth Perera/ Noeline Honter – Pop, Selvi Sachithananthan - ‘Pranaam’, (Sivam Kovil); Pabalu Wijegooneawardene - Fringe ‘Pranaam’ (Sivam Kovil), Andre and Dinali David – ‘Spirit’ the Music Competition; Sanjeev Jayaratnam and Priyan de Livera – Closing Ceremony and Choral, Mariazelle Gunatilleke - Country and Western, Nikki Marzook - Hip Hop/ R&B/ Rap/Rock.

“The Colombo Music Festival will also serve as an opportunity to link with fans and friends of times before, whilst also being an inspiration for young and upcoming musicians. Special arrangements with regard to travel, hotel accommodation and other benefits are currently being negotiated,” said Galely. “The adverse publicity coming out of Sri Lanka will be laid to rest. There is much more that we are bound to offer on behalf of our motherland. ‘Senses and Soul, Colombo Music Festival 2012’ will help us put the concept of being ‘resplendent’ back where it belongs as part of the identity of this isle, while also enjoying the fruitage of healing across all of our communities in Sri Lanka”.

Another very important feature of the Festival will be open stage performances for aspiring artistes, where the organizers will create open stage performance opportunities where new and untapped musicians will be able to showcase their talents.

“This will be open to all age groups and interested participants could register online, indicating their particular area of performance. The time slots for performances will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis,” explained Galely.

Besides the activities planned for the ‘Festival Village’ there will be parallel fringe events as well, all of which are up for sponsorship. The Colombo Music Festival requests for volunteers prior to, during as well as after the Festival.