ROCK CITY

A new music festival Bandland aims to reinstate Bengaluru as India's rock music capital

- Amit Gurbaxani

Calling Bengaluru the rock music capital of India might evoke protests from fans in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Shillong, but the garden city just got an edge over the others, thanks to Bandland. Bengaluru will serve as the home of the new annual rock festival, the inaugural edition of which will be held on December 16-17 at the Embassy Riding School.

Promoted and produced by BookMyShow Live, Bandland will feature four international and eight Indian acts that span long-running legends and present-day stars. British hard rock veterans Deep Purple and American alternative rock icons Goo Goo Dolls will headline a line-up that includes the US's The War on Drugs and Australia's Amyl and the Sniffers, both of which are currently festival favourites across the world. Among the Indian contingent are pioneers Parikrama and Thermal and a Quarter as well as alternative rock idols Parvaaz and The F16s.