AMOGH RAO
Expectations were soaring for the 11th edition of SulaFest , and after a massive weekend we can safely say that they more than just met . From the impeccable organization and clockwork management to stellar programs and curiously fascinating music , this two-day festival bumped up a brand surrounding wine and turned it into an experience in itself .
Transportation and accommodation for guests were managed admirably to say the least , and helping hands at the venue weren ’ t just reserved for those who asked for it . The stalls sprawled across the venue were rivaled in their diversity only by the affordability of their products . Food was abundant , alcohol was generous and the wine was showcased in all its fancy .
Coming down to the music side of this festival , the lineup itself looked completely foreign , to the extent that we had to do our fair share of homework on these artists . This was totally worth it though , since the experience of listening to a melting pot of cultures across the world made this weekend stand out amongst all the music festivals we ’ ve ever witnessed .
We had French-Indian DJ Kiwistar kicking off both days , with his Electro Swing style dubstep . Run Pussy Run came out with a set almost defined to push boundaries and GRAIN put up a show that flowed through Electronica , dubstep and drum n bass . Gypsy Hill was a refreshing shift into world music , with elements of Balkan brass , ska , swing and surf rock . Headlining that night was Parov Stellar , pioneer of Electro Swing , with
masterfully woven jazz , house , pop and electro . Day one ended with Crystal Fighters , the English-spanish electronic folk band to probably be one of the most popular progressive dance bands , incorporating folk and funk into their live sets .
Day two boasted bands like Adil Manuel Collective , a project that ventured into RnB and Neo Soul backed by elements from jazz , funk and latin . Brotha V brought down a massive response with relatable lyrics and indian classical vibes fused into hip hop and rap . The Beat was another crowd pleaser , with reggae , ska , punk and soul coming together in a comprehensive yet tasteful manner . Amit Trivedi ’ s set stood out amongst all the artists across the weekend though , with probably the most relatable music , established musicians and powerful energy that had the crowd going wild . The festival closed with Bauchklang , an Austrian beatbox group that changed the way pretty much all of us perceive beatboxing . Incredibly innovative and ridiculously talented , their set made for a massive end to the night .
The second stage was relatively overlooked , but had all kinds of stalwarts from the electronic realm performing , including Stephano Richetta , 8 Bit Culprit , Alex Ferrer and Phonique . As an overall experience , it ’ s pretty clear that Sula ’ s festival for music and wine is a brand of its own , with some of the most unique combinations of music and genres that we ’ ve witnessed in the country . Definitely something to look forward to next year and in the years to come .
The Score Magazine
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