HILLSTOCK FESTIVAL
- A STATE OF MIND EXPERIENCE - MUSIC, KITES & FLEA
KUMAON, UTTARANCHAL
October 8-12, 2005
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Uncharted Territory to begin with
Music resounding within the clouds, echoing off the pines
7 Bands, and a motley of local folk musicians
Living in a camped community, well above 7000 ft,
playing melodies and no requests.
3 days and 2 nights out in the woods,
campfires burning bright,
music served live with the barbeque,
kites flying in the starlight.
The Flea bustling with bargains
Away from the urban clutter, a concert to another lifetime,
Nothing globalised, insured or commercial about it.
We should have done these things: the dreams tell us that
Back then
To the life which should have been chosen
FINE PRINT
It's a small coterie as always,
and we don't claim to be a popular majority
if this does makes sense to you
call Raul at 9313332103 / State Of Mind at 91-1151633393.
Or email us at som.experience@gmail.com* *
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*Rite Of Passage *
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*OCTOBER 7 ( FRIDAY ) : DEPARTURE FROM DELHI*
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*KICK OFF CONCERT : LIVE & UNPLUGGED* ' begins at 8:30 p.m . at TONIC
(Asiad Games Village Complex, Khel Gaon Marg ).
Obviously we haven't been able to contain the mood of impending mirth, the
silly grins and high spirits begin earlier in the evening. It would be great
if you dropped by a couple of hours prior to departure to get a feel of
things, Listen to Zubin Pratap play some retro, get acquainted with fellow
travelers & musicians, get into the groove and take off that work mask.
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*OCTOBER 8 ( SATURDAY ) : ARRIVAL AT CAMPSITE, *
54 kms from Nainital, facing the formidable north emerges Camp Pinnacle,
almost hidden from view unless you are looking and looking hard . Nanda Devi
looms precipitously flanked by her lesser kin. It's an unreal morn as you
shake off the slumber, rise from the sleeper bus couches and pull back the
tinted glass to soak in the view.
** Today is to rest, acclimatize ,explore thevicinity and if you are so
inclined, make friends. **
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Kabir Baba, flower child, as far out as the site, cooks up some surreal
tales and great food. Out of contemporary society by choice, Kabir is tuned
to a very old strain. He speaks of his night dreams and that trees can sing,
we believe him.
When Odysseus cried, "There is nothing worse for a man than to wander", he
was true in a literal sense but not in the metaphor. There are no reins
here, whether you are a musician, writer or a chartered accountant, slip
away into your own reveries or move with the group as we trek to apple
orchards nestled in delicate vales close to the campsite. Evening is
reserved for the happier thoughts, a bit of a gala to suppress old rues.
The flea is set up with a potpourri of curios which might strike your
fancy. We haven't checked the stuff but we know the people, and going by
their sanity, nothing commonplace is possible
The kites long to kiss the moon, after the hazy cloud cover is pierced they
dance in the starlight. Still tangible but beyond perception.
The night is reserved for World Music & Jazz combos who sing their night
dreams accompanied by syncopations on tightly stretched skins. These drums
can talk **
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* Some of the performers for the evening*
· *Ind Transit *– a unique free form world music band which does not
rehearse or play set scripted music. The musicians rely entirely on their
own explosive potentials to create a spiritual and unified musical energy.
Tribal beats, rhythms and instruments embellished with the guitar, shahnai,
flute and the saxophone. Ind Transit is about extempore ethno tribal jazz
· *Dbase *- Overtones of jazz and funk layered with electronica. dbase will
take a journey through music spanning acoustica to electronics to fill up
the
night with adrenalin, bass and those funky beats. Music on the night will arc
and hiss with electricity, sounding smooth and jazzy or
hyperindustrial as a test tube full of bottled lightning.
· *Ish *- A solo guitar set with influences of latin, blues, jazz and
classical music. The performance will have Compositions taking you through
passages with reflections on latin, jazz and other music that influenced him
on his musical journey.
*OCTOBER 9 ( SUNDAY )*
Trudging down a 5.a.m. trail , its not hard to figure out why we're here, on
an equal footing with the flora and fauna, this is how the world was once
before humans looked skywards and said, 'more'. And in the name of progress
and something called 'development' systematically got down to the task of
destruction. There are still frontiers here, places which have not yet been
slotted by a human eye, rare species of plants which biology would turn
poetic about. Today we reconnect, spot birds, check out pretty creeks, and
later in the evening explore the night sky and its secrets. There is a tenth
planet and astrology doesn't add up anymore.
Bewildered, awed and humbled by the stars which seem frighteningly close,
we listen to live Country, Rock & Retro, struggle with the mysteries and
make peace .
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Some mountain folk sing lore in a language that not too many understand
today. This is their first and perhaps last stringing in front of an alien
audience, but that's the only incomprehensibility. Out here , faced with
400kms of the middle Himalayas staring down and alienated from all that is
constructed, It all makes complete sense.
Mind body and spirit lilted by the music, soaring on the kites, romance on
the wings .
Ironic, this is depth* *
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*A few of the performers*
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· *Silk Route *– The band has led the folk pop genre for the past couple of
years. What is little known however is their interest in traditional folk
and sans lyrics melodies. Mohit plays and sings from his heart, a yearning
which mixes with the sound of water and the wind to create a surreal world
which is quite inexpressible in words.
· *Mystique *– Leo and Suchet, the unlikely duo spend their time touring
the world and coming back to India in the leaner months to concentrate on
their riyaz. The Cajun & Saaz resonate and gel with equal fluency to create
sounds which were first heard in ancient Turkey. Equally adept with the
classical guitar and Arabic percussion instruments, Mystique is at the
forefront of fusion music.
· *Joe d'Costa – *Joe has almost single handedly kept Jazz alive in Delhi
during the years when bubblegum pop and glam rock took over popular
consciousness. Brilliant on the guitar, he is the copybook, complete
performer. His variations on a theme take on new dimensions.
*OCTOBER 10 ( MONDAY )*
Nothing dreamy about today, we get our gear and act together to head out for
some serious fun. Rock climbing and rappelling for those with a bone for
adventure and a long trek for those who just want to seek out a trail.
Afternoon is brought in by live electronic music, bass pumping through the
veins. If you consider digital music to be shorn of creativity, think again.
Riding on the drone the day is as eclectic as the night sky.
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*The pulsating whirr continues till Tuesday for those who decide to stay
back. Crisp unsedated clarity pumping through the veins,
chase down the demons & reverberate.
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*A few of the performers for the evening*
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· Dbase
· Freemuzik – A consortium of musicians who run a website called
Freeemuzik. Their sound varies from the lilting eletronica played at Sunrise
to the deeper more thunderous bassy undertones of the night. Not for
neophytes, this evening.
Later in the night the road winds back towards the plains; wafting on the
cool misty breeze the caravan makes a pit stop at Nainital. Not the best
place to be on a holiday but the milling crowds bring a sense of reality and
sobriety.
So we hang about the Mall, get some dinner and typically ignore the bustling
humanity. Back in the bus, on NH 58, read a book, contemplate on the reasons
why life tends to center around the trivial and transitory when its not
really that difficult to see all that really matters.
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** **Some of us will be staying back at the campsite for an additional
one/two days.The festival extends on till tuesday and those who would like
to sate in the experience by doing so are welcome to join us at a nominal
charge to cover the camping & catering costs. Arrival in Delhi will be on
Dussehra ( Oct 12, Wednesday) evening. *
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The entire idea is getting together like minded people who feel at home
in the mountains and love their music, try not inviting people you feel
would be coming for reasons other than those mentioned.
We've tried to keep costs as low as possible to make it more accessible and
yet not populist.
Should be a dream.
