Kalimpong to host music fest in August

Children sing at a CD launch at the Town Hall in Kalimpong. File picture

Kalimpong, June 12: August will mean a flurry of activity for Kalimpong with a music contest and quite a few sporting events promising a lot of entertainment.

Several aspiring singers and bands from the hills and the adjoining plains would flock to the town to participate in a day-long fest organised by the Kalimpong Artists’ Association on August 20.

The event will be held in the Town Hall.

Kalimpong is usually abuzz with a lot of activities in August and the organisers said the music fest will add to the charged up sporting atmosphere of the hill town.

The finals of five soccer events — Independence Cup, Mini Tournament, C Division Tournament, Inter-School Tournament and the Girls Football Tournament — are scheduled to be held throughout the month.

“The idea is to promote latent and upcoming talents in the field of music,” said Abhinash Chhetri, a member of the artists’ association.

The August Musical Dhamaka is open to everyone above the age of 13 and the participants can sing solo, duet or perform as a band. They can sing in Nepali, Hindi or English.

“This is our sincere effort to bring forth all the music talents from the region to Kalimpong for a healthy competition to foster in them the courage and confidence to perform in front of a large audience,” said Chhetri.

The first round of audition for the music fest would be on July 2 and 3 and the second round on July 30.

“The first round of audition will be held at the BMC Hall of Rockvale Academy while the venue for the second round will be announced on July 3,” said Chhetri.

Twenty participants would be shortlisted after the two rounds for the final day.

Popular musicians from the hills would be judging the event, although the organisers have said their names would be announced later.

“Prizes will be given to the performers who bag the first three spots. On the day of the dhamaka local band Gipsy Caravan will give a special performance,” said Chhetri. The prizes have not yet been announced.

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