Notable performers include Mai Dhai, Aaroh, Abid Brohi and Lyari Underground.
INSTEPPREVIEW
Instep Desk
The third edition of Lahooti Melo is set to begin tomorrow and it looks like the two-day music festival will shine brighter than previous years. Spearheaded by Saif Samejo, the upcoming edition will be held in Hyderabad this weekend and is divided into various segments such as workshops, panel discussions, daylight performances and night performances.
As per the complete schedule acquired by Instep, proceedings will begin on March 3 with an opening ceremony, which will be followed by three panel discussions, one after the other.
The opening session ‘Advocating for Music Curriculum’ will feature panelists Khalid Anam, Zamir Ghumro and Haji Mohammad Dal with moderator Wusatullah Khan and, as Samejo told Instep, will explore the idea that children should be taught music along with the rest of subjects such as math and science.
Other panel discussions to feature on day one will include ‘Folklore Finesse’ with panelists Fehmida Hussain, Jami Mehmood, Timothy. P. Mclaughlin, Khalid Ahmed and moderator Sikandar Ali Hullio and ‘Bake the Cake’ with Sanam Saeed, Aamina Sheikh, Adnan Malik, Saif Samejo, Asim Abbasi and moderator Rahul Aijaz.
Samejo, who is involved with the subtle score of the upcoming film, told Instep that the session on Cake will be more than just about promoting the film. “It’s about roots,” shared Samejo and noted that he will talk about incorporating instruments into the score that echo the sound of roots. “You know in the film when they go to the village, the sound reflects that.”
In terms of workshops, day one will feature five sessions. Roshan Sharma and Umesh Pandit will expand on the Mohan Veena and Flute while Bilal Bakshi will expand on classical singing, Farooq Ahmed on vocals, Saif Abbas on bass and Suhaee Abro on dance.
Daylight performance stage on March 3 will begin 11:00 am onwards and will feature Umesh Pandit, Holi, Sheedi Group, The Sketches, Taj Mastani, Rafiq Fakir, Dreen Anwer, Tipu, Aijaz, Maliha, Rajab Fakir and Shafi Fakir.
The night performance stage will see an equally electric set of artists such as Bhittai Ja Fakir, Akbar Khamiso Khan, Rashid Hyderi, Shoukat Fakir, Nafs, Humera Channa, Shayma Syed, Abid Brohi, SomeWhatSuper, Abbas Ali Khan and Aaroh.
Day two of Lahooti Melo will be just as exciting with four panel discussions set to take place. Things will kick off at 12:00 pm with the session ‘Poetry of the Troubled Land’ with panelists Hafiz Nizamani, Haleem Baghi, Aakash Ansari, Khalil Kumbar, Mahar Dribai, Juman Darbadar and moderator Ishaq Samejo.
This will be followed by a session dedicated to the recently deceased and forever great Asma Jahangir. Moderated by Manzor Mirani, the panel will feature Taimur Rahman, Jami Chandio, Noor ul Huda Shah, Anita Weiss, Sassui Palijo and Munizae Jahangir.
Abid Brohi, Junaid Akram and Sohrab Soomra will make up the (third) panel session of the day with moderator Madeeha Syed while ‘Playing for the Planet’ will serve as the fourth session with panelists Masood Lohar, Afia Salam, Mome Saleem, Arif Hassan, Bharumal Amerani and moderator Arfana Mallah.
A total of three workshops will take place on day two. They include ‘Phool Patti’ by Ali Salman Anchan, ‘Music Marketing in Digital Era’ by Patari and ‘No Mud, No Lotus’ featuring Sahar Gul, Timothy Mclaughlin and Saif Samejo.
Daylight performance stage on Sunday will see artists like Zulfiqaer Fakir, Bhagat Bhoora Lal, Hyder Ali, Marval Group, Shakoor Fakir, Shamu Bai, Sikander, Peiling, Tahir Mithu, Hassnain Mahar, Mai Dhai, Sattar Jogi, OB Positive, artists from Gilgit-Baltistan and Alicia Dias perform.
The night performance stage, meanwhile, will feature Ustad Abdullah Khan, Zoe and Irfan, Mughal-e-Funk, Sharma & Umesh Pandit, Lyari Underground, Silvia Modolo, Roots, The Sketches, Natasha Humera Ejaz, Suhaee Abro, Laal and Baakshi Brothers.
Speaking to Instep about the selection process of panelists and performers who feature in the 2018 edition, Samejo noted that several artists applied through an online perform. “Some artists, who featured on the daylight stage last year, have been invited to perform on the night performance stage such as Natasha Humera Ejaz. Artists like Aaroh have been invited because we wanted them to know that their comeback means a lot. Majority are non-TV artists.”
As for the rest of it, Lahooti Melo has been growing organically since its inaugural edition appeared on the horizon three years ago. In terms of numbers, Samejo explained that the 2017 edition was attended by close to 35000 to 55,000 people with almost 16,000 in attendance at the night gigs. With folk artists along with pop, rock and traditional ones, Lahooti 2018 looks all set to be a great place to explore cultural and music harmony. Watch out.
