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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