Nothing like this is happening anywhere in India. Over the last eight years that the show, has been happening it has been growing exponentially and is expected to attract an audience of 20000 shortly. Just like Vasantahabba in the classical field, The Freedom Jam, a 12-hour non-stop pulsating musical explosion reverberating through the night by over 40 bands of various hues vying to play over multiple stages to commemorate the freedom of music, is now a Mecca for the rock and contemporary music scene in India. The annual FREEDOM JAM, free music festival is Bangalore’s own Woodstock. With thousands of music lovers and over a hundred musicians from all over gathering to perform at the annual Jam celebrating Freedom at Midnight with music on the eve of the Indian Independence day the festival has now become one of Bangalore’s most awaited events.
This unique musical gathering is the continuation of an old musical tradition in Bangalore, where for a few years in the early eighties at the ‘Music Strip’ in Cubbon park, musicians used to get together and perform free on Sunday evenings. This spirit was revived during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Indian Independence – 1996 when musicians of all styles gathered together behind Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bangalore to celebrate freedom in their way – by playing music and thus the FREEDOM JAM was born. It proved hugely popular and it was continued in the form of monthly SUNDAY JAMS regularly held on the first Sunday of every month and a nightlong free music festival on the eve of Independence Day.
Performances have included Bangalore’s legends like Human Bondage, Konarak Reddy, K.C.P., and an eclectic contemporary mix of music from the likes of Lucky Ali, David Rothenberg(New York), Sarjapur Blues Band, Baja, Steve Tallis(Australia), Vasundara Das, Esperanto, Threnody, Kryptos, Bhumi, TAAQ, and on & on – a huge list featuring the huge powerhouse of local talent for whom Freedom Jam has become the place to express themselves, share their music, and even build a following.
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