Are you going to be there ??

Dear Friends,

Bhoomi Jathre is here once again!

Two weeks after Ugadi on Saturday April 23^rd. The theme for this jathre is THE TREE GOD � MARA DEVARU.

Thus we bring you a non-sponsored, dusk to dawn, music festival in celebration of trees. Where the artists, and in fact, the whole event is supported by the gate collection. We are also particularly thrilled to say that the entrance remains Rs 200 for the third year running. No mean feat considering the price of a cappuccino, a pint or the last row at Sting.

More than ever the jathre has become a movement of artists rather than just a platform for performance. Great new talent, respected senior artists, a protest singer from the rain forests of Ecuador� They are all coming together to play beneath a banyan tree. On April 23^rd many of us will gather at Fireflies, a beautiful eco-ashram on Kanakpura Road, to star-gaze and listen to them.

Renowned violinists Mysore Nagaraj & Dr.Mysore Manjunath have joined the jathre with much joyousness. As have a Yakshagana troupe from Udipi and Shiri Dance Company from Bangalore. From Myndsnare, a popular heavy metal band to G. Ravi Kiran, a formidable Carnatic vocalist�these are just a sample of the range.

The line-up for this year is as follows:

Appagere Thimmaraju � Jaanapada about trees

David Chungandro Teran (Ecuador) � Protest songs from Latin America

Yakshagana (Udipi)

Prakash Sontakke � Hindustani slide guitar

Shiri Dance Company � performing SAAKSHI, a Tale of a Tree

Mysore Nagaraj & Dr. Mysore Manjunath � Violin Duet

G. Ravi Kiran � Carnatic Vocals

Konarak Reddy - Guitars

Roberto Narain - Drums

Myndsnare � Metal Band

Yell-O � Rock Band

The concert runs between sunset and sunrise, but you are welcome to come in any time after 5.30pm. We will be doing sound checks, but the craft stalls will be open. And as in earlier years, there will be stalls with home-made food cooked by a variety of people from around Bangalore and Kaggalipura Village.

Chilli bajjis, momos, apple shakes, akki roti

Coffee cake, chocolate fudge, date bars

Organic salads, sandwiches and biriyani

Baskets, t-shirts, mats, chappals

Music.Food.Dance.Music.Film.Music.Craft.Music

We will be repeating the Free Books Stall and the Flea Market from last year. Please do bring books for the Free Books Stall and practically anything that is legal, eco-friendly and convivial for the Flea Market. The idea is to trade, barter and re-cycle, not to make a killing. From past experience, let it be said that CDs, cheap T-shirts and guava cheese work better at the Flea Market than furniture and other pricey stuff. Eg It�s a great place for bands and musicians to sell their CDs.

To donate books to the Free Books Stall contact Aparna at 9886002171

To participate in the Flea Market contact Gracey at 944842572

For info and directions to Fireflies contact John at 9448192010

For info about Bhoomi Jathre contact Kirtana at (080) 25585395

Bhoomi Jathre tickets, priced at Rs 200 only for a whole night of music will soon be available. CHILDREN BELOW 12 ARE FREE AND VERY WELCOME. Home grown Bhoomi Jathre posters will appear in public spaces, but like every year, we depend on the Bangalore grapevine and other guerilla techniques to get the word out. This is a people-supported, community event. So please, in the immortal words of Lipps Inc,

..�talk about it talk about it talk about it talk about i-it.�

Come, join us�

With much warmth,

Kirtana, Konarak, John, Deepu and all at Fireflies

http://konarakreddy.com