Bengaluru welcomes rock with a cause this weekend

The Hindu

28-05-2025

Bangalore Death Fest
May 30, 6:30pm onwards
Ignite Super Club, HSR Layout
Entry: ₹1,900 onwards via Skillboxes.com
If there is anything this city loves about its death metal, it is that it has got to be fast and relentless, with a nod to the old school. The third edition of Bangalore Death Fest is bringing in exactly those kind of bands, headlined by American death metal veterans Massacre, with support from Mumbai trio Atmosfear and city-based band Regicide.
Massacre, part of the Florida metal scene right from the 1980s, will make their India debut at the event. Expect material from their seminal 1991 album From Beyond, considering their India stop is part of Massacre's From Beyond Down Under and Death in Asia tour. The band currently comprises vocalist Kam Lee, guitarists Carlos Gonzalez and Jason Banning, bassist Tim Wilson and drummer Elden Santos. 'The band will deliver a mix of classic hits, fresh material, and a few surprises,' the event description adds.
An added bonus is Atmosfear coming in on the back of releasing their latest single 'Colossal Abhorrence,' which they say 'delves into the human condition in an almost apocalyptic world we now live in.'
Lala Tamar
May 30 and 31, 9:30pm onwards
Windmills, Whitefield
Entry: ₹2,000 (seating), ₹750 (standing), via windmills-india.com and Bookmyshow.com
Vocalist, dancer and guimbry (a lute-like, three-stringed instrument) artiste Lala Tamar will perform with her band at Windmills this weekend. Described by the organisers as an 'electrifying force' with a border-defying and fiery performance style, Tamar will be joined by flamenco guitarist Ofer Ronen, bassist Oussama Menay and drummer Habib Baychou.
Lala was raised in Morocco and Brazil, leading to a 'complex diasporic identity that she expresses through music, movement, and mysticism,' the event description states. It adds, 'With a deep reverence for her Sephardic Amazigh heritage, Tamar reinterprets the musical legacies of North Africa with an intensely personal and modern voice. Her artistry fuses gnawa trance, flamenco, Berber rhythms, and Ladino song traditions with contemporary pop, jazz, and electronic elements, creating performances that are at once sacred and subversive, intimate, and explosive.'
Tatakai
June 1, 7pm onwards
Ignite Super Club, HSR Layout
Entry: ₹320 onwards, via Skillboxes.com, plus cover charge at the door
Bands who rock with a cause are coming to town, kicking off the multi-city Tatakai tour in Bengaluru. These include Sri Lankan rock band Paranoid Earthling, Pune-based rock trio Nemophilis and North East-origin electronic rock/nu-metal band Rain In Sahara. All three bands intend to bring social messaging through their performances, from mental health to economic and environmental crises.
Paranoid Earthling's frontman Mirshad Buckman says, 'We are returning to Bengaluru as a performing act after 16 years since our last gig in 2009, with a brand new lineup and new music in hand. We're set to start our tour in the city of metal and rock music.'
Rain In Sahara's vocalist Lain Heringman says, 'The entire tour has been a totally do-it-yourself bootstrapped effort with all three bands pouring in heart, hustle, and belief to make it happen.'
Talking about their setlist, drummer Akarsh Singh from Nemophilis says, 'Fans can definitely look forward to a vibrant mix of powerful tracks from our previous album, The Iceberg. The energy will be electric! And, adding a special touch, with our acoustic album dropping on June 1, we'll be weaving in a couple of those reimagined songs into our setlist.'
Akshada Krishnan Trio
June 1, 6 pm onwards
The Blue Room, Jayanagar
Entry: ₹800 via linktr.ee/theblueroom.blr
Pianist and composer Akshada Krishnan has performed across Goa and Pondicherry in recent times and she is now making her way to Bengaluru for an intimate gig in the trio format, joined by Sricharan Sunder on electric bass and Rohit PS on drums.
Described as a 'demanding set' by organisers and venue The Blue Room, the Akshada Krishnan Trio is a new jazz act on the block and their set will largely feature contemporary jazz compositions by influences such as Shai Maestro, Nate Smith, Avishai Cohen, and Tigran Hamasyan.
The event description adds, 'The featured composers are not just pianists, but also include a drummer and double bassists, known for their sophisticated and intense musical language and challenging compositions. Expect odd metres, playful groupings, and rich harmonic language that supports dynamic, story-driven music. They will also present two rearranged traditional jazz standards to honour the roots and heritage from which the modern jazz language has evolved.'