Written by: Saif Cheval
February 16: 7PM-11PM
I AM KARACHI, organizers of campaigns such as the Walls of Peace initiative and International Public Art Festival, have set the stage for a new event this Saturday.
Showcasing two acts in a Battle of the Bands style matchup, the I AM KARACHI music festival looks to be another successful initiative to add to the organization’s roster.
The movement, as they describe it, began as a response to the increasingly violent and dangerous climate of Karachi, and Pakistan as a whole. With fears of crime at their peak, the organizers noted a shocking drain on culture, and a lack of safe, accessible public spaces. Looking to take back Karachi, and build it up again as a haven of culture and art, the movement kicked off with its goals of reviving public spaces, bringing people together and increasing public awareness for its cause.
Their upcoming festival is a huge testament to these goals. What may not have been possible five years ago is now a completely open, public event, with corporate sponsorships. The initiative has taken themselves from reclaiming walls from vandals to planning out major festivals for people to come together, share food and drinks and, most importantly, dance all night.
The event features Darvesh, a ten-man collective of musicians who describe their sound as “sufi and qawwali rock.” The group’s effusive blends of modern rock sensibilities with the tuning and traditions of eastern music spark an interesting dialogue for the festival as it looks to advance cultural discussions in Karachi.
Also on-stage will be Kashmir, a tried-and-true rock band of six. Their guitar-focused sound will be a strong complement to Darvesh, and as the winners of the 2017 Battle of the Bands, there’s certainly going to be some drama coming along for the ride.
As always, it’s tremendously exciting to see local acts getting opportunities to take big stages. While the Battle of the Bands format always leads to a winner and a loser, offering Karachiites a space to come together and rock out is a far greater victory.
For more details, you can check out the event’s facebook page here.
