LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FOLK FEST
With the Dhaka International Folk Fest set to return to the Army Stadium this Thursday, anticipation is building among
music lovers of the country, as is with the performers. The Daily Star spoke to some of the performers from Bangladesh par
ticipating this year, about their preparations and expectations from the festival.
Momtaz
I hope that this year organisers will demonstrate the lessons learned from last year's festival, to further enhance our experience. The motivation behind the festival is nothing short of amazing. Even three months is not enough to demonstrate the many different types of folk songs, and it is important to showcase all the various sub-genres within the massive world of folk. I also feel that this platform should be a platform for lesser-known singers who sing well. I receive a lot of phone calls regarding the matter, and I feel that this festival should bring forth those that live and breathe folk, existing in nature in order to capture and display the true essence of folk music. At the festival, I will sing my popular songs, particularly the songs of our soil and our roots.
Bari Siddiqui
I am really excited to be performing at the festival again this year, and looking forward to enjoying the festival as a whole. Last year's festival was met with some criticisms, and the organisers are trying to learn from mistakes to present a better event for the audience. I really enjoyed last year's festival.
Last year I could not perform as many songs as I wanted due to time constraints, but I am hoping this time to have a more elaborate set. I don't want to disclose yet what I am performing, but I can promise I will give it my all to deliver something to remember for the audience.
Shafi Mondal
Last year when we performed, there were three of us singing, but we have lost one of them. Abdur Rob Fakir left us far too soon, and we will miss him dearly. Gaurab(Labik Kamal) and I will be singing this year, along with some musicians very close to our hearts – Buno, Jalal, Nazrul and others. Because it is an international festival, we want to portray our folk music and culture to the best we can, so that those who have come from abroad take back the feeling that this country has a rich culture and heritage.
Labik Kamal Gaurob
We have been rehearsing for two weeks for the festival, and it is exciting. I am thankful to be back for the second edition of the festival. Since it is a big festival, we will try to go outside of our usual set-list, and do something special. We also have a bigger ensemble, of about 10-11 people. Performing with Shafi Mondal is always an honour, but we will all dearly miss Rob Fakir. It was on the folk fest stage last year that I last performed with him.
Jalal Ahmed
I have fond memories from last year's folk fest, when I performed with the legendary Abida Parveen, and I think that has paved the way for me to be invited to perform a flute solo. I will have two Bangla dhol and a percussion accompanying me. Dhol and baNshi are at the heart of Bangladeshi folk, so I am trying to keep it true to that. I have three pieces prepared for the festival; I don't know how to explain them. You will have to come and listen to it.
Comments