Music- something that can change your mood from 0 to 60 in a second, it can take you a decade back or can take you to someplace you have never been to. Music is something that can reach the farthest corner of your heart and soul. And in Kolkata, people talk, walk and eat in music. Kolkata’s days start with the trendy number on the radio and end with a slow number on one’s playlist. But every now and then we find a way to be in music all along the day, that’s where the music festival’s start. Kolkata has some of the most enriched and entertaining music fests in the country. If you are a music enthusiast or just love music, then you have to visit these 10 music fests in Kolkata.
Dover Lane Music Conference
The father of all the concerts, and festivals The Dover Lane Music Conference, that started in the year of 1952, is one of the most prestigious and famous music concerts in India. Started on a bylane of Kolkata this conference was the fruit born from the utter and undying love of Kolkatans for Indian Classical Music, such as- Raga based music, Thumri, Bhajan, Gazal etc. Maestros like- Pt. Ravi Shankar, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pt. Jasraj and much More. Not only maestros this platform lets young talents make their mark on people with their music. This Concert goes on for 4 days, they start late in evening and goes on all night long. Tickets sell like hot cake, just after they are made available. So if you are looking for a refreshing and soul wrenching performance Dover lane Music Conference is a must go for you.
- Venue– Unlike before this conference doesn’t happen at Dover Lane, instead they have shifted the venue to Nazrul Mancha.
- Time– This festival is normally held on 22nd to 25th/26th January 2022.
Sufi Sutra
This is the next big thing in Kolkata’s music map. This a music festival that is held in Kolkata, more than 100 musicians, dancers, and artists come down here from all around the globe. Convergence of the music brings out the innermost beauty of each genre. With the dream of world peace and harmony, each one of the participating artists creates something beautiful. This festival goes on for 1 week. In the days there are various musical workshops that people can join and learn and become a part of something big, then in the evening, there are concerts that you can enjoy from artists all around the globe. With the wide array of artists and performances this heaven on earth for any music lover.
- Venue– At Rabindra Sadan, Nandan Campus.
- Time– First week of February every year.
Jazz Fest
Originated from the ‘Blues’ and the ‘ragtime’ jazz is a music genre that is of New Orleans, the tune of the music stays high and the pace is faster than any other genre. Being the capital of British India, it took very little time for Jazz to arrive in Kolkata. In the year of 1926 League’s Grand Hotel Orchestra recorded The House Where The Shutters Are Green, the first Jazz disc to be made in India. So the relationship between Jazz and Kolkata goes way back in time. And Kolkata being the old nostalgic city has its way of celebrating what has always been there, just like jazz.
Every year in the month of November Dalhousie Institute organizes the annual international Jazz festival. The music buffs in Kolkata look forward to this high octane performance by the national and international artists. For those who love the genre and loves music should definitely go once in their stay in Kolkata.
- Venue– The Dalhousie Institute.
- Time– In the last week of November every year.
N.H.7 Weekender
India’s most popular and the biggest multicity music festival is The N.H.7 WEEKENDER. It has its flagship fest in Pune, now they hold a fest of two days in Kolkata every year. This festival has some juicy sponsors and the footfall in each of these concerts are around 100,000. They bring down some super international artists like Steven Wilson, Mark Ronson, The Wailers, A.R. Rahman, Megadeth, Karnivool and much more. With this amazing line-up, they let young blood roar too. The new talents who are doing good on stage get a chance to showcase their talent too. With all the music, fun and everything it’s a must for young people and the music lovers.
- Venue– Aquatica, Kolkata
- Time– Last week of October.
Baul Fakir Utsav
A group of friends decided to retrieve the dying art of folk music in Bengal, and there came the Baul Fakir Utsav. Baul and Fakiri are the two most popular genres of Folk Music Genre, related to the spiritual search of the monks. The Baul Fakir Utsav has been organized for 6 years in a row now. Every year on the 2nd week of January this festival is held, and people from all around the place of every creed and cast come here to enjoy the purest form of art.
- Venue– Jadavpur, Shaktigarh.
- Timing– On the 2nd week of January Every year.
Kolkata International Classical Guitar Festival
The Calcutta School Of Music organizes the Kolkata International Guitar Fest, it was started in the year of 2009. This year would be the 8th edition of Guitar Fest. Various international artists, Grammy winners like Nikita Koshkin, Roland Dyens, and David Russel will be there, and Indian guitar maestros like Amyt Dutta, Baiju Dharmajan are regular performers here. This is a place where the international guitar maestros collaborate with the Indian guitar artists, and create something, that it would understate to call it magic. For the guitar lovers and music lovers, this is the place to be.
- Venue– ICCR Kolkata
- Time– Lectures January 8 – May 20, 2022 – Masterclass.
World Music Day Festival
Every year on 21st June on the day of World Music Day Calcutta School of Music organizes its most awaited music competition and program of the year. Calcutta School of Music being the prestigious Institute that it has some amazing set of artists under its roof, and the annual program is the ‘starry night’, in this event the let their best jewels show their talent to the world. If you are a music buff, and looking for a classical and authentic experience then this is your place.
- Venue– Calcutta School of Music
- Time– 21st June, every year.
Fakiri Utsav
Another event of soul wrenching folk music of Bengal. Garbhanga the village in West Bengal which is a home of 100 fakirs organizes a 3-day long music festival called Fakiri Utsav. In this time the small village turns into a hub of music lovers and singers. Every year on the third weekend of January people form all over the world join in this mesmerizing endeavour.
- Venue– Garbhanga Village
- Time– 3rd week of January every year.
Sohoj Porob
It is a folk music festival organized by well know Bengali singer Lopamudra Mitra and the Bengali folk band Dohar. This festival is staged at the Rabindra Sadan area. Kolkata’s very own Bauls and fakirs perform here and other performers come down from farthest corners of the state.
- Venue– Rabindra Sadan
- Time– Un-announced
Live in youth
This is a western classical music festival organized by the Academy of Musical Excellence, for the budding musicians to showcase their talent. The well-known musicians of Kolkata are also there.
- Venue– Calcutta School of Music
- Time– Unannounced.