After launching Chennai’s first boutique music competition for impartial artistes in 2021, the Circle of Love crew is back with the second edition of the Circle of Love Festival.
Slated to be held later this month, the competition is “a realisation of our late founder Sameer Sethi’s vision,” says DJ Manny aka Manoj Mohan, who is curating the upcoming edition after the sudden passing of Sameer in 2022. “As a team of musicians and performing artists ourselves, we continue his legacy by curating an experience that showcases and supports India’s finest independent musicians,” he provides.
This yr, music aficionados can sit up for a line-up of 30+ musicians throughout genres together with Gooth, 8-Bit Culprit, and Bahaar. “We have a mixed bag of talent ranging from live acts, and dance troupes to DJs,” says Manny. Headliners embody The F16s, an alternate music band from Chennai, who can be performing within the metropolis after a five-year hole, worldwide rapper Yung Raja from Singapore, and India’s main electronica act BLOT!. “Additionally, we have a selection of homegrown acts and new talents including Reble, Dhonraj & The Peculiars, among others, who are performing for the first time at our festival,” he says.
In addition to music, the occasion guarantees a variety of actions and experiences: an artisan market, pop-ups, curated listening classes, a gaming lounge, installations, workshops, and dance performances.
There may even be a variety of eating choices, says Japtej Ahluwalia, co-founder and director, Pricol Gourmet, which runs the live performance venue, Green Meadows. “The food at Circle of Love will be tailor-made to add to the festival experience. Visitors can expect food like XL woodfired pizza slices, gourmet sliders, sushi rolls, satay, tacos, kathi rolls, and kebabs,” he says, including that bestsellers at their eating places — Bayroot and Origin — may even be obtainable. “Dishes like Katsu Maki sushi, Naga wings, smoked duck tacos, pizzas, etc will be a part of the menu.”
Curating the occasion was a fancy course of, says Manny. “We took into account multiple factors, including the community’s preferences, to select performers who would create the perfect musical experience throughout the day.” As for the highest performances he is trying ahead to, the artiste says The F16s, The Easy Wanderlings (a Pune-based band), and Vachan Chinappa (an all-vinyl throwback funk set from Bengaluru).
On July 22, 11 am – 10 pm. At Green Meadows Resort, Palavakkam, Chennai. Tickets upwards of ₹1,999 obtainable on skillbox.com