MUMBAI: India’s largest and the most awarded radio network has kick started a new musical journey in Kolkata – ‘Red Bandstand Azaadi Festival’. The festival aims at revolutionizing the Bangla rock music in Kolkata by providing a platform for the upcoming Bengali Bands. Red FM has joined hands with established Bangla Bands like Chandrabindoo, Anupam Roy Band, Fossils and Cactus to jam with the upcoming Bangla Rock Bands.

The musical extravaganza will be organised in the popular paras of the Kolkata like Bhawanipur, Haridevpur, Bangur Avenue, Kankurgachi etc. every weekend till the 9th August. Each rock band will mentor one music band handpicked each weekend, post which they will create one original composition. There will be four original compositions from each established bands along with the upcoming music band selected out of the entries. A week before Independence Day, all the bands together along with the four shortlisted bands will do their own rendition on one of the popular Bengali song and perform at Saltlake City Centre at the festival on 8th and 9th August 2015. Red FM plans to launch an album named ‘Ajke Zamane Ka’ for the music lovers with the compilation of the original compositions created during the Azaadi festival.

The aim of this musical extravaganza by Red FM is to bring Independent and upcoming musicians to the mainstream forefront and help reach the masses. This is the first time that a radio station has taken the lead in helping independent music bands win appreciation for their work. RED FM will also help the bands in showcasing their talent on its digital platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to provide a wider reach and exposure.

Commenting on ‘Red Bandstand Azaadi Festival’, Red FM, COO, Nisha Narayanan said, “Rock music or alternative music is deep rooted within the culture of Kolkata. We all know some of the greatest rock bands of the East like Fossils, Cactus are the gifts of Kolkata to the music industry. Through ‘Red Bandstand Azaadi Festival’we are making an attempt to search for the best new age sound of the Bengali Rock music and showcase their talent to a wider set of audience.”