NLSIU Bangalore’s annual music festival Strawberry Fields, which is set to take place this weekend (25 to 27 November), will for the first time feature, besides a raft of bands, two panel discussions on “musicianship and promotion” covering copyright, ownership and licensing regimes and on the intricacies of starting up a band and getting your first record deal.

“We are in the process of repositioning ourselves as more than just a physical space hosting a competition, as a festival promoting music as well as the general indie scene,” explained the college’s press release.

The 15th edition of the festival held on the college’s campus, will be headlined by “Vedic Metal heavyweights Rudra” from Singapore, according to the statement. Other headlining acts include locals Bevar Sea, who are a “five piece act from Bangalore that has enthralled audiences across venues with music that can be best described as some good old school stoner-doom”, and The Captains of Hook, a band “looking to get the candor back to rock and roll”.

“This year, we have several new initiatives lined up as well as intensive branding opportunities for bands playing at our festival - with coverage from IndianRockMP3, the BigM Magazine, Whats the Scene India, cash prizes, equipment sponsored by Reynolds, recording contracts by Logic and Madness Creative Labs and Christortion and the winner getting a chance to play at the finals of Channel V launchpad,” added the press release.

See the fest’s Facebook page for more information.

Photo by Christian Holmer