Sri Lanka Rocks - The Hikkaduwa Beach Fest
The paradise rocked. The best possible way.
It was the first ever music festival in Sri Lanka. I dare say we kicked whoop ass.
Hikkaduwa Beach Fest hopefully will be the first of the many initiatives the SL tourist board will take in order to re-brand Sri Lankan tourism industry. The festival's concept was a pretty well put out although not perfect. Having been to quite a few international festivals myself, I have no hesitancy in saying that this can indeed land in the top-half of my rankings.
The festival expanded for five days but my experience started on day 2. The drumming !! THE ONE THING that we can market immensely to the tourists. And it was thumping drumming all right! The vertrans of SL drum industry were kickin' serious nuts. It was a mere treat to hear, you could hear your heart beat with the drums. Don't believe me? Check here here and browse the channel for more. The amazing vocal chord performance by the three greatest drumming giants in SL is unexplainable, Watch it here. The so called guest artist from India was a mere fluke. Boo to him and his ass. The crowd was a bit laid back though, and almost all the tourists were suprised when they saw the "fire-ball players" stormed in to the field. Now this is what I call marketing the Sri Lankan stuff ! Hats off for the thought.
Day 3 and 4 belonged to international DJs from five countries. Man we showed how Sri Lanka parties! We have every right to be called "the Brown Boogies". People were jumpin', pumpin' dancing like wicked souls, sexy dresses, whippersnapping moves - it was one heck of a night. We easily had more than 5000+ according to my estimates for the raves. Even the DJs were pretty amazed and enjoying the reaction of our little countrymen. Rest assured, they would have never regretted performing for us.
Not that the festival was without any hitches. A proper map should have been put out, souviniers were not sold (although t-shirts were printed just for organizers which was dumb shit), tickets were under-priced (2000 bucks for 5 nights, that's just 20 dollers - peanuts for the tourists), no interesting activities during the day time, a ridiculous fireworks display etc. But hey, hang on. This is our first time, and we know we can't be perfect ! But overall this thing simply made me proud to be a Sri Lankan (not that I was not proud to be a Lion before). If you missed it, damn you! Make a date next year. FOR SURE !
Because, Sri Lanka IS a land like no other, even with a bloody war going on. Without that, god knows where we would be ! Rock On !!
It was the first ever music festival in Sri Lanka. I dare say we kicked whoop ass.
Hikkaduwa Beach Fest hopefully will be the first of the many initiatives the SL tourist board will take in order to re-brand Sri Lankan tourism industry. The festival's concept was a pretty well put out although not perfect. Having been to quite a few international festivals myself, I have no hesitancy in saying that this can indeed land in the top-half of my rankings.
The festival expanded for five days but my experience started on day 2. The drumming !! THE ONE THING that we can market immensely to the tourists. And it was thumping drumming all right! The vertrans of SL drum industry were kickin' serious nuts. It was a mere treat to hear, you could hear your heart beat with the drums. Don't believe me? Check here here and browse the channel for more. The amazing vocal chord performance by the three greatest drumming giants in SL is unexplainable, Watch it here. The so called guest artist from India was a mere fluke. Boo to him and his ass. The crowd was a bit laid back though, and almost all the tourists were suprised when they saw the "fire-ball players" stormed in to the field. Now this is what I call marketing the Sri Lankan stuff ! Hats off for the thought.
Day 3 and 4 belonged to international DJs from five countries. Man we showed how Sri Lanka parties! We have every right to be called "the Brown Boogies". People were jumpin', pumpin' dancing like wicked souls, sexy dresses, whippersnapping moves - it was one heck of a night. We easily had more than 5000+ according to my estimates for the raves. Even the DJs were pretty amazed and enjoying the reaction of our little countrymen. Rest assured, they would have never regretted performing for us.
Not that the festival was without any hitches. A proper map should have been put out, souviniers were not sold (although t-shirts were printed just for organizers which was dumb shit), tickets were under-priced (2000 bucks for 5 nights, that's just 20 dollers - peanuts for the tourists), no interesting activities during the day time, a ridiculous fireworks display etc. But hey, hang on. This is our first time, and we know we can't be perfect ! But overall this thing simply made me proud to be a Sri Lankan (not that I was not proud to be a Lion before). If you missed it, damn you! Make a date next year. FOR SURE !
Because, Sri Lanka IS a land like no other, even with a bloody war going on. Without that, god knows where we would be ! Rock On !!
posted by Radikal Zee at 1:05 PM
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