(From left to right) Oii Oii Festival in Chennai features performances by San T, Arivu and Santhosh Balaji, among others. Photos: Courtesy of Oii Oii Festival
A new music festival is popping up in South India this month – Oii Oii Festival taking place in Chennai on Sept. 14 aims to spotlight “Tamil alternative music” with a day-long event featuring nine acts from the region.
Oii Oii Festival’s debut edition is headlined by Arivu, who is performing in Chennai on the back of releasing his new album Valliamma Peraandi – Vol. 01 in July. Also on the lineup are widely followed Tamil artists like singer-songwriter and rapper KJ Iyenar, singer Sam Vishal, singer-composer Santhosh Balaji also add heft to the lineup, taking the stage at One Paramount in Porur.
Rising artists representing hip-hop and beyond at the festival include A-Gan, San T, Urban Thozha, MC Devesh, singer Amina Rafiq and indie duo Othasevuru.
Arivu says in a statement about headlining the festival, “I can’t wait to bring my new album, Valliamma Peraandi, to the stage at Oii Oii Festival. This is a special opportunity to connect with fans and share the music that means so much to me.”
In a joint statement via a press release, A-Gan, San T, and Urban Thozha said, “We’re thrilled to perform at the Oii Oii Festival. It’s a chance for us to connect with our audience and be part of something bigger – a movement that supports and uplifts independent artists.”
The festival is founded by the company Five30 Media & Entertainment. The organizers say in their statement, “This initiative is about more than just music; it’s about creating a space where independent artists can thrive and where people can discover the richness of Tamil alternative music. We’re excited to see this community grow and to be a part of its journey.”
Student tickets for Oii Oii Festival are priced at ₹500, while entry for general admission is ₹999 per person. A “community pack” of four tickets comes for ₹4,000.
