BFR Sound System performing in Haflong. Photo: Courtesy of BFR
New Delhi’s BFR Sound System – run by MC and selector Delhi Sultanate – is helping revive The Big Bang! Festival of Love in Dima Hasao in Assam through a fund of £10,000 given via the Studio Monkey Shoulder initiative.
The Big Bang! Festival of Love – which will feature artists like blues powerhouse Tipriti Kharbangar, rock band Ahimxa, Shillong artist Ras Manman, Mumbai rapper MC Mawali and Bass Foundation Roots (BFR) Sound System as well – takes place on Oct. 26 and 27, 2024 in the Nanadisa village. A limited range of 500 tickets are being sold.
It was early in 2024 that Studio Monkey Shoulder was announced as a partnership between malt scotch whisky brand Monkey Shoulder and online radio station Worldwide FM, founded by DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson. It promised to fund an Indian music community based on applications received.
Among them was Delhi Sultanate aka Taru Dalmia’s application to restart the Assam festival curated by musician-activist Mr. India aka Daniel Langthasa, which ran between 2016 and 2020. Dalmia says, “This initiative [Studio Monkey Shoulder] came at just the right moment in my life. Just when I was unsure about how to proceed with BFR and chart my path in this music industry, being selected for this initiative made us believe in ourselves and gave us the means to be audacious and think big. Having traveled to that part of the country before, we knew we wanted to celebrate Dimasa tribal culture and indigenous wisdom, and organize a proper reggae sound system session out in the open in the jungle.”
Driven by reggae music and finding spaces that were not “dominated by commercial interests” and allowed “artistic and cultural expression,” Dalmia says the boutique festival – which BFR has been part of since 2017 – will showcase sound system culture alongside local folk artists and cultural traditions.
Since they festival is funded via Studio Monkey Shoulder, Peterson will be in India along with the team from Worldwide FM, to document BFR’s journey from New Delhi to Haflong in Assam for the festival. Peterson says, “I’m excited to learn more about the deep rooted connection in India to the soundsystem culture. I’m really interested to follow the impact of this journey, sharing their passion for this music culture to help break down systemic class divides and reach new audiences in remote areas of the country.”
BFR will also participate in an event called aQI, scheduled to be held at The Crashpad in Mangar village (near New Delhi) over Oct. 12 and 13. aQI is an IP launched by New Delhi-based dance music community Warehouse Mix and is a celebration of dance music in the wild with classic vinyl records.
