Avial performing

Known as a non-profit organisation that focuses on the transformation of urban youth through music and concerts, LiveJam is back in the national capital with its flagship programme Gloria Deo Music Festival.

With the aim to spread the message of peace and unity through their music, the festival is celebrated each year around Christmas where international and national musicians jam live attracting the youth.
Showcasing what is happening in and around us, this year’s festival is an attempt to bring people of all zones under one shed and spread the message of peace. “The theme for this year’s Gloria Deo Music Festival came into my mind looking up at the events happening around us — wars are fought, people are killing other people etc. The festival is an attempt to bring the nation together through the message of peace. And there is no better platform than music to spread this message,” says Bonny Andrews, the organiser of the event and founder of LiveJam who will also be performing in the event. The organisers of the festival have decided to showcase performances by well-known bands from different zones across the country.
From the east zone they have Alobo Naga, a rock band from Nagaland, which was nominated for the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA). It also featured at number four in VH1’s international top 10 chartbusters, with the likes of Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera and Pitbull.
Hailing from Mumbai, the Sheldon Bangera Band led by Sheldon Bangera, will represent the west zone. The band is signed with Integrity Music Record from the US and is in the process of releasing internationally their upcoming project. They would be performing for half an hour in this concert, which would be a mixture Hindi and English songs.
Sheldon Bangera, the lead singer of the band, feels that their band would have a certain edge over other bands as they are the only Hindi band taking part in the festival. “Every artist taking part in the festival is unique. We also have a completely different set of songs. But being the only band to sing Hindi songs and considering the Delhi crowd, we will definitely have an edge over other bands,” says Sheldon.
From the north zone they have Bobby Cash, the first Indian to release a country music album in the country. Bobby played at some of the top venues in Nashville, appeared on the WSM Midnite Jamboree at E.T. Troubadour Theatre and also at Billy Bobs — the legendary country music club in Dallas.
Speaking about his eagerness to play in live concerts and how much he loves country music, Bobby says, “I am a real country artist. Though I have played many times overseas, I love to play in India because there are a bunch of people, if not all, who really love country music but have only listened to them on the Internet, radio or in his/her music system. So they really like when they see me performing live country music. When people hear me they feel a unique kind of attachment with my music.”
Although Bobby is happy to be the only country music guitarist in India, he would be happier if young guitarists chose to learn and play country music. “I have always loved the way I play the guitar. And I never had any doubt in my mind with regard to my ambition. I never thought that I could not fulfil my dreams. I ask the young guitarists to be the same and never be a copycat. Believe in yourself and you surely will be a winner.”
From the south zone Avial — an Indian alternative rock band from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala — will perform in the festival. Formed in 2003, the music of Avial is a fusion of native folk music from Kerala and alternative rock. This folk portrayal is a new trend, and is unlike the other lyrical themes of majority of
the conventional rock bands.
Expecting a crowd of around 10,000 people, the organisers are hopeful that this year too, like the previous years, the Gloria Deo Music Festival will be an event to remember that music lovers watch out for and wait anxiously.
“We are not organising just a music concert, but our motive is to unite different communities under one roof of music and spread peace. Moreover, we are also kick-starting Christmas celebrations with the festival and spreading its message of peace, unity and brotherhood,” says Sylvia James, one of the organisers.