One of Bengaluru’s most cherished musical events, Freedom Jam, is making its highly-anticipated return on August 14 at the Bangalore International Centre in Domlur. Adhering to its long-standing tradition of offering free concerts—cheekily tagged as “no bread!”—Freedom Jam has been a cornerstone of the city’s live music scene for 26 years, having first started back in 1997.
Traditionally held on key national holidays such as Independence Day and Republic Day, Freedom Jam continues to be a banner event celebrating both music and community spirit. This year promises a mid-week musical feast featuring four bands crossing multiple generations and genres, presenting a jam session unlike any other.
A highlight of the evening is expected to be the Sarjapur Blues Band. The band’s founders, Dr. Shekhar Seshadri—an esteemed psychologist at NIMHANS—and guitarist Vinoo Mathews, describe their group as a “workingman’s, underground, back-street, original, eclectic, rhythm, and blues kind of band.” Attendees can expect live renditions of original songs such as ‘Don’t Drop Your Ego,’ ‘Bounce It,’ and ‘Lady Nicotine,’ each aligning perfectly with this year’s edition theme of original music.
Joining the festivities are rock veterans The Unknowns, who will pay special homage to their late guitarist Stephen Joseph, known lovingly as Steve. The band’s set will feature tracks from Steve’s Carnatic fusion album, “Welcome To The Journey,” as the organizers shared. “Steve had not only made The Unknowns the city’s finest classic rock band, but he also brought groundbreaking innovations to the electric guitar, allowing it to mimic the sounds of traditional Indian instruments like the veena, mridangam, and violin. Now, the next generation, including Steve’s multitalented sons and nephews, continue to uphold his legacy, with Sunil Steven showcasing all those fusion techniques,” reads the event description.
The celebration will also witness a performance by Baja, a band that intimately ties to the origins of Freedom Jam, with founder Siddhartha Patnaik among its members. Baja is known for their creative remixes of classic numbers like ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Surangani,’ in addition to their staple hits ‘Money Runnin Out’ and ‘AlooGobi Rhythm.
.’ Their unique style is characterized by an exhilarating blend of desi ‘tapankuthu’ rhythms fused with rock blues chord patterns. Baja’s presence at almost every edition of Freedom Jam makes them a consistent favorite among attendees.
A relatively new addition to the Freedom Jam line-up is the local band Giddy Hoo. With four songs already released and a debut album currently in the works, the band is expected to perform tracks such as ‘Why Should I Scare,’ ‘Mount Rock,’ ‘Fatus,’ and ‘Pilgrim and the Creed.’ The event description adds, “Two brothers from the South and two from the Northeast, the band has this ability to sway rock audiences with their energetic performances and catchy arena rock tunes.”
Throughout its illustrious history, Freedom Jam has showcased live music in public areas and local pubs, sometimes spanning multiple venues over several days. The event has hosted a range of notable acts including Raghu Dixit, Thermal and a Quarter, and the prog rock band Rainburn. Regardless of the setting, Freedom Jam has consistently been praised for its fun, laid-back vibe and its steadfast support for the city’s independent music scene.
For those interested in becoming part of this musical celebration, free entry can be secured by RSVPing through the official website, freedomjam.in. Set your calendars for August 14, as the Bangalore International Centre in Domlur is geared up to host an event that promises an evening of unforgettable music and vibrant community spirit.
Whether you’re an avid follower of the Bengaluru music scene or someone looking to explore new musical horizons, Freedom Jam offers a welcoming atmosphere for all. Don’t miss out on what promises to be a memorable evening of rock, blues, and fusion music in celebration of India’s Independence Day.
