Mumbai gets a new Blues fest

A two-day Blues music fest is coming up in February, courtesy the Mahindra Group. Its star performer: Buddy Guy

Three months from now, the city will get a brand new Blues fest. Legendary Chicago bluesman Buddy Guy will return to Mumbai for the third time. Buddy Guy's website confirmed that he will be performing in Mumbai on February 6, 2011 as a part of the Mahindra Blues festival. Says Blues fan, budding guitarist and
Congress MP Milind Deora, "I met Buddy Guy in June at his Chicago club Buddy Guy Legends. He was really excited about coming back to India and was happy that he was one of the first Blues musicians to perform in the country."



The similarities between the One Tree Music Festival and the Mahindra Blues Festival are hard to miss. The One Tree Fest, also a Blues music showcase, was also held annually in February. Also a two-day fest, the One Tree Music Festival also flew down Guy who was the main act alongside The Alan Parsons Project and Walter Trout and The Radicals in 2007.

"It will be the biggest Blues fest that the country has seen. The festival will also feature some prominent Indian artists and at least two big international acts," says a source. Grammy-winning Blues guitarist Jonny Lang may also perform at the festival.

Deora isn't sure whether he'd be performing with Guy again. "I don't think I have the guts to perform with him again, although I feel I've evolved just a little more as a musician. The last time, I was young and naive. Anyway, February is a while away." But the 34 year-old politician is making time to polish his guitar chops. "I want to gig at least once in three months," says Deora, who is scheduled to perform with Shillong Blues band Soulmate in Delhi next month.u00a0u00a0

Fast fact
This is Guy's third show in India inu00a0 a new fest with Indian and international blues acts

Kicks Off In: February 2010