This weekend festival at Mahabalipuram promises to be a 36-hour-long party!

This weekend festival promises a 36-hour-long party. Sleep through Monday if you need to catch up on your ZZZs — because the organiser of the One People Festival, Bjorn Surrao (better known as the frontman of Franks Got the Funk) tells us they aren’t kidding about the ‘non-stop’ part. With over 250 performers (bands, DJs and artistes) as well attractions like food trucks, a flea market, camping and star gazing, there will be enough happening to keep the action going well into the wee hours of the morn.

“We’ve got a slew of popular DJs from Chennai, Bengaluru and Goa (think Rudy Gallyot and Vachan Chinnappa) to take over the night shift from 1 am all the way to 6 am,” Bjorn tells us. This is after the sun goes down on music sets by bands like Junkyard Groove, the F16s and Wayside — across, get this — five stages built on different sections of the Chariot Beach Resort in Mahabalipuram. In case it rains, Bjorn adds, “There’s even one massive cabana that can comfortably accommodate about 400 people.” What we don’t expect to hear is that the DJ box will be nine feet above the ground! “Each stage has a name based on what you can expect to see, we’re planning to call this one Levitate,” he shares, with a grin. 

Ready to ride?
If you don’t have transport this weekend, fret not. Close to 100 bike enthusiasts will be 
revving all the way to Mahabs as part of the ‘Chai Sutta ride’.
Registrations are free on the One People Festival website.
 

Music aside, the festival promises to bring together independent artistes from all walks of life (hence the name One People) to showcase live art installations that attendees can partake in, murals on glass and graffiti. It’s no surprise to find out at this point, that the rest of the team behind it, like Bjorn, also comprises of creators like DJ Prashanth Amir and fashion designer Shilpa Iyer. “Age is no bar and this isn’t necessarily about artistes who are well-known or reputed,” clarifies Shilpa. “As part of our line-up, expect a street artist from Chennai called Lotus Head who likes to remain anonymous and even a 13-year-old who has shown plenty of promise!” Canvasses, we’re told, will include organic cotton and 
perhaps even the occasional catamaran.

This is in line with the team’s mission to keep the whole affair entirely eco-friendly. Anticipating the truckloads of trash that come with food and drink for guests at a festival of this magnitude, the organisers have tied up with Wasted, a waste management initiative that will segregate and vermicompost on site. 

On September 15 and 16. Passes at Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500.

sonali@newindianexpress.com | @brightasunshine