Think about the best aspects of Kolkata’s indie scene- and now imagine finding it all in one space. The seventh edition of CalBunka is here, and it has only gotten bigger and louder, promising to kick it up a notch.Incidentally, the word ‘Bunka’, in Japanese, translates to culture. CalBunka, quite literally aspires to celebrate the smorgasbord of creativity that this city represents. “We have something called the Jam which will include younger bands, and we have open mic slots as well, where newbies can play in front of a crowd,” says Smoke Inc.’s Nishit Arora, one of the minds behind CalBunka. What's more, not only is it a Green Purpose event with a goal to be environmentally-sound, but it also aims at promoting the local talents and indie artistes, chefs and musicians.
Inspired by Southeast Asia’s bustling night markets, CalBunka brings together food, music, fashion, art, cocktails, shopping, fitness events, games in a one-of-a-kind extravaganza. This year’s event will be a two-night affair to be held at The Stadel on January 12 and 13, where you can have a fam-jam till 2 am. It has a stellar line-up featuring Fender Blues Jam (including Warren Mendonsa, the Arinjoy Trio, and none other than Soulmates’ Rudy Wallang), Amyt Datta’s band Ziba and indie outfits like The Illegal Project and Pelican Shuffles.“I saw the night markets during my Thailand vacation, and it was such a perfect place to be for all kinds of fun-seekers. And I thought why can’t we do something like this here? We wanted to focus on the street culture, and on the energy,” says Arora.
CalBunka also features photo booth, fitness workshops, flea markets, merch stalls, and a diverse range of grub for the foodies. Also expect to find the best of indie designers, local start-ups, upcoming bands, and a tattoo booth. “We are always looking to feature the creations which you don’t readily find everywhere - you’ll discover so much that you don’t have access to throughout the year,” adds Arora.
The CalBunka experience is also a very thrifty one. Entry passes are only 100 bucks a pop. Some of the featuring names are Ganache by Preeti Kohli, the Kolkata-based home baker whose brownies are a rage, indie label Latak Jhatak, known for their quirky jewellery and handloom creations. In case you want some exquisite pop art for your walls, Farheen Aman’s Arthead will also be a part of CalBunka.
“I definitely want CalBunka to reflect the diverse cultural potpourri of Kolkata. It should be a place to go in all seasons with everyone. The sense of inclusiveness should not just ripple through the audience but should also resonate in the music being played, stuff being bought and the food being served. It aims at being a wholesome happy experience you remember,” says Mr Rajit Bhutoria, Director, The Stadel.
At The Stadel, entry: Rs 100, on January 12 & 13