The Big Leaps: Bacardi NH7 Weekender Through The Years (2010-2014)

India’s happiest music festival has gone from strength to strength since its debut four years ago. The Sherp takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane

Back in 2010, who knew that the small festival that was held in Pune’s Koregaon Park will go on to become the most anticipated music event in India in a couple of years? Well, almost everybody that attended it. Since then, the organisers have upped the ante with every edition; from stages and artistes to the overall experience, the festival kept pushing its own benchmarks. And as we gear up for the upcoming editions across four cities (Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata and Delhi NCR), The Sherp takes you through the eventful years.

1. The stages have grown bigger, better and more beautiful, not to mention the festival’s expansion to three new cities

The scale of the festival has been rising since its debut in 2010; if you’ve attended all the editions so far, you would know what we are talking about. One of the biggest milestones for the music event was its expansion to Delhi NCR and Bangalore in 2012, and to Kolkata in 2013.

2010

The Dewarists Stage
(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)

2011

The Dewarists Stage
(Photo: Shiv Ahuja)

2012

The Dewarists Stage at Pune
(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)

The Bacardi Black Rock Arena at Delhi NCR
(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)

The Eristoff Wolves Den at Bangalore
(Photo: Paul George)

2013

The Dewarists Stage at Pune
(Photo: Maanas Singh)

The Red Bull Tour Bus at the Kolkata edition
(Photo: Margub Ali)

2. Every year brings more and more international acts to India

It’s remarkable how the Bacardi NH7 Weekender has fulfilled the wishes of so many fans to see their favourite acts on stage. From a couple of headliners in its debut edition, the festival brought a bevy of global stars in its last leg.

2010

Asian Dub Foundation
(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)

2011

Vishal Dadlani and Imogen Heap

Felix Buxton
(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)

2012

Karnivool at Pune
(Photo: Shalaka Pai)
Megadeth at Delhi NCR
(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)

Seun Kuti at Pune

2013

Chase & Status at the Pune edition

Mutemath in Delhi

Dry The River in Delhi

3. The festival attendees have gone crazier, and zanier, with each passing year. What’s more, they’ve helped build a strong community of music lovers

Ultimately, it’s the people that make or break a festival. At the Bacardi NH7 Weekenders, we’ve seen the revellers upping their game every year — from sporting madder costumes to flaunting kicka-ass hairdos. The festival has also fostered a strong sense of community among music lovers over the years. It is not for nothing that the festival is considered an annual pilgrimage of India’s most ardent music lovers.

2010

(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)

2011

(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)

2012

Revellers in Delhi NCR
(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)

An attendee at Delhi NCR
(Photo: Vivek Manek)

2013

Attendees in Kolkata
(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)

4. Every edition also brings with itself the good ol’ family of regular performers aka Weekender Veterans

Whether it is Monica Dogra’s riveting act, Warren Mendonsa’s jaw-dropping shredding, Vir Das’ tomfoolery or Sidd Coutto‘s stage histrionics, Weekender has given the audience some of the most entertaining regular acts since it kicked-off four years ago.

Vishal Dadlani at the 2010 edition
(Photo: Kunal Kakodkar)