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Pioneering Indian rock band Thermal And A Quarter (TAAQ) will be heading this Friday’s Bud Music...Live event at Likwid, City Centre Hotel.
The musicians, based in Bangalore, have a massive fan-base throughout Bahrain and the Middle East.
TAAQ have played at some of the coolest, hippest venues across the world including bars in Glasgow and London, the Oberois, Tajs, Leelas and Not Just Jazzes of Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and New Delhi to obscure ethnic festivals in Kochi to save a grove of rain trees.
Bruce Lee Mani (guitars, vocals), Rajeev Rajagopal (drums), Rzhude David (bass, vocals) and Tony Das (guitars, vocals) have three albums and hundreds of live gigs under their collective belt.
The Dilmun Dixie Landers are the opening local band on the night.
They formed in 2003 when trumpet and clarinet player Dave Willis was put in touch with Gordon Porritt, an experienced New Orleans-style banjo player. After performing at a few private parties they were joined by a lady singer and ‘went live’ with their first gig.
It wasn’t long before their catchy rhythm and enthusiasm attracted more musicians and they recruited an Aussie drummer, dour Bob on bass, and big Mark, who plays a brass sousaphone.
Pam was sent by the Bahrain Wives and Girlfriends Society to keep them under control and make them learn new keys to adapt to her lovely contralto bluesy singing voice!
Since then, The Dilmun Dixie Landers have played 115 gigs all over town. Sadly, Gordon Porritt passed away three years ago, but his spirit has guided the core of the band to pursue its New Orleans roots.
Over a five-month period “Bud Music..Live” and Likwid will host a live music night once a month, which plans to incorporate some of the traditional BOTB competition elements. Local bands that have entered will be invited to battle it out in a live music competition.
The bands will be judged by Samir Habib Allah, Abdul Wahab Mohammed and Marie-Claire on their versatility, musical ability, originality and their live performance.
Entrance is BD3 and doors open at 9pm.
