Ziro Festival of Music is knocking on your doors, and the most magical part here is that this door opens up into the magical land of the Apatani folks in Arunachal Pradesh. One of the major ethnic groups of the Eastern Himalayas, they are known for their unique traditions and their systematic agricultural practices and sustainable social forestry. Ziro valley has also been shortlisted for India’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In addition to their unique culture and traditions, Ziro valley has been gaining fame in the recent years among the young folks as the “It” destination for one of the coolest music festivals in India. Beating all other music fests in the country, this one stands out for “unbeatable everything” from the picturesque venue of the valley to the coolest folks  – with artists and festival goers gathered from all over the world, the Food, the Fashion, and a radiant mood that stays with you long after the festival is over. This year the the ‘Ziro Festival of Music’ is happening on 27th to 30th September,2018.

An Apatani Lady Giving her blessing for the Ziro Festival of Music | Photo @zirofestival

Just talking about it is making us excited about the festival (already!) which is happening in less than 24 hours from now. And since we couldn’t wait anymore, we got in touch with the co-founder of Ziro Festival, Bobby Hano to give us a quick glimpse of the mood out there. He was kind enough to share some quick updates (though mad busy) complete with photos and videos from the festival preparation site. It’s a sight to behold! Read on to be mesmerized, and get a glimpse of what awaits the festival goers!

Hello from Bobby Hano (2nd from Left) from the Festival Site at Ziro | Ziro Festival of Music 2018

• Hi Bobby, thank you so much for sparing some time to chat with us. How’s the mood so far (hardly 24 hours left for the festival to start!)

The last few hours are tense, trying to get everything together. The weather looks great, people have started checking in to Ziro, folks are busy setting up their stalls, some bands have reached and are rehearsing with their team. We are now ready to rock and roll!

Bobby and Team taking a Break at the Festival venue | Ziro Festival of Music, 2018

• Awesome! This year, we have some international bands like MONO from Japan and Nubya from the UK performing at the festival. How are they enjoying their stay at Ziro?

The international bands have just checked in and they are spellbound with Ziro’s land and its people, and they look eager and more than ready to take the stage.

View at the Festival Site at Ziro, Arunachal | Ziro Festival of Music, 2018

Japanese band MONO’s music video from their debut album “H a r m o n i c” It’s their first band tour to India, and they are performing at Ziro Festival 2018!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by MONO (Japan) (@monoofjapan) on Jul 30, 2018 at 1:05pm PDT

• What time the does event start tomorrow (26 Sept, 2018)?

The 4-day long festival starts tomorrow on the 27th, and the event officially begins at 3 pm!

• Are tickets still available for last min visitors? And where?

Yes, tickets will be available at the venue too.

• Any special message to people who are attending the event this year?

The message to all attendees is to look after your own trash, stay safe and have a good time.

• About the Event – Ziro Festival of Music 2018

From their official site “4 days of music, culture, arts, food and joy in one of the most spectacular locations in the world – Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, INDIA. Welcome to India’s Greatest Outdoor Music Festival!”

• Dates: 27-30 September 2018
• Venue: Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Live from Ziro Valley by event co-founder Bobby Hano – a glimpse into the festival mood a day before the festival | Ziro Festival of Music, 2018 [R&L coverage of Ziro Music Festival 2016 and 2017]

Artist Lineup for the Ziro Festival of Music 2018. See you there Folks!