World Music descends at Jodhpur RIFF – Folk artists jamming with rock bands
As the temperatures fall and there is nip in the air, Jodhpur’s Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) is raising the temperature again inside the enchanting Mehrangarh Fort. The 13th edition of Jodhpur RIFF is on between 6 and 10 October.
After a two-years hiatus, Jodhpur’s Rajasthan International Folk Festival is back and the city is gearing up for some amazing performances.
The festival primarily takes place in Mehrangarh Fort—the most popular tourist attraction in the city. There are other venues around the fort, including the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, Jaswant Thada and Veer Durga Das Memorial Park.
The international folk festival is here to promote traditional folk music and arts with the performances like kathputli (string puppetry), ghoomer dance, kachchi ghodi – a traditional dance of the dummy-horses, Langa music, Rajasthani circus, Terah Taali, and many more are slotted for the day.
The opening night City Concert started from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM, free for all. Along with the traditional Rajasthani artists, the concert will see performers presenting special numbers from the Balkan and the middle-eastern region.
For the Dawn events of Day 2, 3, 4 and 5 (last event of the festival), if you don’t have a Donor or Day Pass, you can get a ticket for the dawn event only for INR 200. On October 7 and 8, Jodhpur RIFF, for the first time, will showcase traditional Khasi indigenous folk music (Meghalaya)
One can expect a mix of various kinds of music, both Indian and international. Not known to many but Mick Jagger, the frontman of revolutionary ‘The Rolling Stones’ band is one of the international patrons for RIFF.Several other international artists, like Manu Chao, Pete Lockett and Maya Kamaty also got a platform in India through RIFF. The festival also includes jam sessions with local Rajasthani folk musicians that take place at night.
