What IS Strawberry Fields?

(for starters, if you are completely unaware of this event, Strawberry Fields is a rock music festival in the format of battle of the bands with 40 participating band, and 1 winner) Aah, this, this is an elusive question. Why, you may ask? Merely because Strawberry Fields, is highly subjective. Barely ever the same for two people. I'm sure you've heard of Strawberry Fields (SF) which is hosted by National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and how it is the best grassroots festival, yadda, yadda (it is). Today, I shall attempt to teach you what this certain event means to me and why is it so dear to me, and hope you find yourself on a similar wavelength. If not, I invite you to pay us another visit (or your first) and experience the emotion, that is Strawberry Fields and form your own opinion. So, here is an introduction, tuned to my perception:

ARE YOU A MUSIC ENTHUSIAST?

Eh?

Or, simply looking to chill?

Or, hungry for another edition of SF?

Strawberry Fields XVIII, and still going strong! We got way more, right where it comes from.

SF, has something for one and all!

Want to chill with your friends? Come over, we promise a foot tapping, fun filled time! Got a keen ear? Our entries to this event are easily the best bands from all over India, bands even better than many you would shell out thousands to watch perform, bands capable of belting out innovative, stimulating music, yet, bands with unheard voices. The aim is to host a mellow, enjoyable concert, along with the chance for budding, aspiring bands to be truly heard and perform with top-notch quality provisions. And the best part? The crowd-entry is free! Why? Because we love entertaining people and giving them the chance to enjoy unbridled, talented music.

Day 1 and 2.

Strawberry Fields, unlike other musical events in India, is spread over three days. Not only does this allow a large number of bands to perform, with adequate time, but also return to the stage and perform. Over the first two days, we have our 40 Bands performing, out of which 5 Finalists are picked who perform again on the third day along with our headliners. Day 1 is usually a slow, lazy day with music and the soundchecks piercing through the unsettled silence which persists in Nagarbhavi, a suburb to Bangalore, a quite, simple suburb harboring some of the finest educational institutions in India like Bangalore University and NLSIU. Every year, the first day of Strawberry Fields, the first "check, check" uttered is like a harmonious wake-up call, a revelation. A wake-up call to the ever so studious lawyers in the "Harvard of the East", waking up from their mind numbing schedule,trying to hear that unusual sound beyond the cases, reading materials, and other lawyer-y stuff we're always buried under. This call wakes our over-wrought, over lawyered, corpjob Alan Shore minds to look beyond the library and our mundane day to day activities. A wake up call to hang up our lawyer robes and custom tailored suits and don Motorhead t-shirts. Day 1 and Day 2 go by, with each band, better than the previous.

Day 3

Day 3, the finalists and the headliners. This is what SF is made of. Incredible music and stage acts, this is when legends are created(read: last post on buzzfeed). Last year, we had 6 Finalists, owing to the quality of the bands.

The best and the worst day. It marks not only the day when Nagarbhavi, that tiny, questionable suburb is in fact lit up with those smooth, lusty tones wafting throughout, illuminating the whole area, being flocked with unusually large amounts of crowd clad in Led Zeppelin and Megadeth t-shirts flocking like moths to be a part of this illuminating oasis of music. It also marks the end of the event.

SF is not confined by Genre

The groove of the Blues, headbanging Thrash, catchy fusion, "mind-expanding" psychedelia, we have it all! A huge variety of music can be experienced here, free from constraints of stigmas, popularity of genres. Judging biases are attempted to be brought down to bare minimum to enforce neutrality.

Or by Age.

Where else could you possibly have a 12 year old shredding on a guitar?

Strawberry Fields...... Forever?

A humble attempt is made to transcend all other criterion and an act is stripped down to its music, and music alone. Strawberry Fields is about the music, and a 3-Day long interaction whereby everyone gets along, the Bands interact, Jam together, coveting music, not worrying about petty competitions and positions.

Well, that is Strawberry Fields for me. Do come along, support us in our enterprise, and enjoy :)

YOU. Yes, we want YOU there!

Strawberry Fields XVIII,
Venue: NLSIU, Nagarbhavi,
Bangalore.
12th-14th December, 2014.
And, yes, FREE ENTRY!!

Registrations: 16th-19th October, 2014.