By Deepa Natarajan LoboBefore Bengaluru became the city of start-ups and craft breweries, its nights often belonged to rock ’n’ roll. Now, homegrown band Strange Brew is set to bring back some of that nostalgia with Oktoberzest, at The Humming Tree on October 17. Produced by artiste, curator and singer-songwriter Arati Rao Shetty, the show will celebrate the band’s 10-year journey and Bengaluru’s enduring love for timeless music.Formed in August 2016 by drummer Ajit Nambiar, guitarist Christopher Avinash, bassist Santhosh Gnanakan and keyboardist Uday Jose, Strange Brew began as a coming together of musicians united by their love for rock ’n’ roll and the energy of live performances. Over the years, the band has explored new sounds, arrangements and styles while staying true to the spirit that brought its members together.“Today, it feels less like a genre-based project and more like a musical conversation between people who trust each other’s instincts — an evolution that has kept our music fresh while preserving the passion that brought us together,” says Ajit, whose musical journey was shaped by an early fascination with The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Doors.With percussionist Imraan Jamal also part of the core line-up, the anniversary gig will bring the band’s decade-long journey full circle. Long-time friends and collaborators, including Bruce Lee Mani, Tony Das, Rajeev Rajagopal, Sylvester Pradeep, Ananth Menon, Venky Nayak, Ananya Raja, Tanya Shankar and Sweethin Hartmann, will join the celebrations.The artistes will pay tribute to a diverse roster of musical greats, from Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and Guns N’ Roses to Eric Clapton, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Stevie Ray Vaughan, James Brown, Bad Company, Eagles and The Beatles.“It’s going to be a reunion of sorts, with plenty of great music and spontaneous moments. Personally, this milestone means gratitude — to every stage we’ve played on and every listener who has sung along. They have all shaped who we truly are,” says Ajit.Looking ahead, the band hopes to keep its musical spirit alive for another decade and beyond. Ajit believes Bengaluru’s live music scene has grown more diverse and vibrant, with more independent artistes, genres and venues, as well as audiences increasingly open to original music.“For the next chapter, we hope to keep exploring new sounds, collaborating with more artists, reaching wider audiences and continuing to create music that feels honest and alive,” he says.
