Pakistan’s biggest music stars gear up for Koblumpi Music Festival

ISLAMABAD: Acclaimed singer and music director Mekaal Hassan has joined forces with entertainment solutions company Origami and has announced that music lovers in Lahore will get a chance this Sunday to see some veteran singers, new names and visiting acts at the Koblumpi Music Festival, one of the first ticketed music events in the city in some time.
A daytime music festival happening from noon until 6 pm, the Koblumpi Music Festival will be live at The Farm in Lahore. In a time where Karachi and Islamabad have seen an influx of art events, ticketed live music festivals in Lahore are still a rarity. We asked some of the names performing at Koblumpi about their excitement over the festival.

“In order to create a healthy ecosystem for music and performers, it is essential that more artists get to be heard and supported for creating music which is driven by the instinct to create,” said Mekaal Hassan to Arab News. “Tickets are like the public support. I’m very happy that this important first step has been taken with all stakeholders on board.”
“These artists, for all we know, might just be writing tomorrow’s classics and hits,” he continued.
“The intention and purpose of creating Origami is what Koblumpi is,” said Mehreen Rana of Origami who is serving as the festival director. “The word Koblumpi does not mean anything – it’s a made-up word. We wanted to do something new with and for the festival. Hence, that’s what we’ve come up with: Koblumpi – noun – art free from contractual shackles. Everyone part of this festival has come on board voluntarily, including the entire artist line-up, which makes me so proud of them. It also shows that everyone wants to play their music in front of an audience.”
“The once vibrant, live music scene of Lahore is seeing a revival after at least 10 years, and to be a part of it is an honor and a great feeling,” Quandrum told Arab News. “Live music is where true musicians are separated from studio artists, and people should pay to be able to see what quality sounds and looks like! We’re jamming our hearts out! We’re a little nervous, a little anxious but also very excited!”
“I can’t wait for it,” Romaisa Tariq told Arab News. “The line-up is amazing (not saying because I am in it)!”
The impressive line-up of 16 acts includes some recognizable names from Pakistan’s music history, some newer kids on the block making waves and even some out of town visitors, including Ali Noor, Meekal Hassan Band, Sikandar Ka Mandar, Keeray Makoray, Poor Rich Boy, Quadrum, Harris Saeed, Farheen Raza, Madlock, Arsalan Hasan, Bayaan, Ali Suhail, Romaisa Tariq, Abdullah Siddiqui, Cosmic Fluid and Luke William.
“I am so excited to perform,” said singer Ali Noor. “I actually asked Mekaal to join this festival. It’s so special because in a ticketed concert people make their money’s worth and they make the music their focus. We can also play original content which is representative of our ideas because we aren’t trying to please an audience: We are there to communicate with an audience that wants to be there. This festival can prove to be very important.”