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Home > Jukebox Archive > 31st October, 2014
NSPA Jukebox: We're auditioning - tomorrow!
Dear hopeful street performers,

       It's time for you to take the stage - in our case, the streets! - by storm once more, because the National Streets for Performing Arts (NSPA) is recruiting musicians, dance troupes and theatre groups that are looking to bring the performing arts to the public spaces in Mumbai! We're fascinated by performers of all kinds - and we hope to see you tomorrow - Saturday the 1st, from 10 am - 1 pm - at Pushpa Narsee Park's (Juhu, Vile Parle West) stage! If you haven't pre-registered already, you can just show up on the spot - auditions are on a first come first served basis. Just remember - no Bollywood performances are allowed!

Can't make it tomorrow but really want to audition? Write to us at info@nspa.in, and we'll try figure something out!

How does one's journey with the NSPA really evolve?
To witness this, you can start by joining us in applauding our newly recruited classic English and folk rock singers/guitarists Shannon Fernandes and Sooraj Bishnoi, and Carnatic classical/Kabir dohe singer Shruthi Vishwanath, who had splendid back to back performances at Bandra's Carter Road promenade last week. Shannon and Sooraj got the audience waxing nostalgic with favourite Beatles numbers and some of Coldplay's older songs- catch them in the act here! - while Shruthi with dholak player Kailash introduced enthralled passerby (passing by no more!) to the genre of abhangs, some moments of which we've captured for you right here.

Now you're familiar with step 1. Next, we have spaces such as Leaping Windows Comic Library and Cafe - where our artists perform live music every Thursday from 8 - 10 pm - and where the audiences are more intimate, and there is great scope for a captive audience. Our Sufi folk rock band RAM Trio performed at the comic library for the first time recently - and people actually looked up from their graphic novels and Manga comics to have a proper listen! See for yourselves! We were thrilled, as this isn't our first attempt at breaching the sacred silence of Mumbai's libraries

Finally comes the grand showcase - the streets have taken to the performers splendidly, and it's time to curate a jugalbandhi with them to keep them creating and collaborating. "Busking at the Hive" is a platform that allows us to do exactly this - and last Sunday, NSPA alumni (and Kabir Cafe band members!) Neeraj Arya and Viren Solanki jammed with our resident artists Heloise Saldanha and Manuel D'Souza, and Kabir rock met Konkani folk music at our monthly event! "It took me back to Greenwich Village's folk music days in the New York of the 60s!" said one ecstatic Canadian audience member. Watch a jugalbandhi right here.

And - we'll let you in on a secret - this is just the beginning! The NSPA is branching out - to Delhi and Goa! Know any budding performers there? Ask them to get in touch with us at info@nspa.in!

As always, here is your weekend plan
Have a lovely weekend!

Yours,
The NSPA
 
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