Pune: 18th Vasantotsav Begins With Electrifying Performance By Agnee Band
Pune: 18th Vasantotsav Begins With Electrifying Performance By Agnee Band
The 18th edition of Vasantotsav, organized by the Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Foundation, commenced today with a powerful performance by the renowned Agnee Live Band. The festival, held at Suryakant Kakade Farms in Kothrud, Pune, will run until Sunday, January 19, offering a vibrant array of performances, including classical vocals, percussion, light music, live bands, and soulful ghazals.
The inaugural ceremony began with a traditional lamp-lighting in the presence of dignitaries such as Bapu Deshpande, Kiran Thakur, Atul Ashtekar, and Jai and Vijay Kakade. The highlight of the day was a captivating performance by Agni Live Band, led by Bharat Swamy, who enthralled the audience with their original compositions, compelling the crowd to groove to their beats.
The band, featuring Bharat Swamy (founder), Sharon Herbert (lead guitar), Justin Cresto (rhythm guitar), Gabriel (bass guitar), Atharv (keyboard), Andy (drums), and backup vocalists Tanvi Ingawale, Gayatri Dilipan, and Aryan, delivered a memorable performance.
Agni performed tracks from their latest album, “Unleashing the Monster,” with Bharat Swamy sharing nostalgic memories of founding the band at Bharati Vidyapeeth in 1989. The performance included standout songs like “Monster Within”—written during a challenging phase of depression in 2016—along with “Lost in Time,” their only love song to date, and “Hey You,” addressing the issue of addiction. Other popular tracks, including “Screen Time with Fire” and “Swear with Me,” received enthusiastic applause. The band also blended Indian and Carnatic music into their compositions, adding a unique flavor to the evening.
The program was skillfully anchored by Snehal Damle and Vighnesh Joshi, adding to the event’s charm.
