Goa to host new multi-genre GOAT festival; to focus on world music, art, food and design

Panaji: If you thought Goa was all about Sunburn, wait till you attend GOAT, a three-day boutique music and arts festival scheduled to take place in Goa starting from 27 January. The festival focuses on a fusion of music genres and artistes from around the world as well as showcase alternative India through art, design, fashion and gastronomy. Organised by Goat Music, a London-based music and events agency founded by Dave Gaydon and Lou Birkett, the multi-genre festival will take place on the beaches of Ashvem and Morjim in Goa. Leading the first announcement of acts is Gilles Peterson, a music connoisseur who has championed a global music perspective through his radio shows and label. Peterson is also the festival’s artiste ambassador. “GOAT promises to be a cross-fusion of cultures and sounds including some artistes which I have had the great pleasure of working with before,” said Peterson, who often exchanges roles between being a DJ, broadcaster, producer, compiler and label boss. Joining Peterson in Ashwem will be US-born, Pune-educated and London-based jazz composer, percussionist and producer Sarathy Korwar. Korwar’s debut album Day to Day fuses traditional Folk music of the Sidi community in India (combining East African, Sufi and Indian influences) with Jazz and Electronics. A flavour of one of London’s coolest parties will be found on the beaches of Goa when Secretsundaze founder James Priestley plays at GOAT. Joining him will be some raw talent like Dope St Jude, a socially conscious rapper from Cape Town alongside New Zealand soul electronic five-piece act Sorceress, London-based Medlar, famous for his funk-infuse strain of House music, Jazz-based duo Yussef Kamaal. Also making an appearance at the festival will be Henry Wu, a rising beatmaker on the London scene and one-half of Yussef Kamal. Janus Rasmussen of the Icelandic duo Kiasmos will present a DJ set as will Berlin-based DJ and house producer Marquis Hawkes. Dutch group blessed with the sound of the Caribbean and Tambu drums, Kuenta i Tambú (KiT) will invoke the sounds of the carnival. Representing India at the festival will be live electronica producer Donn Bhat with his band, Donn Bhat + Passenger Revelator, Electronica DJ and producer Sandunes, Acid-infused-Synthpop producer Aqua Dominatrix, Mumbai-based Downtempo producer Kumail and Electro-cabaret and Disco duo, Madboy Mink. The festival will feature two stages alongside three alternative performance spaces/DJ booths. After 10 pm, the festival will move to two night-time venues close to the festival grounds. There will be well-being workshops and yoga sessions available through the day alongside on-site spa therapies. There will be a chance to interact with like-minded people through dance and art workshops, storytelling and pop-up restaurants, which will serve local delicacies using sustainable produce. For those with an adventurous streak, watersports such as surfing and paddle boarding will be an attractive option.