Bengaluru Music Festival Draws 28,500 Eco-Minded Fans

When 28,500 people gather for a music festival, you expect noise, waste, and chaos. At Echoes of Earth in Bengaluru, India, organizers delivered something completely different: a celebration that earned official "Greener Festival 2025" certification from London-based A Greener Future.

The December festival brought together Grammy-nominated artists and environmental education in an unusual pairing. Performers like Varijashree Venugopal, who blends traditional Carnatic music with global sounds, played alongside electronic acts and jazz ensembles. Belgian band Stavroz noted that while many festivals claim sustainability, being "fully sustainable" takes rare commitment.

Festival founder Roshan Netalkar and his team at Swordfish creative agency drew 900 volunteer applications for just 120 spots. These volunteers supported everything from art installations to accessibility services, creating an experience that felt less like a typical concert and more like a community gathering.

Varijashree shared her advice for aspiring musicians between sets: "Be a great listener, and keep your mind open to new sounds and ideas." She even performed a playful Kannada version of the Brazilian classic "One-note Samba," calling it "One-note Sambar" for her diverse, multi-generational audience.

The festival's nature-focused approach created challenges too. Organizers acknowledged dust issues on the grounds and are actively working on solutions for next year.

The Ripple Effect

The success of Echoes of Earth is inspiring something bigger. From February 5-22, the same team will launch the Sixth Sense festival at Bengaluru's Alembic City glass factory. This 18-day immersive event will feature over 30 art-tech experiences, six live performances, a 360-degree dome, and 20 waste-to-art installations.

Netalkar explains that immersive experiences offer powerful ways to understand complex environmental topics through emotion and presence. "As technology increasingly shapes our future, this festival is our way of exploring experiences that are not just observed, but felt, questioned, and co-created," he says.

The lineup includes international artists like Vieux Farka Touré and Max Cooper, alongside tech artists and designers creating a space for experimentation. The goal reaches beyond entertainment to reawaken human connection with the natural world.

In a world where music festivals often leave behind mountains of trash and carbon footprints, Echoes of Earth shows that massive gatherings can actually inspire environmental awareness instead of harming it.