‘Arena’ to boost the music scene
Benjy and Aquarius: Front runners of the revival
Live streaming, online concerts and youtube gigs are not meant for real music lovers. But as we always believe every dark cloud has a silver lining. The light is now visible at the end of the tunnel and good times are yet to come.
‘Colombo 2002’ at Galadari Hotel, one time most sought after happening place in Colombo, will be reincarnated as Arena and will be open for revellers on Saturday, May 8.
The opening of Arena will be the first step towards the resurrecting of music industry in the city.
Popular band Aquarius led by bassist Benjy Ranabahu will come alive at the Arena on the first day of the opening. Many popular musicians and leading bands are set to be featured at the ‘Arena’ boosting the music scene.
Aquarius is now one of the most sought after bands in the scene, performing at some of the popular places in the city on regular basis. The Benjy and the boys are in action at the ‘Shore by O’ in Mount Laviania every Friday. The band Aquarius will be a special feature at the popular Rodeo Pub in Negombo on Sunday, 25th April. Catch them in action at the famous Irish Pub on Wednesdays and at the Curve at MEWS on Saturdays.
The band Aquarius now comprises of Benjy on bass, Shiran Moonasinghe on drums and vocals, Jayan Fernando on keyboards and vocals and Niro Wattaldeniya on guitar and vocals. Sajith Gunaratne and Ruwini Ranreka are two front line singers while newly introduced April Schokman shares the vocal spotlight, upfront, with Ruwini and Sajith.
The recent festive season in Nuwara Eliya paved the opportunity to some of our bands and musicians to perform after many months giving them the feel of relief and hope for the coming months.
Meanwhile, Gypsies are busy at the studio doing the final touches to their newest album after two decades.
The band is currently planning to host a mega concert to celebrate their fiftieth year in the music scene. Gypsies is the only band in Sri Lanka to continue nonstop music with major chart toppers for fifty years. Perhaps they may be the only band in the world to enjoy that privilege with huge following of a fan base.
