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TV Times

AIDS awareness at GSLRF
"It is very encouraging to see the enthusiastic participation by so many Sri Lankan bands in this rock project," said Suman Jaya Chatterjee, Head of Marketing, Levis Strauss India Pvt. Ltd., while he was in Colombo during this Rock festival.

Great Sri Lanka Rock Festival (GSLRF) was held at Viharamaha Devi Open air theatre yeasterday ( February 8). 'Independent Square', 'Cool Fusion', 'Kreb's Cycle'. 'Jacob's Ladder', 'Stigmata' and 'Wild Fire' along with Indian rock band 'Orange Street' were in action at this festival.

"The quality music is very good, now it becomes our job to make sure that the music that these bands have created gets heard and that they connect with audiences," said Mr. Amit Saigal, editor and publisher of 'Rock Street Journal' (RSJ), the driving force behind the project in both India and Sri Lanka.

The most out outstanding event of yesterdays concert was the AIDS awareness programme at the venue.

" The proceedings of this whole project will be channelled to the AIDS awareness and help project in Sri Lanka . We got the help of a NGO and they had a stall at the concert ground. This is a very first time in Sri Lanka that a rock concert is used as a medium to communicate about AIDS' said Levis Lanka head Ravi Hirdaramani

The winning Sri Lankan Band will be flown to India to perform at Levis Great Indian Rock 2003 in New Delhi on February 22 and 23. One of the performers from the festival in New Delhi is being given an opportunity, courtesy Levis to play in the United States.

Orange Street, the band selected in India by Levis last year, is excited about their forthcoming trip to the US in July. "This is a great thing that RSJ and Levis are doing," said Anirban Chakraborty, lead singer of Orange Street. "So many opportunities have opened up for us after we got selected as best band in GIR. We've been getting a lot of gigs, international exposure, and above all, recognition for our own music!"

Bombay Black, the Mumbai-based group of musicians, was selected at the 2000-2001 GIR for a US foray and performed to great acclaim, the opening slot at an Aerosmith concert in Los Angeles.

Sounds of 2nd Generation
The 'Second Generation', 'The band with a difference, will come alive at 'Manor Club (formerly Rock Cafe) on Friday, February 14.

'Second Generation' comprises Sajith Perera (lead and vocals), Nishantha Perera (keyboards and vocals), Nimantha Kaluarachchi (keyboards and vocals), Gayan Hettiarachchi (bass and vocals) and Heshan Silva on drums.

Leader Sajith is the eldest son of Sunil Perera of Gypsies and Nishantha is the son of the former Gypsy drummer Nihal Perera.

'Second Generation', according to Sajith is quite old and they will be hoping to take music as their career. 'We do oldies, rock, reggae, current, chart hits as well as bailas'. We play according to audiences but our foremost group is young ones.' Sajith said. They are at present working on few original songs, which they hope to release soon.

Ernest & Combo at Galadari
'Ernest and Combo', the cool unplugged band led by pianist Ernest Francis performs on 'Valentine's Day' at California Grill at Galadari Hotel on February 14.
Ernest and Combo has a wide repertoire of music stretching from Jazz to standards and Blues.

Saxophonist Madanayake sails through on balads that were popular and are now standards. The other member of the Combo is drummer Welagedara.

'Ernest and Combo' is now in action at the California Grill on every Thursday and Saturday during dinner.

Jet's re-union Concert
By Sanath Weerasuriya
Melbourne and Brisbane Down Under will reveberate to the sounds of the sixties when the original Jetliners will come alive on the bandstand.

Anton Gunawijaya, Felix Fernando, Indra Raj and Harris Jurangpathy along with Ishan Bahar, Sohan Peiris and Mignonne Fernando will be re-united again after 39 years in Melbourne on February 15.

The second leg of their 2003 re-union show will be held at Brisbane on February 23.

Their 1999 tour to Australia, which was their very first 'reunion', after 35 years was a massive success. They performed at two sellout venues Melbourne and Sydney.

According to Ishan Bahar, who left Colombo last week for these concerts, the organizers selected Melbourne mainly because it is the main city, home for thousands of Sri Lankans.

'But we this year decided to perform in Brisbane too' he said.

'But this year's concert would be the very first one with Mignonne and it will be the real re-union concert after nearly 39 years' he said.

Styling themselves on the Shadows and Cliff Richards and growing up with Beatles, Stones, Elvis and rock n'role, these guy are bound to bring back many memories of the real Jet fans, now residing in Australia.

'Valentine Romance' at Le Garage
'Valentine Romance,' a special Valentine bash will be held at the 'Le Garage' of the Le Kandyan Hotel on February 15, Saturday, for the fifth consecutive year.
Yes FM DJ's will be in action at this special dance, where Hi-Tec Sounds and Lighting will be provided by 'Master of Sounds'.

The "Longest Kiss", 'Most Romantic Couple', 'Valentine King and Queen' are some of the Special events lined up for the night.

Also Valentine Ballet Dance will be performed by the Special Ballet Troupe at the Garage.

Ladies will get a Free rose and a glass of wine while the Romeos will be given heart shaped chocolates and Valentine Cards.

Special candle-lit Dinner will be on at the 'Rasawasala' restaurant for Rs. 1500/- net. The Garage dance is priced as Rs. 500/- per Gent and Ladies are free to enter.

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