Heacham musician taking band RANE to Southern India music festival
A Heacham musician will be taking his band Rane to Southern India for a once in a lifetime gig.
Damian Carruthers, author and musician, and his band members will be featuring at the International Music Festival in November.
They will be travelling to Kovalam, a small coastal town in the southern Indian state of Kerala, to appear at the Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, in association with Lazie Indie, who organise the five day international independent music festival.
Lazie Indie is a global music community which was formed by the founders of Lazie Indie magazine.
Rane performed at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Hunstanton and Snettisham and at the Christmas lights switch on.
Damian also wrote a festive single last year, along with Kerry Rasberry and Laura Turner called Light the Love with proceeds going to the Marie Curie Trust.
Singers from West Norfolk formed a choir to sing the backing vocals and the video for the single was filmed in Snettisham Village Church.
Damian said: "It's official, we are going to India and it's all being paid for by the magazine.
"Marie Curie have asked us to write another remembrance song for them, plus also a Christmas single which will be a big collaboration.
"In India we are being joined by James Routh on bass who plays in the UK ska legends Sonic Boom Six band and James Routh and Amy Bennett. Laura Turner fronts the band. Kerri Rasberry is part of the band too as a vocalist and unfortunately she couldn't make India on those dates so the other members will be going to represent RANE.
"I'm still pinching myself its all happening. My passport is sorted now. I don’t think it’s actually soaked into my brain yet, the nerves will start when we start practising I’m sure."
In a short span of two years, Lazie Indie magazine has interviewed and featured artists from more than 40 countries ranging from icons of music to upcoming stars.
It is accessible to independent musicians across some 100 countries worldwide.
Created with a simple motto of 'musician promoting fellow musician' the magazine has grown both in reach and in recognition.
It has been seen as a source of strength and togetherness for Indie musicians cutting across continents, genres and status.
Kerala Arts and Crafts Village in Kovalam is an initiative of the Department of Tourism designed, developed and operated by the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society.
