Control ALT Delete 11, Mumbai

The latest edition of the crowdfunded gig series ran into a slight disruption but emerged triumphant in their multi-genre independent showcase

- Anurag Tagat

RETURNING AFTER a gap of two years, the fully D.I.Y. crowdfunded gig Control ALT Delete (CAD) – now a multi-stage festival held across March 9th and 10th – remained a great example of just how much can be accomplished by just banding together

Never out of public memory, the festival raised well over the `5 lakh target, with contributions heading past `6.5 lakhs. With eight years of history behind it that took it from the smallest of rooms like B69 in Andheri to the now spacious Roaring Farm in Malad, CAD stay true to delivering an experience for any and every fan of musical talent in the country. They even pitched tents and arranged camping for the first time, and ensured that the set design and decoration was pleasant and not overdone or in-your-face.

Across five stages that ran from 3 pm until a little after 10 pm, the only worrisome sign at CAD was a noise complaint made by residents nearby, who claimed the music was disrupting students preparing for exams. Artists like rap-rock band Chabuk, rock band Runt, brutal death metallers Gutslit and J-trap producer Karan Kanchan ended their sets earlier than anticipated, even casting a shadow on whether day two would function normally. After a conversation with the residents and local police, day two’s schedule was pushed ahead and everything went off according to plan.