As February has sadly become a month of mourning for dozens as terror attacks across the country (including one at Sehwan Sharif shrine in Sindh) have left people devastated, both the will to celebrate anything and the climate for it seems to be shifting. After I Am Karachi Film Festival was postponed, the latest announcement in these dark times has come from the organizers of the Face (Foundation for Arts, Culture & Education) Music Mela 2017 that was scheduled to take place next month, on March 3 and 4 in Islamabad. The decision has been made as a way to showcase solidarity in these uncertain, grief-fueled days.
The artist line-up scheduled to appear during this edition include artists such as Ali Ashraf and the Crazy Vibes, Bulbulik (Gojal, Hunza), The Canvas, Iqbal Baloch Banjo, Rap Engineers, Natasha Baig, Kyub Yul Sa (France), Sibti & the Retrosexuals, Sain Tanveer Bros (Dhol), Call the band, Zoha Zuberi, Surge, Sikander Ka Mandir, Uzair Jaswal, Sattar Jogi, Azal, Sara Haider and Qawalistan.
Though a new date has not been announced, one hopes that the festival that gives the capital city a chance to revel in music and adds to the conversation about music and culture, is staged at a later date.