*Warning* Before you read this, you might want to get yourself a cup of tea because it’s a long one.

After finding out that Jaded Sun were invited to headline some college festival in Kanpur, India, I was pretty excited, but apprehensive at the same time because the only references I had to what spending a few days in India would be like, were from the movies Slumdog Millionaire and The Darjeeling Limited.? On arrival, these references weren’t too far off the mark.
Firstly, how we got there. Our outward journey consisted of an 8 hour flight to Abu Dhabi, a 2 hour wait in the airport, another 3 hour flight to Delhi and a 7 hour train journey from Delhi to Kanpur. In Abu Dhabi, the brief airport stopover was surrounded in such luxury and splendour with Formula 1 cars and high-end fashion retailers splattered everywhere you looked, it made one vow to up the weekly spend on lottery tickets. Arriving in Delhi seemed to be the complete polar opposite. Now, compared to most of my mates, I’m as broke as a joke, but after witnessing firsthand the conditions that the majority of people in Delhi are subject to, I’m gonna be doing far less complaining about my lack of funds. Meeted and greeted at Delhi airport by the festival organisers and quickly bundled into, what they described as taxis. They reminded me of those cars they use in destruction derbies. I never did take my fingernails back out of the dashboard. The train we got on wasn’t quite the Darjeeling Limited but it was comfy enough, a bunk per person. We caught up on some well needed sleep. Then we were chucked into another taxi from the station to the campus. More white knuckles.

We then arrived at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Pulling into the campus was a little like pulling into the safe zone from 28 weeks later. I realise this comparison may be a little dramatic but you would catch my drift if you saw the security patrolling the campus. The organisers insisted the security was heightened especially for the festival that was taking place that weekend, and that it was justified because the students studying here were the very best of the best in the whole of India. Anyway, we were put up in nice little, cosy apartments. Before hitting the hay we were shown the main stage that we were going to perform on the next day. We were gonna need bigger guitar leads.

Day of the show, we had to sound check fairly early. We couldn’t see if our guitar pedals we’re on or off because of the glaring sunshine, but the sound check went well and the anticipation heightened. Afterwards the organisers brought us for something to eat. I can’t hack much spicy food so pizza was about the only thing I could stomach on the menu.
All over the weekend and throughout the campus there was in inter-college Battle of the Bands competition taking place and the best 3 bands would go on to compete in the final right before we were to go on stage. We were asked to judge the final, very X-Factor. We had the big desk in front of the stage n’all. That killed some time and relaxed the nerves before the big show. Before the gig we were asked to make some notes on our set list as to where we would like fireworks, flame throwers and confetti explosions put in our show. Needless to say that was another first for the band. For the last song I asked for everything to go off throughout the whole songs. Sean, hilariously, got the fright of his life standing next to flame throwers and confetti machines exploding simultaneously whilst trying to perform the intro to our final song. Gig went fantastically. Fanatical Indian students as far as the eye could see. A few apres show Kingfisher beers capped off the night nicely.

The next day was a day off and the organisers were being overly helpful. They offered to fetch and retrieve anything that anyone of us needed throughout the day. The reason behind this was that they reckoned that the band would be mobbed if they set foot on the campus. “Ha! Us? Yeah right!” we reckoned, “I’m off to get a Domino’s and a coffee”. Didn’t quite work like that. There was a type of food court set up on the campus for the festival and we didn’t get through the gates. Photos and autographs for about 10 minutes and there was no sign of it dissipating. We had to turn back around and send the manager and sound engineer in for the food and drink orders. One of the most Rock’n'Roll moments we’ve ever had, great feeling. Didn’t mind staying in the apartment though, Liverpool v Man United was on the box. A ‘Pool win was certainly the icing on the cake for me. That night was Pro Hindi band night on the main stage so we decided to check that out. Some fantastic bands closed the festival, even though we didn’t have the foggiest what they were singing about. Up early the next morning for the long trek home. I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank all of the organisers of the gig for all their hard work and generosity throughout our stay in Kanpur. It was truly an amazing experience that we will take with us the rest of our lives. On our way home, we estimated that we were travelling for about 30 consecutive hours. I think we deserved, and badly needed, the few days break before our next gig in Gran Canaria, at least to let our bowels recover.

So, to the Canaries gig. Another rendezvous at Dublin airport a few days later and more connecting flights ahead of us but this time it wasn’t so bad. This time at least it was in the same time zone as Ireland and we didn’t need any malaria tablets or injections in the arse. This trip was far more laid back. Arrived in Las Palmas and were promptly checked into a hotel beside the beach.
We had days off before the gig and after the gig. We definitely need to get more gigs like this. Even though it was November the sun was still blazing. A few of us got badly sun burnt the first day we were there, including me. I wasn’t worried about whether I was gonna be able to sleep on my back that night or whether I was gonna be able to put my guitar strap over my shoulder without being in a lot of pain. I was worried about what the people in the Social Welfare office were gonna say about my unseasonal pigment the following week.

Anyway, to the day of the gig and another sound check in the sun. The venue was a beautiful outdoor auditorium style venue. The acoustics were amazing. Finished that and then went for dinner. The gig that night was in the town of Telde and was opened by a brilliant local band called Phalmuter and headlined by Richie Kotzen of Mr. Big and Poison fame. We arrived back to the venue to find a massive crowd waiting. Our gig went excellently and it even rained during one of our songs. If I was forced to choose when and where to get electrocuted, then being on stage in front of lots of people in Gran Canaria would’ve been one of my first choices. We hung around to watch Richie in action. His gig was truly spectacular. I think the crowd went home happy. Again, another massive muchos gracias to Juan and all the organisers for that gig. We’ve never been treated better.

Not much to report about the next day we spent there. It just consisted of drinking in the sun all day and drinking, at a Blues festival that was taking place in the town, all evening. It turned out to be a bad tactic though because we had to leave for the airport at 1 o’clock that night. Stumbled up to the check out and miraculously managed to check in all the bags and catch the plane on time. First connecting flight took about 5 minutes to get to Madrid. I don’t know why they didn’t put us on that plane the first time around. Then an uncomfortable 6 hour wait for the next flight. Trying to sleep on a cold, marble floor is never a good idea.
We’re back in Ireland now and we’ve a few gigs coming up around the country before the end of the year that we hope some of you guys can make it to, including a gig in Ballymena. I heard that there were renovations taking place in the venue recently. I hope that they were taking the roof of the building and extending the stage size to 60 foot by 40 foot because if we’re not sound checking in the sun and if we don’t have fireworks and flame throwers, then we’re just not doing the gig anymore.
Anyway, if you haven’t fallen asleep yet, thanks for reading.
We’ll keep you updated with all the rest of our gigs.
Stay tuned to www.jadedsun.com for more news as it happens and I’ll talk t’ya again soon.
Cheers,
Damo – JS

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