Band on the Run

‘And the first one said to the second one there, I hope you’re having fun’ croons Paul McCartney, just before delving into the chorus of Band on the Run. While an all-access pass to run with McCartney is out of the question, you can make travel plans that include other bands, a tried-and-tested and now slightly tired music vacation being offered by trip designers across the city. There was Metallica’s For Whom the Bus Rolls ride, White Collar Hippie’s Band on the Bus (next one leaves for Sunburn), the Beer Bus to Doolally and more recently, Jumpstart India’s The Great Gig in the Sky.

The last of the bunch, which combines quick outdoor camping trips with a music performance, takes off for its second trip on December 10 to a lakeside site near Igatpuri with singer Ankur Tewari (from Ankur Tewari and the Ghalat Family).  The singer-musician will travel on the bus with you, and then play at the outdoor camp site with the lake as a backdrop (look for Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds), and also spark impromptu jam sessions so pack your notes if you can play. “I like performing in intimate settings like this because you feel like you’re playing with an audience rather than for one,” Ankur told bpb.

Sounds like fun, but we only wish the rest of the itinerary (that reads like a boring company retreat) consisting of “zip-lining and trekking” was more imaginative.  But Jumpstart has done a similar venture on wheels with Bollywood singer Nikhil D’souza, so if you want to jump on to the bandwagon, by all means please do. Everyone else is!

Getting there: The Great Gig In The Sky with Ankur Tewari, call 09819726688  or visit the Facebook page here, bus leaves from Mumbai on December 10,  Rs 2,600 including travel, food and one-night stay in a tent.