Bryan Adams enthralled music lovers in Kathmandu just nine months ago. Concert goers and music enthusiasts in the country are set to get a taste of more international starts with the much hyped MLTR concert slated to take place on Nov 19. The Danish pop-soft rock band Michael Learns to Rock will be performing live at Tudikhel amid an anticipated audience attendance of 25,000-40,000 fans.

Two days prior to the concert the three band members, Jascha Richter (vocalist and keyboardist), Kare Wanscher (drummer) and Mikkel Lentz( guitarist) stepped onto Nepali soil for the first time as they entered the VIP section of the Tribhuvan International Airport. The Jet Airways flight the band was on board, landed at the TIA runway at exactly 2:45pm. Immediately following their arrival to the capital was a press briefing that lasted around five minutes.

“I love Nepal. We are really excited, and have been waiting for twenty years to perform in Nepal. Now, the dream has come true,” shared band front man Richter with a bright smile upon his face. It was then Lentz who talked to the media and said, “It’s a huge honour to be here. We have heard a lot about Nepal Toursim 2011, but are yet to see it.”

The three band members were welcomed with garlands of marigold and khadas. The organising committee—from ODC Network and Engage Entertainment—very interestingly chose to drive the international stars to Hotel Radisson (official hotel partners), in a Nepal-assembled Mustang vehicle. The jeep that has been cause for much discussion ever since the incumbent Prime Minister of Nepal chose it as his official vehicle drove everybody’s attention towards itself.

Before they left, the band members informed the 40 or so media persons that they will be beginning their performance at the concert with the song, The Secret. They will also be singing much-loved and extremely popular MLTR numbers such as Take Me to Your Heart, Sleeping Child, It’s Gonna Make Sense, More Than a Friend.

Often regarded as the quintessential soft-rock sound of the 90’s, MLTR’s music is widely popular in Asia. Formed in 1988, the band performs songs in English and has sold around 11million records worldwide in the course of their 23 year career. The band has been awarded numerous awards and have earned Gold and Platinum status for their records in many countries.

The grand concert in Kathmandu will begin at the heart of the capital with a DJ session that will take place from 12pm-3pm. This will be followed by live performances by renowned artists from within the country such as Mt 8848 and Sabin Rai. Their performance will be followed by a solo performance by Sunil Bardewa. The actual MLTR concert itself will only begin at 6 pm. It is expected that the concert will last for around two hours.

Dinesh DC, one of the Nepal’s most popular TV and radio presenters will be acting as the Master of Ceremony (MC) for the programme. “I have been given the responsibility of opening and closing the show. There will be two other ladies who will conduct the live show,” he says. DC had also conducted the Bryan Adams concert earlier this year.

“The sound system itself is going to be much better than during the Bryan Adams concert. We have made arrangements for a 200,000 watt sound system which we have bought directly from India. The security system is very tight this time as well,” says Simant Gurung, Executive Director of Engage Entertainment. “This time, we have selected Tundhikhel as the venue, as it can hold a greater number of people, and there will be better rest-room facilities. The seats themselves will be categorised into three sets—silver, gold and platinum; the entry and exit gates will be different as well.” Gurung further talks about how there will be minimal traffic congestion in the area and that there will be various stalls for food and soft drinks at the concert.

In an interesting Meet and Greet Cocktail Dinner Party, the Radisson Hotel is providing fans an opportunity to meet and share part of their evening with MLTR. The ticketed and exclusive event, which will take place at the Nepa-Duku Banquet hall today, will begin at 6 pm. All those present will receive a copy of MLTR’s CD and will be able to enjoy a lavish cocktail dinner party. Nepali musicians Sabin Rai and Mt 8848 will be performing at this event as well.

The band will be promoting Nepal Rocks 2011, the first edition of a music festival that the ODC Network and Engage Entertainment will hold annually.

Source: Ekantipur.com

• Musician Aryal
• vocalist of the band MLTR