Nodwin Gaming and Bacardi successfully wrapped up yet another edition of the India’s happiest music festival, Bacardi NH7 Weekender.

Hosted at Pune’s Teerth Fields, the multi-genre festival was attended by thousands of fans from Pune, Mumbai and surrounding cities.

With a lineup of 45+ homegrown and international artists, this year’s festival featured a true-blooded musical weekend and gave the fans a cherished festival experience with Monuments, Ezra Collective, Arch Echo, Romare creating the perfect tempo on Day 1 followed by M.I.A., Jai Wolf, Cartel Madras and MEMBA stealing the show on Day 2 and finally YG, Daler Mehndi, MC Stan and Euphoria wrapping up Day 3 on a high note.

The third day was also marked by Bollywood actors Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Gourav Adarsh taking the audience by storm as they joined OAFF x Savera’s evening set to premiere the first track from their upcoming film Kho Gaye Hum Kahan live for the very first time.

In its 14th year, the festival comprised 2 arenas and 5 stages such as Bacardi Arena The Bat; Casa Bacardi, Pineapple Groove and Nodwin Gaming Stage. The stages and arenas decked with quirky designs created by muralist Osheen Siva were meticulously programmed by festival director Tej Brar to offer attendees 21 hours of unparalleled entertainment over three days.

Rock fans got enthralled by high-energy acts featuring I Built The Sky, BEAR, Komodo Jane, The Lightyears Explode, Naalayak while Hindi music lovers jammed to earworm performances by Sunny M.R., Lisa Mishra, Hanita Bhambri. Hip hop and R&B sets by tricksingh, Gully Gang, Priya Ragu, Spindoctor, MadStarBase kept the audiences on their feet for hours with Gurbax, Alo Wala, and impressing electronic music aficionados with their deck skills. Gaming fanatics got a chance to discover the intersection of music and gaming with A/V sets by Elle Shimada, SPRYK and Skipster that were projected onto the iconic ferriswheel.

Another highlight of the festival was the experiential Casa Bacardi Container that featured cocktail slushees, popsicles and custom-curated cocktails by international virtuosos Vitaly Alekseyev and Sergei Platonov of the Amsterdam-based Law & Order fame on the last day coupled with intimate sets all through the day.  

Alongside unforgettable performances, Bacardi NH7 Weekender an IP of Nodwin Gaming presented by BACARDÍ experiences, offered festival goers a chance to hit the reset button between performances and explore the Flea Market curated by culture partner ‘SOCIAL’ and the Food Lane curated by hospitality partner ‘Impressario Hospitality’

Festival goers were treated to a scrumptious extravagance on all of the days courtesy the well-stocked multiple food stalls such as Smoke House Deli, Prithvi Café, Boss Burger, Oven Story, NIC Ice Creams, Rolls Mania, 1441 Pizzeria, Café Arabia, Kareems, Myfroyoland, Bub-It, Burger Craft, Hippe&Heart, Garnet, Dope Coffee Roasters, Burgertron Foodtruck, Café Chokolade, Mad Momos, Raw & Rustic, The Burger Barn Cafe and Biryani By Kilo. Team Dhunn l Drum Circle shut down the food courts with their dance takeover on the last day.

Merchandise stores by Arty, Fallacie Apparel, Locos, Mogassuni, HGIH, Jewels Of Joy, Dira Hair and CXJ Clothing gave the fashion loving attendees a wide variety to choose from- from intricately crafted jewelry to quirky clothing and giftables, and official artist and festival merchandise to a dedicated thrift shop.

The pet-friendly venue also had multiple aesthetically crafted mammoth installations in pop neon colors and photo booths placed across different corners of the fest ground for the selfie fanatics that did full justice to this year’s theme of #ItsAMood.

During the early evening hours, young gaming enthusiasts were spotted competing in games like FIFA, Street Fighter, Tekken, Super Mario, Super Contra, Tetris, Pacman and CS:GO, Just Dance at the Gaming Arena.

Whilst supporting themes of diversity and empowerment with an all-female led line up, the festival also supported several initiatives like ‘MIST LGBTQ Foundation’ the inclusivity partners for the LGBTQIA+ community; ‘Cupable’ who provided the audience with reusable glasses made of rice husk and bamboo straws to support sustainability and aid with scrap recycling. With an aim to become a minimal waste festival, Bacardi NH7 Weekender implemented responsible waste management by promoting waste segregation and proper disposal of waste. Recyclable materials will now be sent to recycling plants and the food waste will be composted. To ensure traffic management and encourage responsible drinking, the promoters arranged for complimentary shuttle bus from the venue to various spots across Pune.

Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Nodwin Gaming says, "Our 14th edition of Bacardi NH7 Weekender, once again seamlessly united the community, providing a platform for them to revel in their shared passion for music, culture, gaming, and an array of unforgettable experiences. Nodwin Gaming is delighted to consistently deliver a distinctive and evolving experience for our Weekender Warriors year after year. This edition not only celebrated the discovery of new artists but also the exploration of a diverse range of genres, innovative experiences, and thematic elements—all set in an expansive new venue. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelmingly positive reception and unwavering support from our artists, audiences, partners, sponsors, and administrative authorities. The Nodwin Gaming team eagerly awaits the opportunity to present an even grander festival experience for our wonderful community in the coming year."

Sameeksha Uniyal, Brand Lead, Bacardi, India said  "Since the launch of the festival in 2010, Bacardi NH7 Weekender has carved a niche for itself as a torchbearer for independent music in India. Starting off as a home for indie musicians to connect with their fans, the festival has observed exponential growth over the last decade, both sonically and as a community. "