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As I write this, Indra Jatra is in full swing. And the rain is falling. Heavily. A couple of months ago I wrote in this column that the monsoon rain appeared to be falling only at weekends. Then it disappeared pretty much all togeth­er. Over the last two or three weeks it came back with a vengeance! And everyone is discussing how the mon­soon should be on the way out by now. Even the BBC advised that the ‘receding’ monsoon was return­ing for one last go. But Facebook reminds me that over the past five or six years I have written comments in September about how much late rain is pelting down. So it’s not just this year we are getting a lot of last-minute rain; our memories are simply short!I live between two, let’s call them ‘rivers’ for the sake of argument. Over time these two rivers have had their banks encroached by houses. In fact one river runs completely under my road to emerge around 200m further on to join its sibling. Reunited they both flow on under Uttar Dhoka road and I assume into the palace grounds. Although I must admit I don’t see any evidence of this. (If you know where that river goes to please let us know in the online comment box!) Each year my road floods as these siblings try desperately to fit into their tiny channels, fail, and rush at consider­able speed along the slightly sloping roads. Being trapped between these two rivers means there is no way into the neighborhood that doesn’t involve wadding through knee-deep water. Thankfully, once the rain stops, the water miraculously dis­appears.

So now I want to mention the heroes of this story. No, not Lord Indra, but a couple of taxi drivers! Those of you who either know me, or read this column regularly know my ongoing battle against taxi driv­ers. Yet two weeks ago, coming back from a meeting, we could see the larger road to my place was run­ning with water. At a gallop. A truck was sitting in the middle of this, obviously wondering what to do next. Reversing the cab out of the road I suggested going another way round which would get me closer to where I thought I would have to start wadding through the murky water. That road was also flooded but my hero braved the water and took me directly to dry land. As it was Teej my neighbors had visitors dressed to the nines in their heavy silk finery. They looked relieved when he said he could take them out of the rising ocean of filthy water.

The next morning I saw some of my neighbors pumping water out of their lower-than-the-road homes. That was a futile job as later that same day the tsunami of dirty water came again. With the rain not as heavy I was confident that the road would not flood. Obviously Indra did not take this position. This time Utta Dhoka and three roads leading to my apartment were flooded. But as luck would have it I had anoth­er hero of a taxi driver who drove through even deeper water to reach my place. I was seriously worried about the engine. This time a private car was sitting on the only dry spot and took comfort that the taxi got through and decided to make a go of it. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how that story ended.

But back at my story: I have now come to the conclusion taxi drivers get so bored in their daily grind their refusal to go where you want them to is their way of kicking back. But give them a challenge and they will rise to it. Like true knights of the road!

And BTW, Lord Indra, we thank you for this year’s rain but now it’s time to leave. Please.

The year’s biggest festivi­ties are approaching, and we’re not talking about Dashain here. For blues musi­cians, listeners and fanatics, the fourth edition of the Kath­mandu Blues n’ Roots festival is all set for September 28 at Tangalwood, Kathmandu. Starting from small stages within the confines of local bars, last year the Kathmandu Blues n’ Roots festival took to a bigger outdoor venue with a massive stage, sound and lights. More musicians, more audience and obviously a lot more fun is in store for the KBR this year as well, the organizers tell us. And this time, along with the best of local musicians, the audience will get to see an international line-up of “Mr No Money Band” from Italy and “Boy and the Bear” from Thailand.

Fabio Ioannisci aka Mr No Money, the lead singer and pianist of the band that plays rock 'n' roll, rhythm & blues, boogie woogie and barrel­house piano, is excited about his performance in Kath­mandu, again. The Italian frontman has been to Nepal twice in 2013 and 2014 to per­form. Having travelled across the globe, collaborating with various musicians and per­forming in over 800 concerts since 2005, Mr No Money also released a song in 2015 ded­icated to Kathmandu, called “Namaste Kathmandu.” The boogie blues track in English is based on his experiences and love for Kathmandu.

“I am called Mr No Money as I put my passion over money,” Ioannisci tells APEX in a brief online conversation from Ukraine where the band was performing at the time of the writing of this report. About the band and its ever evolving line-up, the artist says, “I have different kinds of ensembles for different shows. For KBR, we’ll have a trio of piano and lead voice, guitar, and drums.”

Ioannisci likes the cultures, people, and food of Kath­mandu, he tells us. About the local music scene, he is “fasci­nated by the way Nepali musi­cians feel the time of music.” “It’s totally different to how we do it,” he says. “There are so many good musicians in Nepal. I specially love Mukti [Shakya] and Satish [Sthapit],” he says, “I can't wait to spend time with them. I can’t wait to come.” Mr No Money Band will also be trav­eling to Pokhara for a short musical tour following the main event.

Also coming to Nepal for the KBR is the “Boy and the Bear” duo comprising of Boy Blues on guitar and Edward Bear on saxophone. The two musicians are experi­enced artists with decades of experience. Boy Blues is currently based in Chiang Mai and started over 30 years ago playing with his uncle Took, considered as one of the godfathers of the Thai blues scene. Boy went on to open his own place, Boy Blues Bar, in the heart of Chiang Mai's famous Night Bazaar district, which has since become one of the city’s best-known live music venues.

As for Bear, he is a travelling musician and has played all over the world, from Australia to Hong Kong to Turkey to Thailand, in a career span­ning nearly 40 years. “While I play a bit of jazz too, my heart and soul are in the blues,” he says in an email interview with APEX.

Bear also informs that although the lineup for the KBR is slated to be Boy and Bear, his friend Roddy Lorimer will also be joining. “Lorimer is an enormously experienced musician who has toured with the likes of Eric Clapton, The Roll­ing Stones and The Who,” he adds.

For Bear, it is not his first visit to Nepal either. He was here at the end of 2018, he informs, when he spent a month each in Kathmandu and Pokhara, playing with musicians everywhere he went. “The Nepalis were warm and welcoming and the music was of high standard,” he says. “I was keen on com­ing back and when I heard of the blues festival, I man­aged to get in touch with Satish and round up Boy and Roddy. The next thing I know, we had our tickets booked and were on our way.”

Satish Sthapit, the founder of KBR who co-organizes the event with his Newaz band­mate Roshan Kansakar, i n forms that final preparations are underway for one of the big­gest events of the genre in the country. “We’re picking up slowly and anticipation is high this time,” Sthapit informs.

This year the event will feature local acts like Green Blues Black, winners of the Kathmandu Blues n’ Roots online music com­petition ; the Hima­layan Con­nection; Spirit X; TMR Trio; Newaz and Kathmandu Catz; along­side the inter­national acts.

South Africa A could add only seven runs to their overnight score as they were bundled out for 186 in the first session of day four. Shardul Thakur knocked over Lutho Sipamla to end South Africa’s second innings. The visitors set a non-threatening a target of 48 runs for the hosts to chase down. Chasing 48, India A lost the wicket of their skipper, Shubman Gill, early on. Lungi Ngidi took two wickets with the new ball including Gill and Ankit Bawne who was promoted up the order. Ricky Bhui was promoted up the order as well as Ruturaj Gaikwad did not open. The wicketkeeper-batsman Srikar Bharat lost his wicket to new ball bowler Dane Piedt. However, Shivam Dube helped his side finish with a flourish. Dube hit two back-to-back sixes to finish off the match and guide India A to an easy win in the first unofficial Test.

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