Award-winning Echoes of Earth music festival gears up for 2025 edition

Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 925 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.

Regarded as India’s ‘greenest circular music festival’, Echoes of Earth kicks off its 2025 edition in Bengaluru on December 13-14. The festival series was launched in 2016 (see our coverage of its editions from 2023 and 2024 here).

With the theme Sixth Sense, the festival will invite audiences to discover nature’s hidden intelligence, the shaping of ecosystems, and new forms of inspiration. Through music, art, and educational storytelling, the installations and performances showcase how living beings perceive, adapt and thrive beyond the five senses.

“For me, Echoes of Earth has always been about bringing people together through music, art, and a shared love for nature. Over the years, we have built a proven playbook for success, managing the large-format festival end-to-end with care for the planet,” festival founder and director Roshan Netalkar tells YourStory.

The festival’s dedication to sustainability and conservation is highlighted through its key partnerships. WWF-India, as Conservation Knowledge Partner, supports educational programs and initiatives that promote appreciation of biodiversity.

“We believe that awareness is the foundation for meaningful action. Echoes of Earth provides a compelling platform to ignite environmental consciousness by blending creativity, community and culture,” says Kaveri Jain, Director – Marketing and Communications, WWF-India.

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The India lineup at the festival includes Jatayu and Madame Gandhi. Chennai-based group Jatayu fuses Carnatic roots with funk, jazz and math rock. Kiran Gandhi, also known as Madame Gandhi, combines rhythm, empowerment and purposeful storytelling.

The international lineup includes Monolink from Germany, Grayssoker from France, Submotion Orchestra from the UK, Bottlesmoker from Indonesia, and Stavroz from Belgium. Globally acclaimed Bedouin duo, comprised of Tamer Malki and Rami Abousabe, bridge Middle Eastern heritage with Western influences.

As a build-up to the festival, performances were held in other cities like Mumbai as well. At the AntiSocial venue, an interactive educational session titled Call of the Wild was held by Kartik Chandramouli and Sejal Mehta.

“If we listen more, and understand how creatures around us communicate and behave, we might share space with much more enthusiasm,” Sejal Mehta explained.

This was followed by a performance by the Shigeto Live Ensemble. This project of Detroit-based artist Zach Saginaw bridged jazz, electronica, and experimental sounds.

Performances in Gurgaon featured Nash Selector (electronic grooves and rhythm), Nisa (Afro-house and techno), and Skopos (breakbeat and downtempo). Harshitaa Sethi, known as Sage, combined electro, house, and drum & bass.

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Echoes of Earth has been recognised by A Greener Future (AGF) as Asia’s most environmentally progressive and circular festival. Over the years, the festival has hosted 350+ international and Indian artists and collaborated with 100+ creators worldwide to build large-scale art.

Highlights this year include a 360° solar-powered immersive stage, larger-than-life art installations, and four uniquely designed stages. There are also kids’ workshops and a curated flea market with artisanal and eco-conscious products.

In an innovative initiative, the music festival has also partnered with Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BIAL) to present curated live performances at the airport. Educational and skill-building programs are also delivered in collaboration with the Namma Shikshana and The Greener Side initiatives.

The Big Tree Stage at the festival, in association with BIAL, will be fully solar powered, reflecting both partners’ commitment to clean energy and sustainable innovation. Live performances by Kerala-based instrumental collective Shanka Tribe and Notesic took place at The Quad venue at Terminal 1.

“Sustainability lies at the core of everything we do, and our association with Echoes of Earth is a natural extension of this philosophy, built on a shared commitment towards a sustainable future. By weaving music, art, and environmental storytelling into the fabric of the airport, we aspire to create experiences that inspire travellers while also nurturing the ecosystems and people around us,” BIAL’s CEO Hari Marar signs off.

Now what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?

(All photographs courtesy Echoes of Earth.)