b! preview: Lucky Ali Unplugged @ Windmills Craftworks

This weekend, a handful of music lovers will catch Maqsood Mehmood Ali, more famously known as, Lucky Ali – live and unplugged. Navya D’Souza catches up with the singer, at Windmills Craftworks, to find out just why you need to book tickets now.

Over a selection of freshly-brewed ales and a sampling of their menu, Windmills Craftworks invited members of the media to share a free-wheeling chat with one of Bollywood’s most soulful crooners – Lucky Ali.

Scheduled for a live and unplugged performance on the 12^th of January at the jazz-theatre space at Windmills Craftworks, local-boy Lucky Ali is quick to tell you that even though he has plenty of live performances  behind him, he is still looking forward to his gig on Saturday.

“The environment is important. Where you play and who you play to is vital”, insists Ali.

Open to 150 early-birds, the performance promises to have Ali “up close and personal”.

It’s also one of the rare times when you can listen to the artist’s music and his voice without often over-powering electronics coming into play. Come Saturday night, it’s Ali and Acoustics that will rule the roost.

Windmills Craftworks’ curator Rzhude David addresses the media

But how does a jazz theatre fit in with Lucky Ali’s Bollywood numbers? Rzhude David, who is Windmills Craftworks’ curator and incidentally also plays with Lucky Ali, explains, “Jazz is a forever evolving form of music and open to interpretation. Even within the format of Lucky Ali’s popular songs, there are elements of jazz.”

As for the playlist, Ali says that his fans can look forwards to a mix of his old hits and a few new ones too, including renditions from his 2011 album – Raasta Man. Also, Ali is looking to weave “the energy of the crowd” into his performance.

Ali does, however, have a small request to make of his audience. “Just don’t beat me up if I go off-key!” he says, “I am, after all, the most off-key singer in the industry.”

Tickets are priced at INR 2990 per person (inclusive of unlimited ales and starters). Tickets can be book at the venue or on www.bookmyshow.com