Fiesta of melodies

It's time to rock the city with Blue and Gold 2006 – 'Royal Rocks,' with a blend of Sri Lanka's hottest music talent – scheduled to be held on November 24, 25 and 26, at the Race Course Grounds.

The first night of the event has been named as the Rock Night, highlighting the true rock spirit with performances by Stigmata, Tantrum and Nemesis. If you want to be a part of a night of heavy metal, make your way to the Blue and Gold 2006, as the best rock bands in the island prepare to rock your night away.

The second night is for all you pop music lovers, with a chance to enjoy the pulsating beats of Bathiya and Santhush's 'Neththara' show. This night along with BnS, the renowned duo of the Sri Lanka's ethnic fusion music scene, will also put to rest all you anxious souls by revealing the winners of Pop Quest, the all-new music talent contest of the year.

Last but not least is Party Night on Sunday, and is reserved for all you oldies fans, with Sohan and the X-periments, Corrine, Ronnie, Ginger and Annesley Malewana, performing the best Sri Lankan party classics. If your taste is for Sri Lankan party songs and ever-lasting classics, then Sunday is exclusively for you, so come along with family and friends to enjoy this warm musical night.

The three nights will feature a variety of music, a carnival and the long-waited Pop Quest. The carnival spirit flow throughout the three stunning nights with loads of laughter and fun definitely being a part of it. The carnival will entertain the crowd with ten major carnival rides, a horror house, a discothèque, a kiddie's play area and over 100 stalls, including a variety of different food stalls on the cards.

Pop Quest, the much awaited music talent contest will take place on Pop night at the Bathiya and Santhush concert on Saturday. The winner of the contest will be announced towards the end of the concert – live on stage! And the winner will receive a recording contract with Saregama Records, Bathiya and Santhush's reputed record label.

'Royal Rocks' is organised by the Old Hostellers' Association of Royal College (ROCOHA) and is aimed at raising funds for the second building of the Hostel Accommodation Project. Most of the hostellers are less affluent students from rural areas, who join Royal College on academic scholarships. ROCOHA is now raising funds for the construction of the second building, which will be able to house 240 boys, giving more students from underprivileged families a chance to receive the educational benefits of studying at one of the most reputed schools in the island.

The first of the new hostel buildings is now complete, and currently houses 240 hostellers, with President Mahinda Rajapakse, declaring the first building open, in August 2005. The second building hopes to provide accommodation for an additional 240, and it is for this building that Royal Rocks will raise funds.

Footwork Events will be the event organisers. Official Print media sponsors are The Sunday Times, Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa. So for three memorable nights at the dawn of the festive season, make your way to ‘Blue and Gold 2006 – Royal Rocks’ and be limitlessly entertained.