Ndo will stage to 5 -years in usic industry

tes, Billy tells us to his music has from both the as the older genad. According to ger generations grew up listening n’t really connect ri Lankan music B& S concert and ri Lankan?” says younger generaciation for Sri can relate to it. music of the genducing them to a gs they’re familis attempting to al gap musically. who eats rice and lefish to eat with c industry faces ake Sri Lankan to Sri Lankans but also to non-Sri Lankans. Language is one of the biggest barriers he explains, suggesting that one way to go around it would be to use English lyrics to Sri Lankan music. He tells us that only a fraction of the industry actually attempts to overcome this challenge whereas the majority prefers to stick with the current status quo.

But perhaps its not surprising that those in the industry stick to the known when change is usually viewed with harsh criticism. “When Clarence was around he did a change. People didn’t like him [because of how] he sang But today he is a legend.” Billy points out. He notes that Clarence, as well as Rukantha, Bathiya and Santhush, took the industry forward. But adds that the last time this change came was almost two decades ago with B&S. Billy too wants to change up the existing status quo and take on the challenge of making Sri Lankan music one which has global appeal. Those joining Billy on stage will be Lydia Goonetilleke, leading the strings; Naveen Fernando leading the brass quartet; Milan John from Berkley, on piano; Rakitha Ruwan Wickramaratne from Naadro, as a soloist; Upula Madushanka as a bassist; Ranil Gunawardena on guitar; Janith Gamlath on Saxaphone; and a double bassist and clarinetist from Dubai. Audiences can expect to hear remakes of popular Jothipala, Clarence and Gypsies songs, as well as ‘semi-orchestral’ versions of Billy’s originals including and

The string arrangements of which were done by Sachitha Fernando.

‘Ra Ahase - Live in Concert’ will take place at the Ave Maria Auditorium, Negombo on November 10, at 7.30 pm. Tickets priced at Rs. 1500, Rs.2000 and Rs. 2500 are available at the Yamaha Music Centre in Colombo; Ticketslk outlets or online at www.ticketslk.com; and Miyasiya Music

Parlour.