Seven Kolkata Bands you must include in your Playlist

The youngest collective on the block, Candy Cloud Conspiracy is an upcoming band from Kolkata who dabble between rock, pop and alternative. The line-up includes Amartya Ghosh on Vocals and Guitars, Aahel Iyer on Lead guitars and Backing vocals, Rohit Ray and Jinu Kochar on Bass and Synth and Sparsho Mukherjee on Drums.

An experimental folk fusion band from Kolkata, Kaahon stands for the expression of words through instruments and soul. The band includes Vota on Vocals, Mandola, Khomoka and Gupti, Sandy on Drum and Percussions, Debraj on Guitar, Ankur on Keyboards, Piano, Accordion and Vocals and Subhajit on Bass and Vocals. The band has headlined several cultural and college festivals across Kolkata.

Known for doling out their innovative Baul rock, the band includes Raju Das Baul on vocals and khamak, Tony on guitars, Aditya Dutta on bass, Kunal Kundu on drums and Abhijit Acharya on Dotaara and Percussions. The band's 2011 debut album, 'The Soul Connection' managed to stay on top of the charts for three months.

One of the first Bangla bands to have featured on Channel V Asia, Lakkhichhara includes Rajib Mitra on Vocals, Gaurab Chatterjee on Drums, Sanket Bhattacharya on Bass, Debaditya Chaudhury on Keyboards, Bodhisattwa Ghosh on Guitars, John Paul on Guitars and Anirvan Mazumder on Lyrics. So far, their discography includes five albums.

Formed in 1992, Cactus is one of the oldest rock bands from Kolkata. Coupling Alternative, Rock and Psychedelic, the band members include Sidhartha Sankar Ray and Dibyendu Mukherjee on vocals, Ritaprabha Ray on Guitar, Sudipto Banerji on Keyboards, Mainak Nag Choudhury on bass and Sibaji Paul on Drums. Some of their hit singles include 'Nil Nirjane', 'Bhalo Theko' 'Raater Pori' and more.

Dabbling between fusion and rock, Krosswindz include Vikramjit Tuki Banerjee on guitars and vocals, Chandrani Banerjee on vocals and Ratanjit on keyboards. Some of their popular songs include 'Phire Dheka', and 'Khyapar Gyaan'.

A popular Bangla rock band, the band consists of Rupam Islam on vocals, Deep and Alan Ao on guitars and backing vocals, Chandramouli on bass and backing vocals and Tanmoy on drums. Some of their popular songs include Hasnuhana, Ekla Ghor and Bicycle Chor.

Kolkata, the eastern metropolis of the country has been a melting pot of diverse cultures besides being the hub for arts and music to strive. The city, rich in its literature and heritage with its good-old-school- charm intact, serves as a glorious backdrop to the compositions of bands that have surfaced in the last few years. Here's looking at seven bands from Kolkata, who have been making the right noise with their music.