The Dire Straits Experience Band Members Say Collaborating with Salt was ‘A Stunning Experience’

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Entertainment | April 10, 2017 | News

Salt Experiences and Management The Dire Straits Experience Seagram

There is nothing like music to relieve the soul and uplift it, and every year 100 Pipers’ ‘Play for a cause’ endeavours to ascertain this belief. 100 Pipers ‘Play For a Cause’ has been known for collaborating with the most acclaimed musicians of the country to support  various initiatives in the past and this year 100 Pipers Play for a Cause took the event to the next level by hosting the legends of The Dire Straits Experience, to perform live  for the first time in India. Together with 100 Pipers and SALT Experiences & Management, they recreated the very essence of the golden age of rock. Through this initiative, the band supported the cause to provide sustainable drinking water to villagers in Rajasthan, as a part of the proceeds from ticket sales from the concerts went for the construction of water conservations structures in the target area, which helped the villages in Rajasthan.

Jagbir Singh Sidhu, Vice President – Marketing, Pernod Ricard India said, “100 Pipers Play for a Cause has been committed to making a difference to society. The last couple of years we have partnered with more than 400 leading artists across India and the world, supporting the affected in the Kashmir flood, Nepal earthquake, Cyclones and also adopting social causes like poverty by providing sustenance support to the underprivileged. This time we have planned to help the villages in Rajasthan. We are very proud of Dire Straits Experience and thankful to them in partnering with us to help the cause and ‘Be Remembered for Good’.”

The Dire Straits Experience Band members, Chris White & Terence Reis, share their experience, “We were very excited when SALT & Big Bad Wolf on behalf of 100 Pipers ‘Play For a Cause’ approached us to play in India for the first time. Of course, whenever playing in a new country for the first time and with promoters, you haven’t worked with before, it is difficult not to be apprehensive. In the case of SALT, those apprehensions were very quickly dispelled. What a great team to work with. Everything was exactly how they said it would be. The accommodation was first class, all of the equipment was exactly as we had specified and they could not have been a more friendly and attentive team. It was a stunning first-time experience.”

For the SALT team, it was taking the entire experience to a whole new point, considering a brand like Seagram’s 100 Pipers music CDs as well as the initiative. In today’s times where producing open air concerts and hosting big international artists in the metro cities is challenging, the SALT team was able to pull off the concert very smoothly right from the planning to the execution, with full support from the authorities. Right from the ticketing counter to the zones inside, each touchpoint was flawlessly manned and each issue was instantly resolved.

Overall, the tour was a resounding success which created a massive PR value and saw a huge number in the audience in Gurgaon & Bangalore. On top of that, millions were reached through various media platforms including TV, print, radio and digital.

Sumit Chandhoke, CEO, SALT Experiences & Management quotes, “We are delighted to have produced this event and yes, there are more to follow. We have produced some really remarkable events this year and this tour has marked a new milestone for us as it was the band’s first tour in India. The team did an incredible job overcoming all challenges and producing an event, which was this successful. The crowd was fantastic, a mix of all ages and it was amazing to see their reactions when they saw their favourite band on stage. It was the first for the nation and it was totally rocking, indeed!”

For the fans, it was an absolute moment of celebration and joy as played some of their greatest hits including Money for Nothing, Walk of Life, Brothers in Arms, Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love and more. The evening ended with a huge roar from the audience for an encore and the fans going crazy seeing the band take their first bow in India.