MUMBAI: NH7 Weekender has made it really big this time. Well is this because of the rising competition in the live music scene or the passion towards providing the nation with a grand extravaganza remains a question.

Featuring over 200 artistes from across three cities, the most eagerly anticipated music festival of the country, Bacardi NH7 Weekender is all set to get bigger and better in its third edition.

The festival will commence from 13– 14 October at the Buddh International Circuit in Delhi NCR followed by Amanora Park Town in Pune on 2-4 November and will culminate in Bangalore on 15-16 December.

Speaking about the festival, Only Much Louder CEO Vijay Nair said, “The response to Bacardi NH7 Weekender last year was quite overwhelming and was something we never expected. So we had to get back this year with a plan that wouldn’t disappoint any of the festival fans, and taking the festival to three cities is just part of that plan. We are bringing acts from all over the world to Pune, Delhi and Bangalore and can't wait to initiate new people into the NH7 experience. As before, our only ambition is to create an experience that people will perhaps remember as the happiest festival and look forward to each year. We believe that can only be created by bringing together artists from all genres, fans from across the world and bringing to life an all-inclusive festival that is about the artists who play, fans who attend and the people who produce it.”

It will feature over 60 pre-parties and six stages in every city, each dedicated to a different genre of music and experience. It will showcase stages like ‘Eristoff Wolves Den’ (popular dance and electronica music), ‘The Dewarists Stage’ (folk and fusion music), ‘Bacardi Black Rock Arena’ (rock and metal), ‘Dub Station’ (dubstep, drum and bass and reggae), ‘The Other Stage’ (Singer and songwriter) and the new addition for this year ‘The Fully Fantastic Stage’ curating music, programming popular favourites and rising bands.

The musical extravaganza has announced the line-up for its Delhi and Pune celebration. International heavy metal pioneers and one of the ‘Big Four,’ Megadeth will headline Delhi’s Bacardi Black Rock Arena along with Indus Creed, Pentagram, The Circus, Parikrama, Zero, Bhayanak Maut, Scribe, Undying Inc and comedy-rock project Vir Das’ Alien Chutney.

Whereas the Grammy nominated musician Anoushka Shankar will strum her classical and contemporary magic at the The Dewarists Stage in Delhi along with renowned Bollywood singer Shafqat Amanat Ali, Indian Ocean, The Raghu Dixit Project, Swarathma, Karsh Kale’s new band Karsh Kale Collectiv, Midival Punditz Live, Papon and The East India Company, electro-folk duo Hari and Sukhmani, Advaita, and electro acoustic trio Adi, Suhail and Tarun.

‘Kaiserdisco’ comprising of Frederic and Patrick will spin their remixes on Delhi’s Eristoff Wolves Den along with other electronic artistes such as UK Bobby Friction, Jalebee Cartel, Dualist Inquiry, Kohra, BLOT! Live, DJ Jayant Luthra’s project Jitter and DJ/producer Nucleya.

Artistes like electro-rock duo Shaa’ir + Func, Ankur & The Ghalat Family, Peter Cat Recording Co., Blackstratblues, Bombay Bassment, Soulmate, Them Clones, Gandu Circus and Menwhopause will perform at the ‘Fully Fantastic Stage’ in Delhi.

Delhi’s ‘Other Stage’ will feature raw acoustic talent and renowned singer-songwriters including Barefaced Liar, Spanish acoustic act by Parvati and Mawkin, folk singer songwriter Akhu, rock project Avi & The Uprising,  singer-songwriter Dhruv Visvanath, singer songwriter Prateek Kuhad, pop rock act SAGA and sounds from the NGO Music Basti Project. While Delhi’s ‘Dub Station’ will bring together artistes like Reggae Rajahs, Buffapirate, BASSFoundation Roots, Bay Beat Collective, Ez Rizer, Dakta Dub, Soom T, DJ Uri, Dale, Wild City DJ and Shantum.

While the Delhi stage features an eclectic mix of renowned artistes, Pune line-up extends the musical treat further by featuring Progressive rock giant Karnivool which headlines Bacardi Black Rock Arena along with Indus Creed, Them Clones, Devoid, Eccentric Pendulum, Kryptos, Inner Sanctum, Pangea and Paradigm Shift.

The youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti will lead his late father’s magnificent band Egypt 80 at the Dewarists Stage along with Kailasa, Thermal and a Quarter, Agam and La Pongal. The Eristoff Wolves Den will feature performances by DJ/producer Anish Sood, Nucleya, Driving Lolita, DJ Nihal’s Bombay Bronx and BLOT! Live.

Artistes like Adam and The Fish Eyed Poets, Peter Cat Recording Co., The Lightyears Explode, The Supersonics, Das Racist, Gandu Circus and Spud In The Box will grace The Fully Fantastic Stage in Pune. Whereas ‘The Other Stage’ will feature Indian Ocean's guitarist Susmit Sen, singer-songwriter Imli Imchen, pop-rock project The Koniac Net, singer-songwriter Vasudha Sharma, alternative folk artist Mou, singer-songwriter Gaurav Jagwani, pop-rock act Carlton and the Saints, alternative act Under The Influence, folk act The Dharohar Project, and singer-songwriter Vernon Noronha.

The Pune’s Dub Station will witness reggae and dancehall act Delhi Sultanate, Symbiz Sound, Balkan HiFi, Mungos HiFi, Madu, Bay Beat Collective Raffael Kably’s bass project Mode 7, trap, tropical, bass, moombaton artist Cee, Sandunes, Sound Avtar, Mr Williamz, Million Stylez and DJ Kave.

The fest has offered 10 per cent loyalty discount on the full price two-day ticket in Delhi for regulars who have attended Weekender in the past or have an attendee friend. Tickets are priced at Rs 3000 and there's a discounted ticket at Rs1499 for people under 21. A single day ticket cost Rs 1500 on the first day and Rs 2000 for the second day.

Whereas in Pune, the fest has offered 10 per cent loyalty discount if tickets are bought or redeemed online on the 3-day weekend pass to the festival. Tickets are priced at Rs 3000 for a 3 day ticket, Rs 2500 for a 2 day weekend ticket, and there's a discounted 3 day ticket at Rs. 1499 for people under 21. Day tickets are also available and priced at Rs 1000 (Friday), Rs 1500 (Saturday) and Rs 1500 (Sunday).

Organizer Only Much Louder and Bacardi have official partnered BookMyShow.com for the ticketing in Delhi and Pune.

The details for Bangalore line-up are yet to be announced.