Jagger gets rocks off at Indian music festival

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Mick Jagger was a surprise visitor to the inaugural Rajasthan International Folk Festival, held October 25-29 in the Indian city of Jodhpur.

"I wouldn't say I'm an expert, but I'm definitely an enthusiast for Indian music," he said after the opening night of the event, held within the historic 500-year-old Mehrangarh Fort.

"I've listened to Bengali, Gujarati and Rajasthani folk music, and a festival like this gives a great platform to folk artists in a magnificent venue."

During his four-day stay, Jagger -- who said he was on vacation -- attended festival performances by several internationally acclaimed Indian recording artists, including sitar maestro K.M. Bhatt and virtuoso flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia. He also turned up to see the locally popular rock-fusion band Indian Ocean, which toured the United States in 2006.

And, although the Rolling Stones completed a marathon two-year world tour in August, Jagger told the Times of India that the band is hoping to announce dates in India and elsewhere in Asia next year.

Reuters/Billboard