On Saturday at Hyatt Ground, Bauddha, the 1974 AD band, marked their 30th anniversary with what was announced as their final concert in the country. Right at 6:00 pm, the band’s intro video was played as scheduled, setting a timely tone for the evening. As ‘Jungi Nishan’ and ‘Timilai Piratile’ opened the set, the evening unfolded as a carefully curated reflection of their musical journey. Led by bansuri player Manose Newa, Nepal’s first Grammy-nominated musician, the band guided the audience through a range of musical influences, cultural nods, and emotional moments.

The night unfolded like a well-crafted album. Opening with tunes influenced by African culture, funk music and instrumental track ‘Crossings’, the band slowly transitioned into fan favourites like ‘Mutu Bhari.’ The audience, packed with enthusiastic fans, erupted with chants for ‘Parelima,’ a request that kept resurfacing until it was finally fulfilled two hours into the set. But before that, the band built the emotional arc with the patriotic piece ‘Swargadapi Gariyasi’.

In a surprise twist, the band members moved to a second stage, set up exclusively for the fan pit audience. There, they performed songs like ‘Sambodhan’—initially a heartfelt tribute to the music teacher of singer Adrian Pradhan, which was later rededicated to the late King Birendra Shah and the royal family.

The group also took a moment to acknowledge influential musicians from Nepal’s past, mentioning legends like Gopal Yonjan, Aruna Lama, and Narayan Gopal.

As the night progressed, newer hits like ‘Maya Bisaune’ from their latest album and ‘Mayalu Le’ from their debut album ‘Time Out’ kept the audience swaying. Then ‘Hidda Hiddai’ was performed, in which Nirakar Yakthumba’s moving bass solo set the tone and gave a light-hearted remark about keeping handkerchiefs ready, suggesting the emotional tone of the upcoming piece. Songs like ‘Pahilo Junima’ and ‘Chaubandi Choli’ followed, each resonating with the crowd’s collective memory.

Before concluding, Phiroj Shyangden, including all band members, briefly thanked the team behind the event. Their detailed planning was reflected in coordinated drone visuals, effective lighting and sound design, smooth transitions, and minimal downtime throughout the show.

The concert closed on a patriotic note with ‘Rato Ra Chandra Surya’. Even audience members who had stepped outside returned, drawn in by the anthem’s call. With 25 songs performed without a single delay, the event stood out for its punctuality, tight execution, and emotional range—making it one of the most well-organised concerts Kathmandu has recently witnessed.