KARACHI, March 22: The fourth incarnation of the All Pakistan Music Conference’s (APMC) annual music festival got underway at Karachi’s majestic Hindu Gymkhana on Thursday night, promising music lovers in the metropolis three nights of heavenly tunes.

The festival was opened by veteran pakhavaj player Allah Lok, originally hailing from Multan. Even as the maestro was just beginning his rendition, the courtyard of the Gymkhana, elaborately decked out, was already beginning to fill up.

The venue featured both a farshi setting, as well as seats to accommodate music enthusiasts. Accompanied by two other musicians, Allah Lok delivered a masterly performance of the instrument known as the ‘mother’ of the tabla and featured in Orissi and Kathak dance.

Ustad Salamat Hussain, a renowned bansri-nawaz, was next to follow the pakhavaj performance. This was only a small sampling of artistes, as the three-day event, due to conclude on Saturday, March 24, promises to be a meeting of maestros from across Pakistan and India.

The musical session was preceded by a formal welcome address by Syed Jamil Ahmed, Chief of the APMC.