Jimmy Khan, Asrar and Sara Haider perform at the Coke Studio Gigs music showcase

After entertaining audiences in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad in 2014, the popular fan supported music platform Coke Studio Gigs presented a musical showcase featuring Pakistani musical acts Jimmy Khan, Asrar and Sara Haider at the Commune Artist Colony in Karachi on 25th January 2015.

The event commenced with the arrival of guests and a welcome note by MC Nabiya, who introduced Coke Studio Gigs and the artist line up. Asrar was first on stage, followed by Sara Haider and then Jimmy Khan who concluded the evening’s musical performances. In addition to the entertaining music, guests were provided the opportunity to obtain custom personalized Coke bottles at the event.

Coke Studio Gigs was well attended by music industry stalwarts, celebrities and media personalities including: musician Adeel Ali, Arsalan Ali, Imran Akhoond, Haniya, Omran Shafique, Rehan Azim, Zohaib Kazi; Filmmakers Asad-ul-Haq and Bilal Lashari and TV personalities Asma Mustafa, Ayesha Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Murtaza Choudary, Sanam Saeed and Angeline Malik. The event was managed by Helium with public relations by Lotus PR.

Coke Studio Gigs is a music platform that features new and upcoming artists from different academic and social backgrounds, coming together to celebrate the diverse and unique music of Coke Studio, and making it their own by executing the popular platform’s tracks through their own personal style and flair. The initiative is a result of popular feedback generated by fans of Coke Studio, who demanded a separate platform for up and coming Pakistani musicians to showcase their talent. Coke Studio Gigs is now in its second season and has already highlighted the talent of several Pakistani musicians, such as Jimmy Khan, Sara Haider and Asrar, who have gone on to perform at the highest levels of our music industry.

“We were absolutely thrilled by the response to Coke Studio Gigs since the platform’s inception in 2013. All credit goes to the fans of the platform and the fans of Pakistani music, through whose singular support and passion our efforts to reinvent the art of live music through performances by emerging music talent has been made possible” said Rizwan Ullah Khan, General Manager, Coca-Cola Pakistan.

In 2013 Coke Studio Gigs first went on-ground at different campuses and cafes in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad including Butlers, Fat burger, Hardees, Nandos, Espresso, Peeru’s Café, T2F and Kuch Khaas. Building upon the popularity of the platform, in 2014 Coke Studio Gigs was held at BNU, UCL, LUMS, UOL, LGS, UCP in Lahore; Bahria University & Kuch Khaas in Islamabad; CBM & SZABIST in Karachi to great acclaim.

Acclaimed musician Omran Shafique has been an integral part of Coke Studio Gigs, acting as a mentor for emerging talent in Universities, colleges and other academic institutes where Coke Studio Gigs has performed. Omran Shafique has also provided ample support to the logistics team of Coke Studio Gigs, bringing his years of experience to enhance the quality of the sound and administration of the platform nationwide.