By Faiyaz Chowdhury
On August 5, the first anniversary of the July Uprising, RevFest 2025 paid tribute to the spirit of resistance through an evening of art, food and powerful music at Aloki, Tejgaon.
With the theme ‘Ode to Unsung Heroes’, this year’s edition spotlighted the often-overlooked role of private university students in the July Uprising.
“The private university students played a big part in the July Uprising, but they never really got their due,” said Bobby Hajjaj, organiser of the event. “This is my token of honour to them.”
Spanning six hours, from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, the concert featured high-energy performances from some of the country’s most celebrated original acts, including Warfaze, AvoidRafa, Level5 and EIDA.
The stage also welcomed Khayam Sanu Sandhi, Karishma Sanu Sovvota and rising bands Eden’s Garden and Rocksalt — many of whom reflected on how July 2024 had shaped their art and identity.
For many performers, the July Uprising was not just a political moment — it was a turning point in their creative and personal journeys.
“To us, July means freedom. July means independence,” said Ashiqul Alam Ashiq, guitarist of alternative rock band Level5. “Music is an expression. We speak of July through our music.”
Asked what message he would leave fans with, Ashiq said, “Just be yourself and be good. Speak up whenever you see something unjust happening. That’s all you have to do.”
For Hassan Munhamanna, songwriter and vocalist of EIDA, the relationship with July was “deeply evolving”.
“I felt a strong sense of rebellion during the protests last year. And on August 5, I finally felt like I could breathe. I felt liberated,” he shared, adding, “But after this past year, I also feel disappointment. Many things didn’t turn out the way we had hoped.”
EIDA released a song titled “July” on August 2 last year.
“It was hard to record and release it — with the curfews, internet blackouts and all the chaos,” Munhamanna said. “But we felt like we owed it to the people. This was our way of participating.”
The band dedicated their RevFest performance to AK Ratul, the late bassist and frontman of the band Owned, who passed away recently.
“The private university students played a crucial role in the uprising, but they never got the recognition they deserved. That’s why we’re here — to honour them and to honour July.”
Dhrubo Saha, the vocalist of Eden’s Garden, shared a more personal reflection.
“Personally, I don’t even go near politics. I don’t like it. But the truth is, what’s wrong is wrong. When you kill innocent people, it’s wrong. It shattered our hearts to see it happen, and we mourn for our fallen brothers.”
His band performed several songs thematically aligned with the spirit of the uprising. “Music can really inspire people in times of crisis if the lyrics are right. They have to be written for that cause.”
His message to the crowd was simple, “Be kind. It’s something we barely see in our country. Be kind to trees, animals, humans — everything.”
RevFest offered free entry to private university students who showed their ID at the gate, while others could purchase discounted tickets for Tk 450 only.
Organisers clarified that the event was not profit-driven, but rather aimed at recognition and collective healing.
For many, the concert was more than music — it was a reclaiming of memory at a time when collective histories are increasingly contested. It served as a reminder that the spirit of July lives on — not just in headlines, but in lyrics, murals, conversations and in the hearts of those who made it happen.