Last Saturday (November 1), the Whitlam Leisure Centre in Liverpool, Sydney, played host to a memorable celebration for the Bangladeshi expatriate community as two iconic generations of Bangladeshi music — Miles and Artcell — performed together on the same stage for the first time.
Organised by Greenfield Entertainment, the MusicFest had already created a buzz within the Bangladeshi community in Australia. Leading up to the event, Miles expressed their excitement through a video message. Band member Hamin Ahmed shared, “Sydney has always been special to us. Back in 1996, we were probably the first Bangladeshi band to perform in Australia. This marks our fifth visit here, and the love from the audience is always overwhelming.”
Hamin continued, “We knew this was going to be a memorable show. We wanted everyone to sing along, to shout, and that’s exactly what our fans did.” Guitarist Turjo added, “We’re touring five cities across Australia, but Sydney feels entirely different. The audience made the night unforgettable.”
As Miles took the stage, they performed classic hits such as “Chand Tara Surjo”, “Neela”, “Dhiki Dhiki”, and “Firiye Dao”, filling the venue with nostalgia and sparking cheers that resonated throughout the hall.
The night began with Artcell, the post-90s rock band, who captivated the younger audience with their tracks “Dhushor Shomoy”, “Dukkho Bilash”, and “Poth Chola”. Their distinctive rock sound, along with their intricate compositions, earned them a rapturous reception from the crowd. Lakemba resident Mohammad Irfan Khan reflected, “Miles was the soundtrack of our youth, but seeing Artcell share the same stage was a whole new experience. This night will be hard to forget.”
Faisal Azad, spokesperson for Greenfield Entertainment, commented, “It was our dream to bring together two top bands from two different generations. The Bangladeshi community in Sydney had been waiting for something like this for a long time. This is truly a milestone in the city’s concert history.”
The Music Fest, running until 11:30 pm, was much more than just a concert — it was a celebration of two distinct eras of Bangladeshi band music. The event also featured a heartfelt tribute to the late band member Shafin Ahmed, honouring his contributions to the iconic band Miles.