26th NOVEMBER 2007: Remo receives the "Artist 4 Change" iCongo Award in New Delhi. This is an award given not for the commercial success of an artist, but for his positive contribution in bringing about social and political change through his art.

SEPTEMBER 2007: 'Remo & The Microwave Papadums' perform at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 'Incredible India@60' Festival in New York, USA, on 24th and 26th Septembe respectively, as well as at a select concert in South Street Seaport on the 25th. Standing ovations, encores and screams for more, people dancing and clapping and singing along - this is what accompanied Remo at every concert performed under the fabled sky-scrapers of New York City. After the concerts, true to his travelling roots, Remo took off for a month to visit West Viriginia, Smoky Mountains, Fort Wayne, Chicago, and back to the East Village in NY, catching up with old friends and discovering parts of America he'd never visited before.

AUGUST 2007: Remo refuses a state award in an open letter to the Government of Goa, stating his reasons for this act of protest. The letter received overwhelming support and appreciation from the people of Goa and other states, through Net Forums, Emails, SMS, and in Letters to Editors of various publications in Goa and elsewhere in India. Remo's protest was covered on prime time news by every major newspaper and television channel in India. To read Remo's letter, click here.

AUGUST 2007: Remo performs at "Big Chill" Eastnor, UK, with 'Chilled by Nature' on 3rd August, Opening Day of the Festival, and with 'Cold Cut' on 5th August, Closing Day of the Festival. Both performances were well appreciated, and Remo received a special ovation from the audience as soon as he started his vocal improvisations and flute playing, and later when Pete Lawrence announced that The Lonely Planet had a whole half-page mention on the Goan musician. "Cold Cut" had two encores from the audience, a rare ocurrence at this festival.

PICTURES FROM BIG CHILL, EASTNOR, ENGLAND

With "Chilled by Nature" on 3rd August 2007: On computer, right: PETE LAWRENCE. On bass guitar, left: NICK COHEN.

With "Cold Cut" on 5th August 2007. Left to Right:
MATT BLACK on computer; Attilla on guitar & vocals; REMO on flute, guitar & vocals; WILLIAM on percussions.

REMO at Big Chill Festival, Eastnor, UK.

SNAPSHOTS

With RICHIE HAVENS, singer of the legendary "Freedom" song from Woodstock.

With XAVI TURULL of "Ojos de Bruxo".

With MATT BLACK of "Cold Cut"

With NICK COHEN of "Chilled by Nature".

APRIL 15 & 16 2007: "Big Chill", the famous British festival of electronic ambient and dance music comes to Goa. Remo is invited to perform with the opening band 'Chilled By Nature' [led by festival promoter Pete Lawrence]. He also jams with 'Cold Cut', the headlining closing band of the festival. Remo has subsequently been invited to perform at the "Big Chill" festival at Eastnor, England, on 3rd August 2007.

"COLD CUT meets THE ESSENCE " LEFT TO RIGHT: On drums: STEVE. With mike : JUICE. On percussions: WILL.
With flute: REMO. On bass: ATTILLA. Shirtless: MATT BLACK (mix medium / band leader).
Pic by Hari Adivareka

JANUARY 26, 2007: Remo wakes up in Ahmedabad to 30 missed calls and 50 messages on his cell phone: "Congratulations, Padmashri Remo!". It is Republic Day, and the President of India has announced the names of the people chosen for the prestigious honour bestowed by the Government of India, the Padmashri 2007. The title was conferred by President Abdul Kalam at a solemn official ceremony at Rastrapathi Bhawan in New Delhi on 23rd March 2007.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2006: Remo's childhood dream comes true: he finally visits Brasil, the country whose culture and music has so influenced him in distant Goa through the common factor, the Portuguese. The Prime Minsister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the President of Brasil, Dr. Lula, have just signed a bilateral treaty, and Remo is invited to perform at the gala evening which follows the historic event in the capital city of Brasilia. Headlines in the Indian press scream: "Remo makes Brasil dance to his tunes". Following the concert, Remo the seasoned traveller spends two months in Brasil, with friends and on his own, visiting Rio De Janeiro, Bahia, Santos, Sao Paulo, and so on. He meets up with, records and performs with some of the leading musicians in the country. Discussions are afoot for future collaborations with Gal Costa and Miucha.

FEBRUARY 10, 2005: Remo is invited to perform with the legendary Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull at a concert in Dubai. More details about this in 'Remo with Jethro Tull' on Page 10.

APRIL/MAY 2004: Remo tours the Caribbean islands of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago. Collaborates, composes, performs and records with top artists and producers such as [in Jamaica]: Mickey Bennett, Wippa Demus, G-Blunt; and [in Trinidad]: Barry O'Hare, Denise Belfon, Rikki Jai, Corey Wallace. Plans to release an album of the Caribbean recordings in the near future.

In Bob Marley's garden, Kingston, Jamaica. The house is now The Bob Marley Museum.

DECEMBER 2003: Remo sets up Art With Heart, a charitable institution with an aim to perform for and financially aid hospitals for the terminally ill, homes for the aged, schools for the blind and orphanages. It also provides financial and other aid to organisations involved in the preservation of nature and ecology, organisations involved in ensuring human rights, engaged in fighting corruption, pollution, communalism, religious bigotry and racism. Art With Heart does not solicit or accept monetary donations. However, practical help from like-minded people is warmly welcome.

NOVEMBER 2003: Remo performs 'The Flute Kick Remix' at the closing ceremony of the Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad, India. Twenty thousand international dancers, athletes, sportspersons and gymnasts accompany the song on the mammoth stadium grounds before a 100,000-strong audience.

MAY 8, 2003: Remo celebrates his 50th birthday with a free mega-concert for Goa. Attended by 25,000 people, the four-and-a-half hour concert features bands he formed and played with through the ages: The Beat 4, The Savages, Indiana, The Microwave Papadums, as well as friends and singers like The Valadares Sisters and Lucio Miranda.