Rock music remains a subversive activity in Afghanistan, a nation that took measures to ban all music under Taliban rule. Yet Afghan bands dominated the bill at Sound Central, the first music festival held in the country since 1975, reflecting changing attitudes with a new generation. With insurgent attacks at their highest level since the war began, festival organisers had to spread word underground, primarily over Facebook and Twitter, with the festival’s location only revealed hours before the festival.
Austin Andrews and Will van Engen covered the proceedings from Kabul for Triple J and ABC Radio National.