COLOMBO – A sweaty rock crowd, bursts of laughter, improvised comedy and tattoo needles humming in a corner are not what many would associate with political reflection or national renewal. Yet on January 10, ‘Rise Up Colombo’ became precisely that, a raucous, three-hour celebration of music and togetherness led by the experimental punk outfit Dotdotay.
Before roughly 450 fans, the band tore through a 25-song set, previewing eight tracks from its new album ‘Lankhikabhimane nationalist lau’, scheduled for release on February 4 to coincide with Sri Lanka’s Independence Day. The title loosely translates as ‘patriotic love’, and the band describes the record as a tribute to a country emerging from war and economic crisis, one rooted not in slogans, but in human connection, dance floors and shared noise.
“It’s sokari punk, it’s dot ’n roll, it’s Sri Lankan,” one fan shouted from the front row as bodies surged toward the stage.
At the centre of the storm was vocalist and lyricist Hidaayath Hazeer, whose theatrical background was evident in his satirical stage banter and exaggerated gestures. Singing in colloquial Sinhala rather than formal verse, Hazeer punctuated songs with humour and pointed social commentary, keeping the crowd in constant motion.
He was backed by guitarist Mewan Kaushike, whose elastic riffs veered between funk grooves and distorted punk bursts, and bassist Riyal Riffai, the group’s steady anchor. Across Riffai’s instrument were scrawled the words: ‘Existence is not a crime, occupation is’.
Newest member Shehan Wijesooriya, a jazz diploma graduate from Anuradhapura, powered the set from behind the drums, injecting fresh energy and relentless tempo into the band’s evolving sound.
By the time Dotdotay returned for an encore, chants of “one more” echoed across the venue. Some fans joked the following day about sore necks from hours of headbanging, offered, they said, as compliments rather than complaints.
A DIY Festival Spirit
The concert marked the band’s eighth self-produced show, no small feat in Sri Lanka’s independent music scene. The evening also featured an opening set by improv comedy troupe Track da?, a stick-and-poke tattoo pop-up, and a merchandise stall, elements that gave the night the feel of a micro-festival rather than a single gig.
The Organizers said much of the production was handled by friends and volunteers drawn in by the music rather than industry professionals, underscoring the group’s grassroots ethos. Audio brands Decibel and Pulse partnered as media sponsors for both the concert and the album launch campaign.
Among the audience were teenagers, veterans of Colombo’s rock circuit and foreign visitors.
“Dotay layers resistance over infectious personality,” said Sadique, 34, adding “From baila to heavy metal and everything in between, they’ve created anthems for the new Lankiya generation. ‘Democracy nemei, hypocrisy’ yako”.
Sureka, 56, called it “an unforgettable evening… courageous in heart,” while Satya, 18, said the performance made her “proud to be Sri Lankan”.
Takla, 29, visiting from France and Syria, described Colombo as “on fire”, and 22-year-old Chooty said she paused mid-dance just to take in the scene: “Everybody was shining.”
Years in the Making
Formed in 2019, Dotdotay has built a steady following through dozens of performances across Colombo, Kalpitiya, Negombo, Ahangama and Hiriketiya – from café stages to protest-era flash gigs during the 2022 Aragalaya movement. Their debut album launch at Rio Cinema in 2023 drew 450 people, and organizers expect similar numbers when they return to ‘Rise Up Colombo’ next year.
For now, fans are counting down to the February 4 release of ‘Lankhikabhimane nationalist lau’, which the band hopes will capture what their concerts already deliver: irreverence, defiance and the messy joy of people moving together.
As one concertgoer put it while wiping sweat from their face, “It’s not just a gig — it’s going Dotay.”
-ENCL/Pix Hisaanath Hazeer
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