The blurbs endorse that Anno Domini is a band for all times.
The reason being that the band has a repertoire that includes almost all songs on request. Their flexibility and resilience as a band is amazing. Led by vocalist/guitarist Shehan Perera, Anno Domini’s popularity in Sri Lanka has earned them a trip to Dubai to play at the prestigious annual gala dinner dance at the Maroons Night 2020 organised by the Ananda College Old Boys Association UAE wing which will be held on Wednesday March 25 at the Movenpick Hotel in Oud Metha, Bur Dubai.
The popular Sri Lankan singer Mihiri Gunawardena who is presently in Dubai will join Anno Domini as the featured female vocalist for this prestigious event.
Following the success of the past 8 years, this the 9th edition of Maroons Night 2020 is expected to attract 450 Sri Lankan professionals with their families, representing a cross section of the elite Sri Lankan community living in the UAE. The chief guest at the occasion will be, the Consul General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for Dubai and Northern Emirates Nalinda Wijeratne.
Anno Domini has travelled on the road of success with confidence, ever since their first gig at the World Trade Centre which was more than 13 years ago. They started off with four members playing the hits of the Eagles, Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and whoosh! - they had packed houses every Friday. Since they had an unbelievable following they decided that they should begin to cater to a wider audience at bigger events including weddings, corporate functions and dinner dances.
Shehan Perera commented that as a band they were inspired and influenced by bands such as the Beatles, Queen, the Eagles, but now they have much more songs in their repertoire. He is quoted as of having said “In our music we always try to be positive.
“Positivity is the main message we want to convey. Different artistes have different ideas expressed in their music, but we want to use music as a tool to promote positivity. We have enough songs that focus on the negativity in the world.
“We want people to be happy when they listen to us. When we play at weddings we want everyone to enjoy the event and then go away feeling happy. We want to spread the message that life is good. Life is something happy”.
Shehan is the lead vocalist of the band handling many solo spots. He has had the experience of being in a choir for a long time and the opportunity to be trained by well known voice trainers. Being a part of the Workshop Players directed by Jerome L de Silva, voice projection has always played an important part for Shehan. Moreover, for musicals he trained under Mary Anne David and also the late Ruwani Seimon and was fortunate as a child to come under the wing of Lylie Godridge. Music has always been in his life. It is a gift and a blessing to have music in one’s life. Not everyone can do it.
Anno Domini is led by vocalist Shehan Perera who also plays guitar and drums, Senaka Pereira who sits behind the drums handles percussion and vocals, Mangala Weerasekera is a fine guitarist and sings as well, Shakila Ganegama is the band’s keyboardist and shares in the vocals while Suneth Lakmal is the bassist with punchy lines and handles vocals when necessary.
The band has achieved a great deal of success wherever they have performed be it at their regular venues at leading hotels in Colombo or out of Colombo, at dances, weddings, shows, or at prestigious events all over the country.
And now its going to be the Maroons Night at Dubai and without a doubt their powerful vibes will make the audience dance to their tune.