Wagon Park

Founded by Buddhima De mel and Mohamed Firash in the summer of 2007 Wagon Park have marched on from an unforgettable debut performance, consisting only the two founding members (at American National College) to unquestionable Sri Lankas’s only and most Potent Hard Rock outfit .

The journey was never going to be one for the faint hearted, and it was this very fact that founding member Buddhima De Mel used as inspiration to stand up, and single handedly push the envelope of Original Sri Lankan Hard Rock to heights that were never before seen.

From the dawn period of the band, Wagon Park have continuously strived to create music that not only encapsulates its audience with awe and splendor but also leave a significant imprint on the audiences’ psyche with compositions that are uniquely different and uncompromised when voicing the band’s ideals and beliefs.

It was the need for such captivating musical compositions that created the openings for the following brigade of four members that would later together be known as The Wagon Park we know today!

The entry of Madda & Mahesh both of whom were blessed with unparalleled talent and exuberance brought a new and distinct sound to Wagon Park as the duo took on the duties of Rhythm Guitar and Drums respectively! Yet still Buddhima felt the apparent need for a lead guitarist and it was this very need that inspired a new head hunt!
The Man they were looking for came in the form of Milo, Guitarist extraordinaire/ songwriter, it goes without saying that it was indeed his addition that propelled Wagon Park into what they stand for today!
Undying Passion, sincere dedication and pure home bred rock and roll!!!

Sumedha Nuwan then stepped in as Band Manager and it was his inclusion that brought the band a great deal of professionalism which was certainly a prerequisite for any band that was pretty serious about their Music! Wagon Park was and so the addition was more than welcomed!

With the band now Complete and all raring to go, along came TNL Onstage a significant event in the sri lankan music calendar ,Onstage provided young artists and bands with the opportunity to deliver their music to a wider audience and go places! Or so IT claimed!
Taking part in a competition of such magnitude was no easy task as the band found out for themselves.
Countless rehearsals, interviews and the various other nitty gritties that go into taking part in a Competition and being in the spotlight had to be seen to!
And finally when the time had come to perform, Wagon Park delivered, and delivered in every sense of the word!

From never before seen showmanship, to brilliantly executed compositions Wagon Park stunned audiences with a truly intense live performance of both originals and covers! The band entered the Finals of TNL Onstage as expected and once again provided a packed house of nearly 3,000 people with a truly spellbinding performance of Pink Floyd’s Classic ‘Comfortably Numb’. Unfortunately the band did not emerge winners but it was this very fact that served as the driving force to achieve what they termed at that time ‘Bigger Things’ in music!

Sadly soon after the Finals Lead Guitarist Milo had to leave for a year due to prior commitments and it was his departure that created the opening for keyboardist Nuwan Tharanga to join the band! He soon blended in well and was unanimously selected as a permanent member of the band!

As the band continued on its quest to taking Original Sri Lankan Hard Rock to a wider audience Video Image Sri Lanka’s premier Production House approached the band after identifying the bands’ prowess as musicians! And it is with this collaboration that Wagon Park will release their Debut album in 2010 appropriately titled Stoned!

While the final rites are being performed for the album launch, Video Image and Wagon Park have taken another Giant step in revolutionizing the Sri Lankan entertainment industry with a strikingly different video concept for Wagon Park’s Hit Single Flat by the use silhouettes and never before seen Light and shadow effects!

Wagon Park has also independently released a Patriotic Sinhala Song titled “Jayaganwan” for which the band has received rave reviews for the songs lyrical content and seemingly picturesque video!

Wagon Park has also independently Released a Live performance CD titled NOW IS HERE which contains band originals, plus covers from renowned artists such as Johny Cash, The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Bob Marley!

While the world awaits the official album release of STONED the band continues to innovate, motivate and tirelessly tear down the boundaries of a false prejudice that Asian Bands are no more than a farce!

It would be more than fitting to end this note with the very words of Milo “Music is a way of revealing one's inner reflections and we find our counterpoint in the music of that era as it truly describes who we are and what we truly believe in.”