Afghanistan holds first live concert in 30 years

Music filled the air for the first time in three decades in Afghanistan Saturday.

Reuters reported bands from Australia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and participated in the six hour music festival called Sound Central. Blues, indie, electronica and death metal songs played to a crowd of hundreds. And for many attendees, it was their first live concert.

However, a few traditional restrictions remained intact. Alcohol was banned, the only food allowed was kebabs, and the festival was paused twice so that those praying at nearby mosques wouldn't be disturbed.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the festival's venue was kept a secret until the last minute to prevent protests and any other acts that could turn violent.

More than 450 people attended the concert, and a guitarist from one of bands from Uzbekistan said he was excited to be participating in a piece of history.

"Rock and roll will change the world, and we hope it will change Afghanistan too,” Nikita Makapenko said. “This is historic, and it's just the beginning."

The event was organized by Australian photojournalist Travis Beard, who joined a band after moving to Kabul and wanted to showcase his musical abilities.