Nawaz Yasin Islam recalls the top events of 2013 that made Shillong rock
ASK TEENAGERS when they bought their first CD and they probably won’t remember. But ask them the name of the last artiste they saw live and you will have volley of answers.
With music reverberating in the veins of people, Shillong has been successful in inking its name in the international music circuit. A city comprising thousands of metal fanatics and music worshippers can only be the perfect and un-debatable name for being the hotbed for music and festivity in India.
Music is perhaps the only thing that never failed to unite the people of Meghalaya. Stereotypical frat-dudes, metal heads, ladies, the average Joes and the 50-year-old shaky heads make up one of the most mixed crowds at a typical concert anywhere in the state.
Picture a hill station, perfect weather, sun setting in the backdrop and strings of an electric axe being touched for sound check. Technical precision and brutality just waiting to explode as the bugle heralding the night of music is blown. This is topped by the interest of the Government of Meghalaya and music enthusiasts to promote talent, nurture young musicians and dish out the best music for a crowd that worships it whole heartedly.
The year that went saw the resurgence of old artistes, evolution of current and discovery of new talent. Be it musicians, dancers or even choir singers, Shillong had the best to offer almost every month. The gigs, events and festivals will be remembered with the hope that 2014 will be louder than ever. Here are 13 events from the numerous that made news and generated views in 2013.
Shillong Battle Rock
A KILLER festival organised by Shillong City Entertainment Network Enterprise in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Meghalaya was regarded as the year’s much appreciated efforts at promoting the immense wave of music running. With thousand watts of exhilarating carnage, Shillong Battle Rock 2013 saw the on stage ‘war of instruments’ between Midnight Garden Factor, Dosser’s Urge, Empirical Tribe, 4 Fields, Aberrant, Avancer and Dead Note. The progressive metal outfit, Midnight Garden Factor stole the show.
Hoobastank tour
THE FOUR-MEMBER Alternative Rock outfit with elements of post-grunge arrived at the ‘Rock Capital’ for a promising performance of epic magnitudes at Polo Grounds in June. Visualize a band concocted together with influences such as Van Halen, Faith No More, Tool, and Fishbone and let each member add a unique snazzy touch ranging from Phish to Guns n Roses to Trance music. The answer is Hoobastank! TNT’s anniversary celebration was a ‘State’ affair this time. Every element of the concert from the highs of new faces to Shillong to the lows of power failure will be remembered. Even the opening acts of Girish and the Chronicles, Aditya Jassi, B K Hrangkhawl, POTFM and Alobo Naga and the band was epic in themselves.
World Music Day
A MUCH anticipated concert organised by ICCR along with Meghalaya Arts and Culture Department at U Soso Tham Auditorium in the month of June to observe World Music Day was well received by music lovers of the city thanks to the Motley Crue of artists who enthralled in totality. The concert was nothing short of a religious event for all music lovers who thronged the event in huge numbers. The music bands dished out various genres of music like punk, jazz, blues, and Rock and Roll. From soulful melodies of 4th Element to grinding riffs of Deadnote, the mega music event had every shade of ‘musical colour’ to offer.
Meghalaya Icon IV
THE INNOVATIVE effort of Meghalaya Aids Control Society to spread awareness through the medium of music is something we know of and eagerly wait for. Why not? Music has always been the powerful tool in streamlining thoughts. The added attraction for Season IV was the entry of folk troupes and solo artists in the competition apart from music bands. The red ribbon superstars were Tura based ‘Restless Desire’ who battled out the slugfest to register themselves as ambassadors and promising metal acts of the year.
World Aids Day concert
ROAD SHOWS, candle lights and processions. Top it off with music. That’s how we do it and that’s how Shillong does it. Spreading awareness messages in the most innovative ways has been the benchmark of such observation. With every move aimed at hinting a message, the concerts as such are a great success. From dances to bike rally’s it all seemed like a unified voice projected for a single cause.
Free Your Mind concert
SHILLONG NEEDED this desperately. The state government for once, made an effort to foil the public bandh by organizing a musical concert – Free your Mind – at the heart of the commercial area – Kyndailad (Police Bazaar). Apart from being eventful, considering the timings, the concert will always be remembered for the huge public response and the power of music is swaying the people of Shillong. Old time singers including Rana Kharkongor, Jameer Kharkongor, the Cubicle band and the inimitable Lou Majaw kept the crowd revving. Shillong Chamber Choir cast their magic spell with, Heal the world, Price Tag/Where is the Love (medley) and Make me a Channel of Your Peace. Shillong answered back to the bandh call with a ‘clenched’ fist!
18th Bob Marley tribute
THE ANNUAL dose of exhilaration and initiatives to pay obeisance to the legendary Rastafarian is something worth waiting for. Northeast’s very own Rastafarian Keith Wallang – the man behind the much popular Bob Marley Tribute fest started this annual ritual with Springboard Surprises way back in 1996 in Shillong. Dew Drops and Roots Regae band were the added attraction to 2013’s edition of Bob Marley Tribute… ‘Lively Up Yourself’.
Mind Rocks Youth Summit
YET ANOTHER humiliation for HNLC was in store with Shillong’s youth defying the HNLC bandh call to keep their date with the India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit 2013. All roads led to the plush new Convention Centre where Bollywood stars, sportsperson, singers, activists, musicians, et al, addressed the audience on various issues and answered pointed questions. Held for the first time in the North-east, Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, actors Abhay Deol, Vivek Oberoi, Commonwealth boxing gold medalist Akhil Kumar, cricketer Ajay Jadeja and singers Angaraag ‘Papon’ Mahanta of ‘Kyon’ and ‘Sun le re’ fame and Rabbi Shergill were among those who spoke at the event. Youth imagination was surely taken into account!
Film festival
THE FIRST ever film festival was held in Shillong with the three-day Indian Cinema film festival organised by the State Information and Public Relations department in collaboration with the Directorate of Film Festivals. The city witnessed the presence of Bollywood stars like Moon Moon Sen and her daughter Riya Sen at U SoSo Tham Auditorium Hall. Various programmes like fashion show, choir, etc., preceded the screening of films like Noukadubi-a Bengali film directed by Rituporno Ghosh, and first ever Khasi film – ‘Ka Ri ki 30 Syiem’. Films that were short-listed for the festival included Noukadubi (Bengali film) directed by Rituporno Ghosh, Manus (Marathi), Keshu (Malayalam) directed by Sivan and Bow Barracks Forever (English) directed by Anjan Dutt.
Indie 8
CAPTURING THE very essence and magic of film-making in the Northeast of India, Indie8 a film festival, the first of its kind in Shillong, took the city by storm on August. An event organised by the Mass Media Department of St. Anthony’s College, Shillong in association with the Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Meghalaya and Directorate of Information and Public Relations, it created a common platform for filmmakers from the eight states of the northeast to gather and exchange their experience, ideas and knowledge of film making with the ever enthusiastic lovers of the art. r films screened were “Mayong”, a film from Assam by Utpal Borpujari; “…And Silently the Drums Wait” by Moji Riba; “Khawnglung Run”, an epic film by Mapuia Chawngthu, based on true events of the historical massacre of Khawnglung in Mizoram during 1856-1859; “The Bangle”, set in Tripura, by Rev Fr. Joseph Pulinthanath; “Nokpante” by Guestar Langstang, D. Banjop Mukhim and Salchirik Sangma; and “19/87”, by Dondor E. Lyngdoh and Wanphrang Diengdoh. Also screened at the festival was “The Test” by Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome, a film from Nagaland.
Calm Festival
THE FIRST Junior CALM (Creative Arts, Literature and Music) festival was organised by Sahaki Society in collaboration with the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya. CALM creates a storm! It provided the platform for all the creative arts in Northeast India and to re-establish Shillong as the focal point of the region’s cultural and literary scene. Sessions on photography, musical night, creative arts and stand up comedy will be one big reason for it to go down the pages of ‘Events of 2013’.
18 Degrees
A MULTIFACETED festival of art, culture, music etc., under the aegis of State Arts and Culture department came as the year’s biggest gift for the young and old alike. Painters, cartoonist, artists, musicians, photographers, quiz masters, etc., all headed to Shillong to add to the city’s vibrant culture. Photography, fashion, quiz, music, motorcycle freestyle show, Bboying (Breaking), graffiti, cartoons, art live installations, crafts, scale modelling, musical workshops, creative writing , interactive sessions with the students, teachers and parents and many more activities were part of the mammoth event of fun, festivity and intense competition. Quizmaster Barry O` Brien, theatre personality Makarand Deshpande, cartoonist Keshav, urban folk singer Susmit Bose, Australian singer-songwriter-musician Kara Grainger, photographer Anoop Negi and fashion photographer Swati Agarwal participated in the festival amongst a host of other artists.
Monolith Festival
THE FORGOTTEN richness and profundity of Khasi culture was brought to live in an ‘out-of-the-blue’ idea to hold the Monolith Festival that showcased the rich tradition of Meghalaya. Held at the apt location of Heritage Village, the festival saw people from all parts of the region gather together to taste culture. Inhabitants from at least 10 Himas or Khasi states put up at the village, where they displayed their lifestyle, tradition and culture for people to discover the diversity of the Khasi culture. The turnout was amazing, showing the heart still belongs to the land.
Numerous other festivals from Aquafest to Orange fest, from dance competitions to choir festivals were attractions of 2013. Shillong knows how to celebrate oneness and the only hope is to see more togetherness and a vibrant 2014.