Shillong’s rich musical heritage took centre stage as the fifth edition of Bluesmen of Meghalaya (BoM) brought together veteran musicians and emerging artists for a World Music Day 2026 celebration at the historic Evening Club on Saturday.
Organised by Mawjam Event Network in association with The Lou Majaw Foundation, the annual concert featured seven bands performing hour-long sets before culminating in BoM’s signature all-star jam session. The event celebrated the enduring influence of the blues while highlighting Meghalaya’s vibrant music culture.
The evening saw performances by musicians associated with Great Society, the pioneering band led by veteran musician Lou Majaw that helped shape Shillong’s reputation as India’s rock capital. Senior artistes including Arjun “AJ” Sen, Rudy Wallang, Starly Chullai and Shepherd Star Najiar shared the stage with younger performers such as Gregory Ford Nongrum, Lalchhandama “LB King” Bawitlung and Tony Balsam.
Speaking on the occasion, Lou Majaw said the event was built around the idea of bringing musicians together. “It’s about being together as one, even if for one evening,” he said, adding that the annual gathering has become both a reunion for senior artistes and a platform for the next generation.
Arjun “AJ” Sen, one of the early members of Great Society, said he was pleased to return to Shillong. “It’s good to be back in Shillong for the music, which has grown in leaps and bounds,” he said.
Gregory Ford Nongrum opened the concert with the soulful See You Again, while Tony Balsam impressed the audience with a slide guitar performance on a Garo composition centred on childhood memories. LB King injected energy into the evening with a powerful rendition of Who Killed John Henry.
Shepherd Star Najiar performed using a custom-built double-neck instrument that combines a six-string guitar with Meghalaya’s traditional four-string duitara, an instrument designed and gifted by Lou Majaw. Starly Chullai followed with a reflective blues performance before Rudy Wallang, accompanied by his sons Leon and Vincent Tariang, performed Too Tall to Mambo. AJ Sen’s rendition of Blues for Durga and Lou Majaw’s performance of Hey Bartender brought the evening to a rousing close.
The concert also showcased the talents of drummers Vincent Tariang, Daryll Diengdoh and Sunny Manbha, along with bassists Leon Tariang, Sydney Sangma and Mewanki Rangad, whose performances underscored the depth of Meghalaya’s musical talent.
Reflecting on the state’s connection with the blues, AJ Sen said the genre had found a home in Meghalaya decades ago through Lou Majaw’s 1969 composition I Had a Woman. “Blues is your story to tell,” he said, emphasising that the music is rooted in personal expression rather than imitation.
Since its inception five years ago, Bluesmen of Meghalaya has become an annual celebration of the state’s blues tradition, bringing together generations of musicians while reinforcing Shillong’s standing as India’s rock capital.
