Guwahati International Music Festival Kicks Off This Week

In a continuing cultural exchange between states in North East India, the fourth edition of the Guwahati International Music Festival (GIMF) kicks off on February 28th and 29th, featuring a billing of Indian and South East Asian artists.

Taking place at Shilpgram arts venue this week, the lineup includes pop-rock artist Lucky Ali, funk band Funktuation [fronted by singer Benny Dayal], Thailand’s folk/jazz band Asia 7, Bangladesh’s folk/fusion veteran Shahjahan Munshi and hard rock/folk band Gayen, Reunion Island’s Afro-informed band Dogo Fara, Vietnamese psychedelic rock outfit Opnairdrgmkt, Nepal’s producer-songwriter Rajan Shrestha aka Phatcowlee and more. Guwahati’s acoustic rock band Dr. Dope will also perform on day two, alongside fellow homegrown rockers Bottle Rockets.

Created in 2011, GIMF is now part of socio-cultural organization Eastern Beats Music Society’s ambitious pan-Asian project called Rhythms and Aromas of North East India, which is supported by the North Eastern Council. From December until January, the project set up in eight states of North East India in order to identify, nurture and promote artists from the region. The selected artists will be announced at the festival, with mentoring programs, cash prizes and a push in the larger South East Asian music industry in the pipeline.

In addition to a food festival featuring cuisine from different states, GIMF will also be preceded by The North East India Music Conference on February 28th. The invite-only discussion series will host music industry personnel such as entrepreneur Ritnika Nayan Shrivastva, Tarsame Mittal (founder of TM Talent Management), Nagaland’s TaFMA in-charge Theja Meru, filmmaker Roy Dipankar and more.

The Guwahati International Music Festival takes place on February 28th and 29th at Shilpgram, Guwahati. Get details here.