Shine A Light: Voice of the Silent Hills Returns to Cherrapunji, Meghalaya

Mumbai metallers Sceptre will headline Shine A Light. Photo: Chaitali Wasnik

The festival scene in the North-East has grown vastly in the last few years. While Hornbill Festival in Nagaland continues to be one of the oldest and most popular annual cultural outings in the region, Meghalaya witnessed its own large-scale festival last year with the debut of NH7 Weekender Shillong. It returned to the state last month with English musician Steven Wilson as the headlining act. Another festival which will make its date with Meghalaya this year is Shine A Light: Voice of the Silent Hills, a three-day event held in the scenic hill town of Cherranpunji. Organized by promoter Atanu Buragohain and a few of his close friends, this third edition of the camping festival will take place on December 2nd-4th at Sa – I – Mika Resort.

The acts booked to perform this year include Mumbai metal bands Primitiv and Sceptre, New Delhi-based alternative rock band Yesterdrive, classic rock band Adams Apple from Darjeeling, Kolkata-based bluegrass band No Strings Attached, Shillong’s blues band Blue Temptation and others.

The artists will perform across two stages. While the day stage will present mellow music under the sun performed by singer-songwriters and folk bands, things will amp up 4 pm onward with the evening stage playing host to reggae and blues acts, followed by rock bands and eventually, metallers. Apart from music, festival-goers can take part in nature walks and day treks and check out the artworks on display. Says Buragohain, “The whole idea is to have a gathering of like-minded people to celebrate rock & roll. It was something we had only dreamt of; growing up watching Woodstock, it was only a fantasy. We never thought it would turn into reality.”

Tickets for the festival are now available, priced at Rs 1,700, 3,000 and 3,900 for one, two and three days (including accommodation in tents at venue), respectively. The season pass (without accommodation) can be bought for Rs. 1,500. Stay tuned for more details.

Buy tickets here.