Spoken Fest Shillong: When Chai Met Toast, Meba Ofilia and More Announced

The debut edition of Spoken Fest in Shillong will bring in indie-folk act When Chai Met Toast, singer-songwriter Clayton Hogermeer, singer-songwriter Anoushka Maskey with multi-instrumentalist Moli, plus local crowd-pullers such as hip-hop/R&B artist Meba Ofilia and hip-hop duo Khasi Bloodz.

Taking place on Dec. 6 at popular tourist attraction Ward’s Lake in Shillong city, Spoken Fest’s music programming also includes a showcase by the Meghalaya government-aided platform Grass Roots Music Project, featuring pop-soul artist Elena Sohktung.

In addition to the music, the poetry lineup for Spoken Fest features Priya Malik, Lalnunsanga Ralte and Madhu Raghvendra. The storytellers curated for the Shillong edition includes actors such as Amol Parashar and Merenla Imsong, plus poet Trinetra Haldar.

In addition to Shillong – which was rescheduled from its original November date – Spoken Fest is also traveling to Bengaluru on Feb. 22, 2025, with its mainstay Mumbai edition taking place on Feb. 1 and 2, 2025.

Organizers Kommune’s founder and Spoken Fest director Roshan Abbas says in a statement, “Spoken Fest is more than just performances; it’s a tapestry of diverse voices and backgrounds, where poetry meets prose to create magic. By expanding to Bangalore and Shillong, we’re not only providing a platform for local artists to shine but also inviting audiences to connect with the cultural richness of these cities. We’re particularly excited to tap into Shillong’s creative community, exploring new ways to blend traditional storytelling with contemporary art forms. In Shillong, we see an opportunity to push the boundaries of spoken word, creating a festival edition that’s as dynamic and artistically rich as the city itself.”

Tickets for Spoken Fest Shillong are currently priced at ₹999 and are available on Insider.in. The lineup for Spoken Fest Mumbai and Bengaluru is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Get tickets for Spoken Fest Shillong 2024 here.