Members of Imagenation and musicians, including Lou Majaw (in centre) in Shillong on Saturday

Shillong, Sept. 14: From the effervescent Lou Majaw to the Rudy Wallang Band of Shillong, and from the Fringes of Manipur to M-Trio from Guwahati, followers of blues and jazz music, perhaps, should draw up their itinerary to Shillong from now.

The Shillong Blues & Jazz Festival will be staged on September 27 at the U Soso Tham auditorium where 30 renowned musicians from across the country will sing of peace, hope and reconciliation.

Some of the most celebrated blues and jazz bands like Lou Majaw, 4th Element, Rudy Wallang Band featuring Andrea, Fringes, Arjun Sen, M-Trio, Ronojit Chaliha, Adiel Massar, Plan B, Parvati La Cantante and others will light the stage. The festival aims to drive local change, promote self-confidence, create economic value, generate positive thinking and promote reconciliation through quality music.

“The Shillong Blues & Jazz Festival is just a drop in the ocean of music, but it brings together extraordinary musicians who are committed to and have made this art form a way of life. They come in all shades and colours, from the metros Delhi, Calcutta and other parts of India to collaborate and run in the same groove with their brethren from the Northeast,” Ian Khongmen of Imagenation said.

Imagenation is the main organiser of the festival, which is being supported by the Meghalaya art and culture department and others.

“Blues & Jazz is but an evolution of the music culture. It is symbolic of our times and indeed breathes life into the music industry and still remains the foundation of a tradition that has evolved for many years,” Khongmen said.

According to Majaw, “Music is life...Life is music...Bare your soul for music...where else but the Shillong Blues & Jazz Festival!”

Jazz pianist Ronojit Chaliha said, “This festival is a great opportunity for the people of Shillong and Guwahati to have an idea of what jazz and blues sound like in a live setting with spontaneous improvisation. I expect this festival to get audiences interested about this form of music. It’s a great start!”

Echoing similar sentiments, a member of Calcutta-based jazz band Plan B, said, “The band comes from a part of the country where, unfortunately, cover music rules. It gives us the greatest pleasure to have been invited to perform our own brand of jazz-pop, blues and country-rock compositions, songs and tunes that are very special to us, at the festival.”

But it is not the music alone, which would light the festival. A food court, with Chinese, Naga, Malaysian and Khasi food, would be put up at the venue.