Lou Majaw lights the inaugural lamp at Rabindra Bhawan. Picture by Eastern Projections

Eight musical ensembles from the Northeast converged at Rabindra Bhawan in Guwahati on June 27 to enthral the audience with a delightful medley.

The concert, organised by the Programme Production Centre (Northeast), Doordarshan Guwahati, started with a scintillating presentation by the Shillong-based band Bad Monkeys.

Of their repertoire, Rebel Yell and Born to be Wild deserve special mention.

Manipur troupe Recycle, led by Bode Paonam, made a mark with So Let’s Talk Awhile, Megalomaniac and White Noise.

Mizoram’s heartthrob Mami Varte, a celebrity in the Western music arena of the Northeast, heightened the ambience with her brilliant rendition of Love the Way you Love me...

Her impressive style and command over melody and rhythm clearly depicted her authority over the genre.

Two newly formed bands, Titans (from Tura) and Chronicles (Gangtok) came as a pleasant surprise.

The numbers I am Your Pain, Standing Tall and How Much I Love You by Titans and I Wanna Get that Lovin’ and The Golden Crown by Chronicles were indicative of the potential of these troupes.

Guwahati-based band Moon Wind, led by Suman Dutta, also delighted the capacity audience with their super-hit numbers like What’s Up and Miracle.

Soulmate, one of the most popular bands from Shillong, held the receptive audience spellbound with Set Me Free, Stay Away, The Price, and Come round my house.

Their vocalists Tripti Kharbangar and Rudy Wallang were at their best.

Chief guest Lou Majaw, who brought up the rear, could not wait to rock the audience.

Besides his inimitable presentation of Rose in My Garden and Yakeroo Blues, he gave Guwahatians an evening to remember with the immortal Bob Dylan number Knocking on Heaven’s Door.