Shillong is indeed the land of music lovers. Virgin music flows in the blood of every Shillonghite. Since times immemorial till today and even in the days to come, music has and will always be an integral part of the people of Shillong. Music in Shillong is not just an art form or a hobby but a way of life. It is the driving force that keep Shillong on the move all the time. Shillong is one place where they have an indepth knowledge of their music. From indigeneous music to classic and contemporary rock to country, it is the place where music, irrespective of genres is always appreciated. No feet can resist from tapping to the music of the beautiful hills. When you happen to be in Shillong, first ask children if they know how to play the guitar and then asked which school are they studying in. When you meet the grown-ups do not forget to ask them how good are they in playing the guitar rather than asking if they know how to play the instrument. There is no city in India other than Shillong where rock and roll, blues and country music rule so strongly. Even hard metal. DJs scratching records and playing hip hop, 50 Cent and Snoop Dog clones are rarely visible in Shillong. Shillong is also home to ageing Elvis Presley imitators, and two music festivals to celebrate the music of Bob Dylan and Bob Marley. Cabbies play Deep Purple and Jethro Tull on stereo as they weave in and out of diesel fume-spewing traffic, muscled bikers roam around town in AC/DC tee shirts. A friend of mine from Delhi jokingly said, "Anthony is the only Shillonghite who can't play the guitar. I sometimes doubt if he is really from Shillong." Many theories are offered for Shillong’s fascination with rock and the blues. Some argue that the area’s indigenous Khasi traditions are deeply rooted in song and rhyme. Some credit the 19th-century Christian missionaries who came from Britain and the United States, introduced the English language, hymns and gospel music and in turn made the heart ripe for rock.
LOU MAJAW- The Shillong Dylan
Lou Majaw (Popularly known as Ma Lou- wich is Uncle Lou) a guitar strumming singer is big Fan of Bob Dylan from Shillong in the North-Eastern part of India." He is better known as the 'Shillong Dylan.' Born to a poor family, the Majaws could not afford a guitar or a radio. In a friend's house he was introduced to the music of Bill Haley and Elvis Presley, and taught himself the guitar as most boys and girls did in those days. His mother sent him to a boarding school where his love for music grew. Majaw then moved on to Kolkata (Calcutta) and got his "break" playing at Moulin Rouge on Calcutta's Park Street. He he sang in bars and pubs for various groups such as the Dynamite Boys, Vanguards, Supersound Factory, and Blood and Thunder "They gave me five bucks a day and food," proudly says Ma Lou."Happy birthday, Bob Dylan, wherever you are. God bless you, and thanks for everything that you’ve done.”
Ma Lou returned Shillong and started 'The Great Society'. There is none in Shillong who's not heard of Ma Lou and his music. Many voices in the North-eastern part of India, never went beyond the hills, but Ma Lou's voice defied all that. The Shillong Dylan's voice went beyond the hills and seas enthralled innumerable audience. On May 24th, 1966, Ma Lou organised "Dylan's birthday concert" in Shillong for the first time and since then there has never been a year where Shillong has failed to pay obeissance to Dylan on his birthday. "One fine day in 1972 when I was sitting with a few friends, we suddenly hit upon the idea of a concert on Dylan’s birthday where we would sing covers from his amazing repertoire. Since then I have been doing this with various groups, including the Great Society," says Ma Lou. "It was in Calcutta that I first heard Dylan’s songs. That was 1966. I was singing at the Moulin Rouge when somebody got me a record of his songs. And after that my life changed," recalls Majaw. "Dylan opened so many doors for me, he taught me to be one with myself and the world..."
"His songs lit up my life and gave it a lot of meaning. His new stuff doesn't touch me as much though," This is what Ma lou has to say about Bob Dylan. Always in his impossibly tight frayed denim shorts, yellow socks, white sneakers, a short blue specked tee shirt, his long greying hair flowing down to his shoulders, Ma Lou is known by all young and old in Shillong. On stage, he is a like a voodoo child of the 60s, a cross between Angus Young and James Brown, stalking his musicians relentlessly, shaking his head, dancing like a rock and roll dervish, all the while singing the troubadour's classics.
SHILLONG'S SOULMATES
"We did not choose the blues… the Blues chose us! …"
"We did not choose the blues… the Blues chose us! …"
Soulmate was formed eight years ago in Shillong by Rudy Wallang (guitarist, songwriter and singer) and Tipriti ‘Tips’ Kharbangar (Blues Singer and guitarist) is the best known Blues Band of India. SOULMATE came together in Shillong, in February 2003 playing their first concert at the ‘Roots Festival' at the Water Sports Complex in Umiam. Since then the band has performed many concerts all over the Northeast as well as in different parts of India
Anyone with an interest in the western music scene in India will recognize Rudy Wallang, who leads this tight knit musical unit. Born into music, he grew up listening to his father Toto Wallang making music and he started singing and playing the ukulele at a very tender age eventually graduating to the guitar. Rudy has a long musical history and has been part of the well known blues rock acts, Great Society & Mojo. The beautiful and talented vocalist and rhythm guitarist of SOULMATE is Tipriti ‘Tips’ Kharbangar who has earned a name as one of the finest female singers to have emerged out of Shillong and India as a whole! She started out singing gospel songs at the local church choir and is now drawn to the Blues, Soul, Jazz and listens to Aretha Franklin, Billy Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Nina Simone and B.B.King,Van Morrison, Jimmy Hall, Susan Tedeschi. 
The band also consists of Ferdy Dkhar on Bass Guitar and Sam Shullai on Drums. They all come from Shillong. The band, through the years has gone from strength to strength and has made quite a name for itself in the club circuits especially in Delhi, Mumbai and Goa.
The Band was created with the desire to promote the Blues genre of music and for fulfilling the passionate involvement of the artists with Blues. When often asked by people, why they chose the Blues…their answer is – ‘we didn’t choose the Blues...the Blues chose us!’ They have also performed at the International Jazzmandu Festival in Kathmandu for two consecutive years..2004 and 2005. Soulmate has performed over 500 concerts all over the country and abroad. They are regular performers at The HAZE Blues Bar in Delhi and are also members of the Blues Club of India. The Band also performed as semi-finalists at The Rum Boogie Café (Blues Club of The Year) on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, USA in February 2007 alongside 150 other bands and musicians from all over the world. This was at the 23rd International Blues Challenge contest organized by The Blues Foundation of America. Soulmate has the distinction of being the first and only Blues Band ever to represent India in this International Blues Challenge! Soulmate was also a part of Roots On The Move Festival, 2007 during which they performed concerts and conducted workshops all over the North East of India. The band has performed almost all over India playing numerous gigs in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Kalimpong, Mizoram,Nagaland,Assam and here in Shillong
Soulmate released their debut album entitled "SHILLONG" which was recently (2005) voted as the Number 1 Indian Original Album in the Blues/Rock category. The album is a tribute to love in its different forms as well as being a tip of the hat to their hometown.Their music features regularly on World Space Radio. The Band takes their name from one of the songs on the album called "Blues is my soulmate". Soulmate also sings for social causes. They contributed – I See A Light in the album, Keep The Promise, produced by the Thomson Foundation for an AIDS awareness campaign. SHILLONG CHAMBER CHOIR
Melodious voice from the beautiful hills
Shillong Chamber Choir was formed in 2001 by Mr. Neil Nongkynrih Neil Nongkynrih who studied at the Guild Hall School of Music and Trinity College, London, and thereafter worked as a concert pianist for 13 years in Europe then returned back to Shillong. On returning to Shillong he started the Shillong Chamber Choir and they made their debut performance at Pinewood Hotel in Shillong. I
The choir’s repertoire includes works of western classical music, including Handel, Bach, Gershwin and Mozart, from hits by rock group Queen, and Khasi folk songs and opera. Over the years it has performed in in Britain, Poland, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Italy and the Indian cities of Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Guwahati
SNOW WHITE
COLORS
ADROIT
AFFLATUS
4th ELEMENT
MIDNIGHT GARDEN FACTOR
HEADINGSON RYNTATHIANG
GRACE MAUREEN SOHLIYA
AROHA CHOIR
GRACYL ROPMAY
PIP OF THE FOURTH MOTHER
STREET STORIES
