Shillong is a preferred location for event organizers for obvious reasons–breath-taking view and perfect weather. With the holiday season just around the corner, this is the time when locals and tourists come together to celebrate various events and festivals. Events are the right catalyst, as music and food are their core focus. The Cook Out 2016, organized by La Chiam Event Company in the outskirts of Shillong, seemed to be an interesting music and food festival to attend.
Although the venue turned out to be quite a treasure hunt for visitors, but once there, the captivating surroundings made all the effort worth it.
The event started a little late, which allowed people to socialize and explore. It was pleasantly surprising to see the audience enjoy sound checks, as bands made it interesting by adding their own little twists. For example, Dew Drops combined the usual sound check of individual instruments and the vocal “check, check, check” to create a harmony, while some other bands had interesting versions of their own musical rhythms.
Cryptographic Street Poets / Image courtesy: Navjot Kaur Gill
All performances were top notch. The opening band, Cryptographic Street Poets, hip-hop rapped performance in English, Jaintia, Hindi and Khasi. With their gangster-like attire, they were rapping social messages and creating rhythms that expressed pain, confusion, agony and joy – to create awareness through their genre of music. Their stage presence and sense of humour were spot on.
HEAR / Image courtesy: Navjot Kaur Gill
This was followed by a performance by HEAR, and we heard them just right! They mellowed into reggae beats and rhythms, lending a fresh approach, making everyone feel good and giving a visual treat of their almost raw-like performance.
Dew Drops / Image courtesy: Navjot Kaur Gill
Dewdrops stuck to their originals. It was Jamming-in the words of a true reggae music lover.
Gravity / Image courtesy: Navjot Kaur Gill
Covers of popular pop culture genre were staged by Gravity. The audience, along with other bands danced through their performance.
image courtesy: Navjot Kaur Gill
These bands performed during the early afternoon/evening of the event, which later transitioned into electronic music of hip-hop, dance and EDM, as it got dark. DJ’s Elton, Duncan and Rishi played back-to-back tracks late into the night.
Although the event indicated a cookout, but due to time restrain, the organisers replaced it by serving lip-smacking food–traditional Putharo with Dohjem, chicken grilled with jalapeño and cherries, lamb chops, etc. There was food in plenty for all.
image courtesy: Navjot Kaur Gill
The event did not witness a large footfall, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it slowly turned into a large private party–with good music, food and people with similar interests. Musicians of different genres were seen supporting, interacting and enjoying various forms of music. It was a day well spent.
Nocy Rangsa Marak
A survivor soul with the niche for all things creative. Graphic designer by profession and heart, evident in her love for colours, shapes and stationary visible through her attire or things she owns. Love for writing, a creative expression form she also enjoys. New places, food, culture, music always intrigues her travel soul that she is discovering one element at a time. Living life mostly through experiences, writing, journals, doodles, art and design, and discovering.
