Shillong’s Cherry Blossom Festival has long been more than a pretty backdrop for pink blooms. Starting out as a tourism experiment in 2016, it has today evolved into a defining cultural moment for the region, a wager that Meghalaya Tourism is making to transform “India’s Rock Capital” into a broader, more culturally diverse creative hub.
While previous editions have hosted artists like Jonas Blue, Boney M’s Maizie Williams, Magic!, and Akon, this year’s lineup, too, is stacked with international heavyweights, including Jason Derulo, The Script, Diplo, Tyga, and Aqua, alongside crowd-pullers such as Nora Fatehi, Zephyrtone, Girish and the Chronicles, and more. Yet even as it brings in nostalgia icons and chart-topping names, the Cherry Blossom Festival continues to build on the foundation it started with: to amplify the region’s own voices and strengthen the ecosystem for homegrown talent through initiatives like the Meghalaya Grassroots Movement Project, a state-backed program supporting emerging artists.
In keeping with that, we’re moving beyond the marquee names to highlight some of the regional voices. Whether they’re flying under the radar or making national waves, these are all the artists you need to know if you’re attending the festival this year.
One of the most definitive names on both the Northeast hip-hop circuit and the national radar, the Shillong-based crew has been pushing culture since 2009. Fusing their local Khasi tongue with English, Khasi Bloodz is known for searing verses that layer themes of identity, politics, and pride over everything from old-school hip-hop to soul and R&B. Their recent trilogy, Blood, Sweat & Tears, marks both a comeback and a creative leap, reaffirming why they’re often seen as cultural flagbearers for the region. On stage, they’re all fire and intent, the kind of act that reminds you why representation in rap matters.
Producer Gillian Kharshiing, who goes by the stage name Finding Mero, is among Shillong’s most forward-thinking electronic artists. His lush, emotive soundscapes, featured on labels like Qilla Records and Billboard’s 2021 Electric Asia VA compilation, stretch from ambient chill house to more cinematic synths and textures. Having had his releases appear in global gaming titles like Rocket League, his music balances the introspective inclinations of artists like Jon Hopkins or Tycho with a distinctly local, atmospheric edge.
One of the most magnetic voices to emerge from Meghalaya’s contemporary hip-hop scene, Walter Wahlang has built his name on spitfire verses and a commanding stage presence. His bilingual flow has made him a fixture across both the Northeast’s festival circuit and some of the country’s buzziest live venues, from Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival to Delhi’s Record Room. Having opened for acts like Dino James and Shah Rule, Walter channels the pulse of Shillong’s streets into an urgent, unfiltered energy that feels built for bigger stages.
One of Shillong’s brightest exports, Meba Ofilia has grabbed her spot in India’s R&B and hip-hop landscape with silky vocal textures and self-assured bars. She first pulled global attention with her single “Done Talking” with Khasi Bloodz, which won Best Indian Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards. Her debut project, untitled.shg, which released in 2022, saw her digging into themes of identity, resilience, and artistic evolution, mixing gospel‑inspired tones with R&B grooves, jazz influences, and rich storytelling. Her sound is a catchy blend of emotion and attitude that’s part Jorja Smith, part Little Simz, and she’s set to deliver that signature mix of soul and swagger on the Cherry Blossom stage.
Emerging from Meghalaya’s Garo Hills, this duo is carving its own lane in Indian hip-hop. Their bilingual verses capture the rhythms and realities of local life, all packed with punchy, wry wordplay. Singles like “Poppin’ & Shoppin’” highlight their precision and creative flair, while their live sets are slowly building a reputation for their energy and crowd-ready charisma, making them a next-generation force to watch out for in the region’s rap scene.
Shillong’s Dappest & adL are a duo defined by the interplay of their individual strengths: Adiel Massar (adL), the producer, draws on R&B, neo-soul, Afro‑rhythms, and experimental electronic textures, while Dappest, a vocalist and lyricist, brings falsetto hooks, melodic versatility, and hard-hitting lines. Their 2022 full-length debut, At Your Service, captured this chemistry, featuring genre-fluid arrangements with compelling songwriting that earned them the top spot at Meghalaya’s government-backed Mega Music Contest. On stage, the dynamic is clear from the get-go: adL anchors the sound in textured drops and subtle production flourishes, while Dappest commands the mic with precision. Together, the duo seems to be signalling that instead of simply staying rooted in place, Meghalaya’s music scene is reaching outward with intent.
The Shillong-based rock outfit Catatonic has rapidly made its mark with a brutal yet emotionally charged blend of post‑hardcore and melodic metal. Their 2025 EP Metanoia (and preceding Gardenia) explores themes of loss, identity, transition, and resilience through crashing riffs, jagged melodies, and visceral vocals. On stage, they are a force of catharsis and release, representing the enduring spirit of Shillong’s rock legacy.
One of Shillong’s most distinctive voices, folk fusion band DaLa‑Riti, led by singer‑songwriter Dalariti Gratel Kharnaior, was formed in 2018 to mix Khasi folk traditions with Western influences. Their repertoire spans original folk-fusion songs and reworked classics like “Shad Pynnang” and “Sier Lapalang,” preserving cultural heritage through a contemporary lens shaped by modern instrumentation and songwriting. Having collaborated with artists like Vasu Dixit on The Pada Project in 2022 and performed at festivals such as WAVES 2025 in Mumbai and the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, DaLa‑Riti will bring their lively, folk-driven sound to the Cherry Blossom Festival stage.
Shillong’s Bending Waves are making their mark on India’s alternative rock scene with a sound that pairs melodic hooks with punchy, guitar-driven energy. Their debut single, “Medicine,” and follow-up “Feeling Good” quickly earned them widespread attention, with lyrics that channel resilience and hope without ever losing their edge. Known for live sets that shift across moods and genres, the band’s live performances are an unpredictably compelling experience.
Larger Than 90
Larger Than 90, a seven-piece outfit from Jowai, Meghalaya, have built a reputation on their genre-defying sound, melding soul, rock, and groove-heavy rhythms into a funk-laced sound. Their self-titled debut album introduced listeners to tracks like “Into the Wild”, “In Our Life”, “Aunty Next Door”, and “Beaches”, while their latest EP Caught the Funk pushes their funky, high-energy approach even further. Having played festivals, fundraisers, and clubs across the state, and even completing a four-state mini tour in 2023, the group is set to bring their infectiously energetic live show to the Cherry Blossom Festival.
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