ShiRock 2019, a 4-day-long annual rock music competition-cum-festival held in Manipur will witness performance by the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, who arrived in Imphal yesterday. Speaking to the media persons at Hotel Imphal last evening, bassist Pete Agnew, said that they would present 16 songs at Bakshi Ground, Ukhrul today. The Shirui Lily Festival 2019 will be held at multiple venues in Ukhrul district of Manipur from October 16.
Nazareth will perform at Ukhrul hill town for 90-minutes. The band earlier performed in Mizoram in April of 2017.
Recognizing the importance of State flower, the Shirui Festival was upgraded to a State-level fest sponsored by the government in May 2017. The festival aims to spread awareness about conservation of the rare pinkish white flower that resembles the shape of a bell and also ‘to develop and implement sustainable and responsible tourism in the State’ besides promoting Ukhrul as a tourist destination in the Northeast. The major attraction of this festival is the ShiRock competition wherein nearly two dozen bands from five Northeastern states will compete for the coveted title of ‘Shirock 2019’.
The first prize winner of the ShiRock band competition will receive Rs 10 lakh, the second prize winner will get Rs 5 lakh and the third prize winner will be awarded Rs 2.5 lakh. Besides, ShiRock will also invite solo singers for their voice competition with the top prize being Rs 2 lakh.
