GUWAHATI: In a few hours from now, a popular brewery in Guwahati will echo with a melange of independent music from across the Northeast.
For, it’s the third edition of the Rocka Rolla Music Awards (RRMA) 2024 – an initiative that aims to bring original works from the region to the forefront, making it reach the ears they thoroughly deserve.
This year, the RRMA feature 17 categories with over 100 nominations reviewed by an esteem panel of three seasoned musicians – American master-drummer Derek Roddy, acclaimed Assamese singer-composer Joi Barua and powerhouse-vocalist Vedant Kaushik Barua.
“I feel fortunate to be a jury member, getting to hear so many brave young musicians from the Northeast. The magnitude of talent, musicianship and intent they have towards the art; it’s remarkable. I have always believed that Northeast has a different talent pool; a very niche talent pool in the country,” says Joi Barua.
An award show devoid of live acts is unthinkable and lining up to oblige attendees at the do are a slew of exciting acts – Mama Tips and the Band, a power blues ensemble from Shillong, classic rock crusaders Rubella from Guwahati and a special performance by Joi Barua and friends.
“It’s always good to acknowledge deserving musicians and if they are rock and roll people, even more so. If you are appreciating an indie band or a musician, and topping it up with awards; you don’t know how good you are doing to them vis-à-vis music,” says Tipriti Khanbangar, acclaimed blues vocalist and frontwoman of Mama Tips and the Band.
The awards would honour the best works in slew of categories including Best Album, Best Rock and Metal band, among 14 others.
This year, the jury has decided to jointly bestow the Lifetime Achievement Award to veteran musicians Utpal Borsaikia and Late Lunse Millick from Assam.
Another highlight of the occasion will be the launch of a video single by Noria, a grunge/doom band from Dulijaan, from their upcoming debut EP.
“The idea behind initiating the award is to honour original works of musicians in the Northeast in popular-but-often-overlooked genres such as rock and metal,” says David Koch, proprietor of Rocka Rolla.
