Stellar acts by Ronan Keating, Sanam bring curtains down on Cherry Blossom Festival 2023

By Arpita Banerji


SHILLONG: As the clock ticked 9 pm on a starry Sunday evening, the RBDSA sports complex, brimming with over 30,000 souls, was immersed in a surreal stillness.


The Cherry Blossom Festival, in its grand finale, had just witnessed the legendary Lou Majaw set the stage ablaze with an enthralling performance. Yet, a palpable tension hung in the air, mirroring the distant drama in Ahmedabad where India was on the verge of losing the 2023 World Cup final to Australia.

In this crucible of heartbreak and frustration, something extraordinary was needed to resurrect the spirit of the festival. Enter Ronan Keating, the 50-year-old Irish maestro, whose voice, like a siren’s call, has captivated hearts for decades. The moment he stepped onto the stage, a transformative energy surged through the crowd. As he began with ‘Lovin’ Each Day’, his voice, a perfect alchemy of warmth and passion, lifted the shroud of gloom, igniting a resurgence of life in the festival.

Keating, an enigma of the music world, held the audience spellbound. People of all ages — the old with their memories, the evergreen middle-aged and the young with their dreams — found themselves swaying, dancing, weeping. Each note he sang was a key unlocking deep wells of nostalgia, as he journeyed through hits like ‘Words’, ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’, and ‘Love is a Rollercoaster’. Interspersing his melodies with heartfelt anecdotes about his musical odyssey, Keating took the audience on a sentimental journey through the years.

Every song was a masterpiece, a bridge spanning across time, connecting disparate hearts. His renditions of ‘Father and Son’, ‘When You Say Nothing at All’, resonated with a haunting beauty, an echo of timeless love and longing. On Sunday night, Keating didn’t just perform but transformed the sports complex into a sanctuary of human connection and emotion. The festival, the first day of which was completely washed out because of the unyielding downpour brought on by cyclonic storm Midhili, was turned into a bastion of joy, a testament to the power of music to heal, to unite, and to inspire.

“This was the best part, the highlight of the festival. He just lifted our spirits in the best possible way he could. I will remember this night forever,” Galo, a 45-year-old who travelled from Guwahati for the festival, said.

Before Ronan Keating’s performance, the Cherry Blossom Festival in Shillong was already a whirlwind of musical talent. The legendary 76-year-old Lou Majaw, clad in his iconic denim shorts and mismatched socks, electrified the crowd with hits like ‘Ain’t got nothing at all’. The Blue Temptations, a decade-old Blues rock band, captivated with their unique brand of blues, including a memorable Beatles cover. Local acts like Da Minot blended traditional melodies with rock, while Khasi band Snow White fused Khasi music with modern genres on Saturday, the second day of the festival. Hybrid Theory’s heartfelt tribute to Linkin Park and Ne-Yo’s electrifying presence further elevated the event, showcasing a remarkable mix of global and local talents across three stages.

Ne-Yo said he loved the crowd’s energy. “The energy and enthusiasm of the crowd are unparalleled. Shillong, with its cherry blossoms, provides the perfect canvas for artistic expression,” he asserted.

The finale of the Cherry Blossom Festival was marked by an electrifying performance from Sanam, a band beloved for their soulful Bollywood renditions.

Originally scheduled for Day 1 but postponed due to rain, the band captivated the audience with hits like ‘Kya Hua Tera Wada’ and ‘Yeh Raten Yeh Mausam’. Despite an early wrap-up due to commitments, their performance, culminating with ‘Damadam mast kalandar’, left a lasting impact, echoing lead vocalist Sanam Puri’s praise for Meghalaya's unparalleled love for music.

“Shillong, with its Cherry Blossom Festival, is just exceptional. It's been an honour to be part of this incredible festival. Meghalaya’s love for music truly stays unparalleled,” Sanam Puri signed off.

Tourism minister Bah Paul Lyngdoh who graced the festival on its final day, shared his reflections, “This edition of the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival has been the most successful in terms of footfall of tourists as well as the line-up of the artistes. The music has been eclectic ranging from traditional Khasi Melodies to Bollywood to grunge and reggae, amidst many more. It has been heartening to witness the convergence of music, nature, and culture in such a beautiful way.”