Avora Records from Aizawl, Mizoram were declared winners of this year’s Hornbill international Rock Contest 2017, while The Prophets (Aizawl) and Perfect Stick Figure Illustrations (Gangtok) were placed 1st and 2nd Runners up respectively.
Nine bands out of total 22 bands performed in front of a mammoth crowd at Agri Expo Site, 4th Mile, Dimapur. Some viewers arrived late after harrowing traffic snarls within the town.
Visitors were pleasantly surprised at the way Diphupar Naga Youth Organization (DNYO) managed the rush of vehicles and feet as well. As always, host Moanungsang like a seasoned professional kept the crowd entertained as bands prepared to play their sets.
With original songs featuring Dimapur guitarist Atasaba as guest guitarist, SNF winners of HIRC 2016 kept the crowd occupied as judges deliberated the results.
Vocalist of the winning band, who was clearly emotional, said, “Dimapur has angels” and narrated how they had lost their pedal, but the organisers went out of their way to help them. The winning band played all originals with tightly timed funky songs that had the crowd fascinated all along.
Avora Records walked with a cash prize of 10 lakhs, while The Prophets and Perfect Stick Figure Illustrations won cash prizes of 5 lakhs and 3.5 lakhs. The three winners won sound gear gift hampers from Artist Aloud, while prizes for individual categories carried cash reward of 25,000 sponsored by Hero Moto Corp along with music gears from Marshall Amplifications.
Winners under “individual categories” were:
Best Vocalist – Ronnie from The Prophets (Aizawl)
Best Guitarist- Ruata Renthlei from Avora Records (Aizawl)
Best Bassist- Gordon from The Prophets (Aizawl)
Best Drummer- John Raj Swami from Highway 69 (Ranchi)
Yellow Beacon won the best band in the local category and won a cash prize of 1 lakh sponsored by Case Construction.