Correspondent
KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 6
THE annual Hornbill Rock Contest which has been elevated to an international level this year will be held from December 6-10 at Naga Solidarity Park, Kohima.
Announcing this at a press conference at Unitex, Kohima Wednesday evening, Music Task Force project director Gugs Chishi said the Hornbill International Rock Contest will be an integral part of the Hornbill International Music Festival 2013. He said with the status of the competition going up, as many as 27 bands will be competing for a prize money of Rs 10 lakh, which is considered the highest offered for the winner of a competition of this genre (Rock) in India. Chishi said with the contest going international this year, participation of bands from four different countries - USA, Norway, South Korea and UK- have been confirmed so far. He informed that a five-member committee is currently screening the bands (outside Nagaland) for the competition and the participants’ list is likely to be finalized and announced by November 11.
Hornbill International Rock Contest event director Neigulie Nakhro said five slots have been reserved for Nagaland bands, out of which, the organizers unanimously decided to grant two direct entries for NSACS ZERO 2013 winners, Making Merry and Rock Reign 2013 Mokokchung winners, Infuse. He informed that auditions for Nagaland bands for the three remaining slots will be held on November 20 at the State Academy Hall, Kohima.
Hornbill International Rock Contest chief event consultant Ababe Ezung of XL group, who was also present at the press conference, informed that December 6-9 will be the screening rounds where 9 bands will be selected for the grand finale scheduled to be held on December 10. He also stated that this year’s contest will be a ticketed show with Rs 50 per exclusive entry.
Besides the prize money, sponsored gifts will also be given to the winners. The second prize will carry cash prize of Rs 3.5 lakh and third prize, Rs 2.5 lakh while individual prizes of Rs 30,000 each will be given to the Best Vocalist, Best Guitarist, Best Drummer and the Best Bassist. Unitex, Kohima will be the control room for the rock contest.
Organised by the Music Task Force (YRS) Nagaland, the ten-day musical extravaganza, the Hornbill International Music Festival will also feature musicians from Indonesia and Thailand besides those from Nagaland and other states of India. The production and events will be managed by XL.
