Message of AIDS at Bob Dylan birthday bash in Shillong

Shillong, May 25 (UNI) The Meghalaya capital turned its passion for Western music into a tool to combat HIV/AIDS, as the city celebrated the 65th birthday celebration of legendary English musician Bob Dylan with an evening of pulsating music..

The event titled 'Folklore: Phase One', began with a gravel-voiced musician of the region Lou Majaw who took the audience back to the memories of Dylan's all-time hits.

Other artists, who performed at the celebration, included India-based English musician Liz Cotton, Delhi-based music director and guitarist Arjun Sen, musician and painter Lew Hilt, drummer Nondon Bagchi and the father-son duo of Anjan and Neel Dutt from Kolkata.

Mr Majaw and socio-cultural organisation Great Society, with support from UN agency UNAIDS, joined hands with NGO 'Maitri', which is working here to spread awareness about the dreaded disease.

Some of the proceeds from the two-hour concert at the State Central Library Auditorium would go towards setting up 'Matrigram' -- a village for the care and support of children below the age of 10 who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.

''We wanted to reach out to the youth through music. We have joined hands with the Great Society and Mr Majaw, as their spirit could be a guiding force in the war against AIDS,'' said Mr Sanjay Sharma, director of 'Maitri'.

The NGO already has nine acres of land donated by a philanthropist for setting up the 'Matrigram'. They are planning to have 22 children in the village by the end of this year.

Started in 1972 by a handful of music lovers, Dylan's birthday celebration was into its 34th consecutive year in the state this year. Mr Majaw and some of his friends conceptualised the idea of the celebration in the early 1970s.

It was a balmy Spring day in 1972, when Mr Majaw and the late Eddie Rynjah cranked out a soulfully supercharged performance at the modest Assam Club here with some music aficionados. The event showcased folk music with Dylan as the central theme.

Thirty-four years have passed and 59-year old Mr Majaw rocked the show once again last evening at the performance that he called a 'celebration' and not a 'concert'.

The audienc, however, was treated to more than music. It was chosen as the ''Dylan Look Alike''. Besides, a spectator sharing her birthday with Dylan grabbed a watch from Longines.

Special merchandise to commemorate Dylan's birthday celebration was also sold at the venue. Those included T-shirts, sling bags, scarves, stickers, coasters, keychains, baseball caps and posters.

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