The 13th edition of the Ziro Festival of Music will be held from September 24 to 27 in Arunachal Pradesh’s Ziro Valley, featuring more than 40 artists from India and abroad. The four-day festival will bring together musicians from Northeast India, national performers and international artists from countries including Algeria, Thailand, Palestine, Switzerland, South Africa, South Korea, Nepal, Ireland, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. The Indian lineup includes Sukhbir, Sneha Khanwalkar, Midival Punditz, Shakthisree Gopalan, Shanka Tribe and Parikrama. Regional acts include Tripura’s Sukesh Suklabadya, Manipur’s Chingleipak Collective and Yelhomie, Sikkim’s Tribal Rain, Nagaland’s Temsu Clover, Mizoram’s Mood Station, Assam’s Novo and Arunachal Pradesh’s David Angu. The international lineup includes Sri Lankan singer Yohani, Algeria’s Fati Teniri, Palestinian-French producer Isam Elias, Nepal’s Phosphenes, Thailand’s GYMV, the Philippines’ Talahib and South Korea’s Moher. For the first time, the festival will introduce ‘Cosmos’, an informal space for spontaneous jam sessions, artist interactions and unscripted performances. The event will also host the final chapter of ‘Circuit Mixers’, an international electronic music exchange supported by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, featuring artists from India, South Africa and Switzerland. Irish folk band Saltaire will participate in a cultural residency with local musicians, supported by Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi. The festival will also showcase Apatani traditions through the ‘Daminda’ harvest dance, a presentation by the Apatani Women’s Association Ziro, and workshops on paddy flute making and pottery. ZFM co-founder and director Bobby Hano said discovery and cross-cultural exchange remain central to the festival. #ArunachalPradesh #ziromusicfestival #TheAssamTribune