All roads lead to Imphal on Thursday for a music concert to create awareness among youth about HIV/AIDS.

With the theme Music Against HIV/AIDS — North East United Against HIV/AIDS, the 2nd North East Multimedia Campaign will witness performances by several bands from across the region at the Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre in Imphal, from 3pm.

“Our target group is 15-24 years. We wanted to reach out to them through music to drive home the message of keeping away from risky activities that make them vulnerable to HIV infection. Each state organised a competition among bands of various genres. The winners from each state will be competing at the finale. They will perform an original song on the theme of substance abuse, HIV/AIDS or stigma and discrimination. The first prize is Rs 1 lakh, while the first and second runners-up will receive Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively,” said Lucy Duidang, deputy director of Manipur State AIDS Control Society.

“Since many visitors are coming to Manipur for the concert, we also wanted to showcase our rich culture, folk songs and dances, which are entertaining and unique. We have a varied fare. Imphal Talkies and GMP are rock bands. Somaya Rumthao & The Band will be performing acoustic guitar and pop music,” she added.

This year, the competing bands are Impromptu (Assam), Innocent Eyes (Manipur), Larger Than 90 (Meghalaya), Tune Up Channel (Nagaland), Reloaded (Arunachal Pradesh), Daamal (Tripura), Boomarang (Mizoram) and Bipolar Shadows (Sikkim). The event will also feature performances by The Wishes, winners of the first edition of the concert, Virgo Diamond, Pinky Saikhom (folk), artistes of Pung Cholom (Manipur drum dance) and a folk/fusion presentation by Guru Rewben Mashangva and Bedabati.

Manipur’s Imphal Talkies and The Howlers, formed in 2008 and known for hits that have become anthems, will also perform at the event. Frontman Akhu Chingangbam has been working with children affected by HIV in Manipur since 2015, through his project A Native Tongue Called Peace. “There are around 70 children from different ethnic backgrounds at a shelter home and most of them are affected by HIV. We carry out music therapy and teach the children music,” he said.

The first edition was held in Kohima in February last year. “We are organising the event state-wise on a rotation basis,” said Duidang.

Last year, the Kohima concert witnessed a footfall of over 10,000 people. The Wishes (Manipur), Trance Effect from Nagaland and Roll Heads from Sikkim bagged the first and second and third prizes respectively.

Imnamaong Imchen, bassist of Trance Effect, said: “We composed a song titled New Beginning for the competition.”