Shillong’s Evening Club hits all the right notes for artists and patrons

The Evening Club Entry | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The story of Evening Club is a deep love for family, friends and music. Located in India’s Rock Capital, Shillong, Bar is dedicated to live music, poetry and art. Managed by Jeffrey Lallu, the Evening Club was cured by a musician for musicians.

The “EC” as it is popularly known, originated as a more accessible version of the Shillong Club, and was initiated by the great -grandfather of Jeffrey. In the 1980s, his father put his spin in place. In the 80s, EC was bouncing at a restaurant and bar, popular police market street, next to the famous Calvin cinema – people would come to EC for food, and go to Calvin cinema for a film. Calvin cinema was burnt in the 80s, destroying a part of the EC building.

As the EC establishment, we know that it now began in 2016 when Jeffrey and his father joined the army to revive the opportunity. A musician himself, Jeffrey will play with various bands, while there is still a student in Delhi University, something that has informed his knowledge of live music places and helped them meet the evening club to meet the needs of live artists. “It takes one to learn one,” Jeffrey says, speaking on how musicians like to behave in a club. “This is not rocket science, but it is easy to wrong.” The EC provides accommodation for musicians performing in the club, and acoustically designed to sound well during a performance, saving time during Soundchec.

Live performance of great society in EC. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“We are not interested in any one style, we have all kinds of styles from metal to hip hop and rock, blues, reege.” The EC is “Performing Arts About All” as Jeffrey has said, club is hosting a variety of book launch between poetry reading and is back to the school music shows, dedicated to the apathy of music of 90s and 2000s. “Evening Club since 1958, to date, gets better and better, good factors such as their personal holiday room, sound system, food and top, proprietor Jeff Lallu’s good factor, called Shillong Rock Legend Lu Majav. His band the Great Society was reunited in December 2024 after 34 years in EC. Why EC was selected as Lu’s response, “And where?”

Anurag Banerjee’s photobook Songs of our people, A labor of love focused on Shillong’s musicians, dedicates a chapter to Jeffrey Lallu, who explains NURAG, looks at EC through his lens. Describing the EC as his favorite place in the country, Anurag knew that the book launch was to be in music hason itself. The two -day program was performed by nine artists, depicting more than 200 people, including Lu, including Lu.

Anurag Banerjee’s photobook launch | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The EC has been a springboard for music in the north-east, and is an important place to respect the music of the region. “It is a great place in these parts,” Sillong -born artist Meba Offilia says. “I have a blast playing show, and I always have a great time when I see a performance.”