Stereo Groove from Mokokchung has become the only band from Nagaland to qualify for the Grand Finale of Ticket to Hornbill 2025, India’s biggest band battle, which will take place on October 18 at RCEMPA, Jotsoma near Kohima. The gates will open at 4:00 PM.
Over the past two days, from October 16 to 17, thirty bands from across India competed in the live rounds, showcasing remarkable musical talent, creativity, and energy. After intense performances, eight bands, along with one wild card entry, have been selected for the final round.
The finalists are Thunder’s Cave (Meghalaya), Juxtaposed (Bengaluru), Akhanda (Sikkim), Novo (Assam), Panic India (West Bengal), So Humble (Delhi), Mood Station (Mizoram), and Stereo Groove (Nagaland). Highlanders from Arunachal Pradesh have secured the wild card entry.
The winning band of Ticket to Hornbill 2025 will receive a cash prize of ₹20 lakh, while the first and second runners-up will be awarded ₹10 lakh and ₹5 lakh respectively. Additionally, the top three bandspb will get the opportunity to perform at the 26th edition of the Hornbill Music Festival this December.
The Grand Finale will also feature special performances by Keduo, African Amakshiu, Peleno, Sunep Lemtur, and K3M, as well as a felicitation ceremony for sponsors, judges, and partners.
Organized by the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), Government of Nagaland, Ticket to Hornbill has established itself as one of India’s premier music competitions, providing a platform to discover, nurture, and promote talented musicians from across the country.