Guwahati to host US rapper Post Malone as Assam launches ‘concert economy’

International music sensation Post Malone is set to perform live in Guwahati on December 8, marking his debut in the North East and only his second-ever concert in India. The announcement was made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also unveiled the state’s ambitious new policy to promote “concert tourism”, the Assam Tribune reported.

The upcoming show will be the first in a series of large-scale music events under Assam’s newly launched ‘concert economy’ initiative, aimed at attracting international acts to the state, boosting tourism and fuelling local business.

Speaking at a press conference in Golaghat, CM Sarma said that after Guwahati, similar mega-concerts will be hosted in Jorhat and Dibrugarh, where infrastructure is being developed to accommodate national and global performers.

“Assam had been left out of the concert tourism economy,” said Sarma, citing how states like Meghalaya and Gujarat have benefited significantly from hosting global music events. “Earlier, performers would opt for Shillong. But now, we have managed to get Post Malone to perform in Guwahati. This will be a game-changer,” he added.

The Assam Cabinet approved the concert tourism policy on Wednesday at a meeting held in Dergaon, Golaghat. Drawing parallels with a Coldplay concert in Ahmedabad, which reportedly generated Rs 600 crore in revenue, Sarma emphasised the potential of high-value cultural tourism in the state.

No official announcement has yet been made by Post Malone or his team and details such as ticket pricing and venue specifics remain awaited.

This will be Post Malone’s second performance in India. His first appearance was at the Zomato Feeding India Concert in December 2022 at Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Race Course, where he performed in front of over 25,000 fans. That event, organised by Zomato’s non-profit wing, aimed to raise awareness about malnutrition in the country.

The 28-year-old American rapper, singer and songwriter - known for hits such as Rockstar, Circles and Sunflower (the latter featured in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) - has remained a crowd favourite globally for his genre-blending sound and chart-topping singles.

The announcement comes at a time when neighbouring Meghalaya has been a consistent draw for international artists. From Bryan Adams to Mr. Big, several world-renowned performers have graced stages in Shillong over the past few years. Norwegian DJ Alan Walker, too, performed in both Guwahati and Shillong during his India tour in September 2024.

Guwahati last saw a major concert when Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh performed at the Sarusajai Sports Complex in December 2024 as part of his Dil-Luminati India Tour.

With its eyes set on transforming Assam into a cultural and tourism hub, the state is betting big on music. As CM Sarma put it: “This is just the beginning.”