Nelly Books India’s Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival

Nelly will headline India’s Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival, sharing the bill with Khalid and Swae Lee. The two-day event runs November 20 and 21 at Madan Kurkalang in Bhoirymbong, Meghalaya.

Boys Like Girls and singer Darshan Raval share Nelly’s November 20 opening-day bill, according to India Today NE.

The lineup launch announcement took place at Shillong’s Meghalayan Age Pavilion at Ward’s Lake, with Meghalaya government Commissioner and Secretary Rosetta Mary Kurbah present.

Galantis and British singer Elliot James Reay are also among the international acts announced for the festival.

This year’s theme, “Year of Generations,” splits the weekend between two eras of music. The opening day focuses on millennial and Y2K sounds, while the second day leans toward Gen Z and current music.

That puts Nelly on the bill’s early-2000s side, with a career that earned him three Grammy wins and 12 nominations.

He won for “Hot In Herre” and “Dilemma” at the 2003 awards, then picked up another trophy for “Shake Ya Tailfeather” in 2004. Country Grammar earned a Best Rap Album nomination in 2001, while Nellyville competed for Album Of The Year in 2003.

Jessie Lyngdoh, Gingerfeet, Scribe, W.I.S.H. and Bhayanak Maut are among the Indian and regional performers booked for the festival. Beyond the stages, organizers have announced cosplay, fashion events, beatboxing, eating contests, ziplining and a Ferris wheel.

Meghalaya’s musicians have an industry event before the concerts.

They plan a Music Summit for November 19 in collaboration with India International Music Week. Workshops and discussions are intended to help local artists meet booking agents, label representatives and concert promoters from other countries.

The new booking comes as television viewers are set to see more of the demands of his touring life.

Season two of “Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together” arrives on Peacock November 19, with his storyline examining the physical toll of years of touring.