Dhaka: The Hillsong Convention Centre in Sydney, Australia, turned into a vibrant gathering of rock music lovers from the two Bengals on Saturday evening as Bangladesh's rock icon James and Kolkata-based Fossils frontman Rupam Islam shared the stage before an audience of more than 2,000. The concert, which began around 6:30 pm amid a long queue of spectators outside the venue, kept expatriate Bangladeshis and other Bengali music lovers engaged from evening until late at night.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Rupam Islam took the stage shortly before 7 pm and performed around 15 songs, including 'Ekla Ghor', 'Phirey Cholo', 'Hashnuhana' and 'Acid'. His energetic performance of more than an hour had the audience singing along, clapping and cheering throughout.
After a brief interval, James appeared on stage around 9 pm, drawing loud cheers and applause from the packed auditorium. True to his style, the Nagarbaul frontman wasted little time on words and went straight into his songs. He performed a string of popular numbers, including 'Taray Taray', 'Meerabai', 'Dushtu Chheler Dol', 'Shundoritoma' and the Hindi song 'Bheegi Bheegi'. More than 2,000 voices joined James in singing, creating a rare moment of collective participation between the performer and the audience.
The festive atmosphere inside the venue suddenly turned emotional when James began singing 'Maa', written and composed by Prince Mahmud. The audience, who had been singing and cheering moments earlier, fell largely silent and listened intently to the emotional song, with visible emotion on many faces.
James continued performing one popular song after another until around 10:30 pm, captivating the audience with his music and stage presence. His performance ended amid sustained applause and the collective singing of the spectators. The concert also featured a festive atmosphere beyond the performances, with food stalls serving Bangladeshi cuisine drawing crowds outside the venue. The auditorium's sound system and lighting further enhanced the performances.
At one point during the concert, representatives of Bengali Cine Club invited partners and sponsors onto the stage to express their gratitude for their support. James also welcomed them from the stage. The audience response reflected the impact of the evening. 'Sydney has not seen such a well-organised event for a long time. Rupam's performance and Guru James's songs made the night truly memorable for expatriate Bengalis,' said Sydney resident Al Amin.
Nashita Marhuba said she particularly enjoyed the collective participation of the audience. 'When James was singing 'Taray Taray' and 'Bheegi Bheegi', it felt as if the entire hall had become one. It is truly rare to experience something like this while living abroad,' she said. The enthusiasm surrounding the concert was also fuelled by the audience's long wait to see the two rock stars share a stage again. James and Rupam had previously performed together at a concert in India in 2024.
Interest in Saturday's concert grew further after videos of the two musicians meeting in Sydney circulated on social media. Their performances in Sydney finally brought to a close the long wait of expatriate music lovers, as two major rock voices from the two Bengals came together on one stage for a night of music, nostalgia and collective celebration.