New Delhi: American singer-rapper Post Malone paid a heartfelt tribute to the late musician Zubeen Garg during his Guwahati concert on 8 December.
While interacting with the audience, Malone said, “To be in the home of the great legendary Zubeen tonight, ladies and gentlemen. I just hope everyone’s having an amazing day and an amazing night. My name is Austin Richard Post, and I’ve come to play some street songs.”
❤️🩹 HEART-WARMING MOMENT: Post Malone honouring the legendary Zubeen Garg is something Assam will cherish forever.
Guwahati just wrapped one of its biggest events in history — hosting Post Malone for his first-ever show in the Northeast.
A night where global music met Assamese… pic.twitter.com/NpRk3sxxzS
— Sanjib Hazarika (@bjpsaanjib) December 8, 2025
Garg’s death in September had brought the state to a standstill. The investigation into his death is still ongoing. Garg died while swimming in the sea off an island in Singapore on 19 September. He was in Singapore to attend and perform at the 4th edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF). Seven people, including his manager Siddharth Sharma and event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, were arrested in connection with his death. Assam police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) is conducting an investigation and is set to file a detailed chargesheet on 12 December.
Ahead of Post Malone’s performance, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had taken to social media to welcome the artist to the city. “For the first time ever, global music icon and Grammy-nominated artist Post Malone will be performing in Guwahati, a historic occasion which places our city firmly on the world entertainment map. My best wishes on this occasion and I hope everyone loves Assam’s hospitality,” he wrote on X.
Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi had earlier urged Sarma to cancel the Post Malone show until justice is delivered to Zubeen Garg.
Assam Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi also criticised Sarma in a X post.
“For the people of Assam 8th December meant knowing how our beloved artist late Zubeen Garg died. The Chief Minister of Assam had constituted a Special Investigation Team and said that the justice will be delivered on 8th December. Yet the date for #JusticeforZubeenGarg got postponed and the Chief Minister of Assam was giving sound bytes on an American artist performing in Assam,” wrote Gogoi.
Also read: Indian states are competing to be the concert capital. Post Malone in Assam a turning point
Assam’s concert economy
Post Malone’s concert was the first major concert in Assam by an international artist. According to the state tourism department officials, more than 20,000 tickets for the concert were sold within days of the event listing.
Earlier this year, Sarma had mentioned in a press conference that his government has set aside funds for concert tourism in the year’s budget. On Sunday, a day before the Post Malone concert, Sarma spoke about getting Colombian singer-songwriter Shaikra to Assam next.
“I am trying to invite world-famous singer Shakira to Assam as well. Our concert economy will get a new momentum, boosting tourism and showcasing the Northeast’s vibrancy,” said Sarma.
Sarma also shared a detailed post on 9 December about the proposed concert economy, outlining how it will generate revenue and jobs for the local Assamese people.
Dibrugarh and Jorhat are the two other cities in Assam where the infrastructure for holding national and international concerts is going to be developed.
Earlier large concerts include Diljit Dosanjh’s December 2024 performance in Guwahati during his Dil-Luminati India Tour. Held at Helipad ground at Sarusajai Sports Complex, that was Guwahati’s last biggest concert before Post Malone’s show this year.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)