Music and community, Country Roads strikes a resounding chord once again
The spirit of country music came alive once again as the Country Roads concert marked its 37th anniversary on Sunday, October 19, at The Forum, Cinnamon Life. The long-running charity concert—Sri Lanka’s oldest annual musical event of its kind—proved that music, compassion, and community still go hand in hand.
The Mavericks from Germany
From the first guitar strum to the final chorus, the evening resonated with warmth, nostalgia, and generosity. The event, organised by the Country Music Foundation (CMF), brought together local and international artists in support of children’s causes across Sri Lanka. “The Country Music Foundation is dedicated to helping children through music,” said Jury Majid, one of the founders of CMF. True to its founding ethos, all proceeds from this show will go to Appe Lanka, whose work will support around 200 children in the Poonakary district in Jaffna, extending the CMF’s mission of reaching underprivileged communities across the island.
The Country Revival Band
Manethree
The evening kicked off with guitar maestro Allan Outschoorn delivering a soulful set of John Denver and Kenny Rogers songs, followed by rising YouTube sensation Manethree, who serenaded the audience with songs by John Denver, Taylor Swift, and Jason Mraz. Adding their signature charm and familiar harmony to the evening were the Cosmic Rays, one of Sri Lanka’s most enduring bands. The band treated the audience to a repertoire of classic country favourites, from ballads to upbeat crowd-pleasers.
The night also featured Thilan Wijesinghe, who took to the stage with guitar and harmonica in hand, performing classics from Bob Dylan and Harry Chapin. The Country Revival Band, led by CMF founders Feizal Samath and Jury Majid, balanced sentiment with authenticity with a rendition of the Traveling Wilburys’ cover of Nobody’s Child and songs by Ricky Nelson and Simon and Garfunkel. Though they jokingly admitted to being “a bit rusty”, their passion for the cause, as well as their down-to-earth charm, warmed the crowd, reminding everyone why Country Roads has never been just about the music but also about community.
Headlining this year’s concert was The Mavericks from Germany, who lit up the stage with their dynamic renditions and infectious energy, drawing the crowd into a foot-tapping frenzy. Their performance captured the authentic spirit of country and had the audience clapping, swaying, and singing along through every number.
“The Country Music Foundation has been doing a lot of work since 1988; that’s more than thirty years now,” said Feizal, reflecting on their long journey and deep commitment to community upliftment. “We have been working in all parts of the country. We have built preschools in the north, we have built drinking water wells all over, libraries, provided scholarships for children, musical scholarships, tables, chairs for schools, and so on.”
“We started this Foundation 37 years ago, and we have aged, we have grown old, but the music has continued year after year,” he continued. True to that sentiment, as the final notes faded and the crowd joined in a heartfelt chorus of ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’, it was clear that the concert’s legacy continues to strike a chord that transcends generations.
The Cosmic Rays
On their feet: The audience enjoying the music. Pix by Nilan Maligaspe
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