Lake of Stars ends on a high

Good things don’t last. The 2015 Lake of Stars festival at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi on Sunday had to come to an end as well.

But what seemed to be the end appeared as though things were starting all over again, thanks to the magic of Sonye’s hit of the moment Tsika.

Sonye was one of the main headliners on a day most patrons were nursing hangovers while others had left for their respective homes.

It was almost a quiet day, or say a day of watching than dancing, which suited the singers, such as Faith Mussa, Takula Band and Lusubilo Band doing tradition.

But as the night was maturing, especially after Lusubilo came on stage, the atmosphere changed.

James Brown’s I feel Good, done with near perfection, was the toast of the day.

The 2014 best band winners, with their usual energetic performance, proved their worth as recipients of the award from the Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM).

That was not the end, however. The Karonga-based youthful band had just set the tone for the night.

Takula Band, made up of Faith Mussa, Peter Mawanga, Sam Mkandawire, Marlyn Chakwera and Omex Chimpeni to preserve Malawian music of the 1950/60s, brought in another dimension of music.

That which addresses the soul while at the same time proving that great music is possible with a fusion of local and imported instruments.

Mussa as a solo artist afterwards brought patrons to dancing again, with his hit Desperate and Pamudzi Pano.

Things were getting even better as patrons had to reconnect with their past through Sally Nyundo’sKukuchedwa Kucha andRas Amadya Nzimbe.

After Nyundo, was the moment most people were waiting for—to witness former Big Brother Africa housemate and Botswana rapper Zeus on stage.

As an international headliner for the night, and backed by Nyundo’s Run Tings Band, Zeus did not disappoint.

However, unlike the previous days where international headliners would quench all the thirst for dance, this night fans waited patiently for Sonye who was scheduled to perform last.

And he rewarded them accordingly for their patience withTsika, which proved too hot for the patrons to resist, as he was asked to perform it twice.

The microphone, however, was not clear enough, but that did not stop him from delivering a performance he described as a milestone in his career although he used a CD and a DJ.

After the performance, he was seemingly happy to come to terms with the big fan base his music commands.

“Today’s performance marks as an announcement of my return to stage performances. People should expect me more on stage,” he said.

He said following South Africa’s Uhuru perfect stage work on Friday, he is contemplating producing another dance hit that will keep people on their feet during his performances.

“Uhuru’s performance on Friday has given me food for thought on how stage music ought to be done, and I can promise that I am going back to the studio to produce another dance beat that will keep fans dancing,” he said.

But as nature shows, all good things have to come to an end.