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Street Rat launches Tilitonse Band in Scotland

 

Malawian musician living in Scotland, David Luhanga, aka Street Rat, officially launched a band last week at Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival.

Street Rat established the six-member group trading as David Luhanga and Tilitonse Band to widen his opportunities as an international artist.

The band was the opening act for six shows in Edinburgh from August 9 to August 18 2017.

Street Rat: We had a very good start

“We had a very good start and a big surprise for the audience. Usually you know what happens to the opening act, people don’t want to waste time rather than watching the main act. Interestingly, every time we finished our 45 minutes set they were crying for more, lots of good remarks from people in the audience,” he said in an interview.

The band is made up of Scottish professional artists Alex Palmer (drums), Sam Coade (keys), Allan Ferguson (bass guitar), Tom Pickless (saxophone) and Mozambican Manuel Bazuna (rhythm/lead guitar) with Luhanga as lead vocalist and on percussions.

In an earlier interview, Street Rat said forming the band is a big achievement.

“For me as an artist this is a great achievement because it is a difficult task to set up a band here. For my country Malawi, this means we are moving and thinking forward. We are putting Malawi on the map,” he said.

Luhanga is a well-known and respected artist in Malawi, who made his name as front man and band leader of bands like Souls of the Ghetto and Body Mind and Soul.

He has performed at major music festivals such as the Lake of Stars festival, and made a European tour in 2008.

His music depicts many genres and styles from heavy reggae to what he calls ‘Voodjaz’—traditional Malawian rhythms with a jazzy feel.

Born in Mzuzu, Street Rat moved to Edinburgh, with his British wife and daughter three years ago.  n

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