Freshly Ground return for LoS
Five years after sharing the stage with local artists, award-winning South African outfit Freshly Ground, returns for the Lake of Stars (LoS) Festival this year.
The band has been announced as one of the headliners of this year’s festival, which returns to Chintheche Inn in Nkhata Bay.
The news was announced by organisers of the three-day annual festival through their online and social media platforms.
Coincidentally, the festival takes place on the same dates it was hosted at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi in 2011, September 30 to Sunday October 2.
The line up so far includes Faith Mussa, Flo Dee, Lusubilo Band, Patience Namadingo and Piksy with more artists announcements coming soon, according to the organisers.
Formed in 2002 by Zolani Mahola, Simon Attwell, Peter Cohen, Kyla-Rose Smith, Julio Sigauque Josh Hawks and Seredeal Scheepers, Freshly Ground released its first album the following year.
The group’s musical style blends elements of traditional South African music such as kwela and folk.
They made their debut appearance in October 2011 when they shared the big stage with UK-based Foals as well as local giants Lucius Banda and Black Missionaries.
This time, the band is billed to be one of the incredible acts to watch when the festival returns to the scenic setting in Nkhata Bay on the northern shoreline of the continent’s third-largest freshwater lake for the first time since it drifted southwards to Sunbird Livingstonia Beach in Salima seven years ago.
“An accomplished music outfit known for their energetic live performances, FreshlyGround’s music has reached billions—and they will be performing live on the shores of Lake Malawi at Chinteche Inn,” reads the latest update on the festival’s Facebook wall. “
For years, the five-strong group have been at the forefront of the music scene in the region with chart-topping tracks such as Waka, Doo Be Doo andPotbelly followed up with their latest hits Don’t Leave Me and Army of One.
Their second coming will spice the globally acclaimed festival homecoming at the leafy beach hotspot where its debut edition was witnessed by almost 700 adventurers in 2004.
We will come again—Morgan Heritage
YVONNIE SUNDU
Staff Reporter
After an impressive performance that left fans eating out o their palms, Jamaican leading reggae outfit Morgan Heritage has left the country with a promise of another show.
The multi-award winning group was excited after being impressed with how fans responded throughout the show.
“Malawi’s audience is something else. The fans danced from the first song to the end.
“As if that was not enough, they begged for more and we had to give in. Trust me, we will come again,” said a visibly exhausted Gramps in an interview soon after the show ended at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe at dawn on Sunday.
However, he said the Morgan Heritage’s third coming rests in the possibility of new opportunities.
“For us, we are ready to come again anytime. Who cannot with such an impressive audience? We loved the love, energy and appreciation of our music. I would also love to come with my son Jemere to promote our projects. But by the grace of God, we will return as Morgan Heritage,” he explained.
Throughout the interview, the other band members could not hide how ecstatic they were to have performed in Malawi as well as the audience’ response.
“That was rocking. Malawi you are the best,” Jemere was overheard saying.
