Sand-Fest pegged at K30m

Sunbird Sand Music Festival returns this year at the same venue, Livingstonia Beach in Salima with a K30 million budget, organisers have said.

This is K10 million up from last year’s budget and the organisers say this year’s festival is bigger and better. However, despite the pledge, organisers have kept a tight lid on most of the festival surprises saying they will be unveiled with the build up to the final event.

Unlike in previous years, the organisers say they will not announce anything about international artists to headline the festival until the contracts are sealed. This comes from the background that most of the international acts invited for the previous editions did not make it.

“We are publicising the festival as an event and so we are still holding on names of the artists to headline the festival. We have learnt some lessons from previous events and we want to provide something very different, but unique,” said lead festival organiser Mazz.

He also said they do not want people to look at the festival from the eyes of international artists saying being a Malawian festival, it promotes local artists.

He festival brought by Impact Events and Sunbird Tourism Limited, will be held on October 30-1 November 2015.
One of the organisers Nkhwachi Mhango said the change in dates has been necessitated by a weather prediction by the Department of climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) which predicts that in August there will be some showers in Salima and dry days in November. The three previous festivals were marred by bad weather characterised by rain drizzles.

The package on offer includes drama, poetry, music, fashion and games.

Currently the organizers are looking for better equipment to support the artists.

Reacting to why most of the food sold at the festival is expensive, Sunbird Public Relations Officer Akossa Mphepo said her office will look into the issue and ensure the food is affordable so that every patron can access them.

As a build up to the final event, the organisers have arranged a Sengabay clean campaign where they work with the communities to clean the venue and the surrounding community.

Meanwhile, the organisers have called upon organisations to partner with them to benefit from the business expo which will allow them to display their products at the event.