Sand Music Festival to cost K47 million

Organisers of the annual Sand Music Festival have said this year’s festival slated for August 29 to 31 at the Livingstonia Beach in Salima will cost approximately K47 million (about $112 000).

According to a press statement released on Tuesday, the festival has increased its expenditure to ensure it provides the best service to patrons.

Public relations officer for the festival, Nkhwachi Mhango, said they learnt a lot from shortfalls registered during the last festival at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi.

“We learnt from mistakes and to ensure we have a successful festival this year, we have given ourselves enough time to prepare for the event and we have come up with a good tentative budget which we believe it will help us stage a historical festival,” said Mhango, adding that part of the sum will come from various sponsors.

He added that they are in talks with a number of international artists to perform at the festival and they will announce the names next month.

He said they have come up with a special arrangement involving lawyers representing both sides to ensure guest artists do not fail as it was last year.

Meanwhile, the organisers have started welcoming applications from artists to perform at the festival and they have already approached some local artists such as Black Missionaries, Skeffa Chimoto, and Ethel Kamwendo-Banda.

Mhango said advance tickets will be on sale shortly and will be going at K10 000 tickets while patrons will pay K15 000 at the gates during the festival.

Mhango said they will maintain three performance stages for artists.

Like last year, the festival will incorporate several artists including musicians, acrobats, poets, visual artists and designers.

The designers will have an own stage where models will parade in various designs. Other stages will hosts acoustic music and visual arts.