Hangout Music Festival debuts in Salima
It is summer time and it looks like the fun cannot stop. The beaches of Lake Malawi at Sunbird Livingstonia will this weekend host the maiden edition of the Hangout Music Festival.
An array of Malawian and Zambian artists will from Friday till Sunday entertain patrons during the three-day event courtesy of GWL Promotions who have partnered with Sunbird Tourism plc.
The festival has attracted music acts such as Black Missionaries Band, Lulu and Mathumela Band, Billy Kaunda, Symon and Kendall, Anthony Makondetsa, AtohtManje, Wikise, ‘Sir’ Patricks and PST and Digo from Zambia.
Activities on the festival’s platform will not be limited to music: canoe racing, aerobics and a beauty pageant which will culminate in the selection of Mr and Miss Hangout will also form part of the core activities during the event.
Organisers of the festival that will be held annually said their idea is to bring in some new experience and taste alongside the music which will trigger increased tourism attraction activities. They said that from next year, they will introduce yachting activities for both canoes and motor boats.
One of the organisers of the festival, LevisonMsakambewa, said in an interview that they will thrive to combine all sorts of art disciplines as well as harnessing unrecognised talents and rewarding the same.
“The festival aims at celebrating great music, pageantry, sports, art and culture. Through this festival both Malawian and international patrons will have the opportunity to sample historic combination of music and other life entertaining aspects in one package,” he said.
Msakambewa further said through the festival, they also want to create an avenue for partners and other companies to market their services and products at the event. He said their target is to emulate international festivals such as the Jazz Festival which takes place in Cape Town, South Africa.
He said: “In the long run we want to be digital in our operations so that we are firm on time management. We want to hold the artists more accountable to the set schedules because there is a tendency of laxity among artists which is a huge put off to patrons.
As partners, Sunbird Livingstonia has sponsored the venue of the event, including the advertising of the festival.
The organisers said that in future they will bring more partners on board.
Black Missionaries leader AnjiruFumulani said as a group they are ready for the festival, which will mark their first appearance at a local festival this year.
He said: “This being the first time the festival is being held, I am sure everybody will love to bring their maximum energy, and we will do the same.”
Billy Kaunda said: “It is yet another opportunity to have fun on stage with my fans. I promise a good performance which will make their time memorable.”
