SandFest promises more acts
Organisers of the annual Sand Music Festival say fans should expect additional acts to perform at this year’s event.
With less than four weeks to go before the yearly event hits the shores of Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi from October 1, Impakt Events Management, organisers of the festival, has intensified the unveiling of both local and international acts billed to perform during the festival.
So far, Jamaican reggae artist Gramps Morgan, South African’s Sipho Makhabane and Makhadzi, Uganda’s Livon Lioness and Lexison and Nigeria’s Mr P have been unveiled already.
These will be complemented by a local legion comprising Lulu, Kell Kay, Black Missionaries Band, Billy Kaunda, Ethel Kamwendo-Banda, Saint, Rashley, Wendy Harawa, Eunice, Keturah and Leslie.
Impakt Events spokesperson Laura Sunganani Banda said in an interview they are still remaining with about a quarter from their targeted number to be announced. She said the remaining names are local artists.
“After finalising the international headliners, we had to sit down and appreciate the local names. We needed to do proper scrutiny of all the possible names. We realise how much it is an opportunity for the artists to perform before these people at the festival,” she said.
Banda, who is daughter to Impakt Events Management owner and director Lucius Banda, said this year they have also moved to allay the concerns people raised last year when they complained of a male-dominated lineup.
She said this time around, they have made deliberate efforts to include more female acts on their menu and she expressed confidence that patrons will be entertained by their presence and performance.
So far, eight female artists have been confirmed as performers during the three-day event.
The spokesperson also revealed that the festival has several corporate partnerships in place with organisations such as TNM plc, Castel Malawi and Standard Bank plc.
The event may also provide a comeback moment for the senior Banda, who some weeks ago indicated that depending on his recovery progress, he may give festival-goers a treat of a one-hour set.
The legendary artist has been bouting kidney failure problems for months.
