Over 40 local artists will perform long side international headliners at this years Sand Music Festival according to festival’s director Soldier Lucius Banda. Among the announced international artist Nigeria’s Mr P, Jamaica’s Gramps Morgan and South Africa’s Makhadzi and Sipho Big Fish Makhabane, organisers of Sand Music Festival have released some of the local acts that will be held at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi District from October 1-3.
Some of the acts released Tuesday include Sam Smack, Don Tarz, Dan Lu, Kell Kay, Leslie, Skeffa Chimoto, DJ Mighty Virus, Macelba and Piksy.
“ We still have a lot more coming, the ones announced are just a quarter. This year we have an expensive festival and people will experience something top notch. We have responded to people’s plea to change things and bring in new faces and this is why we have blended new and old,” he said.
Lucius, who has hinted that he will perform for a short time on a Sunday to be headlined by Makhabane, said they were still sealing deals with other artists before putting them to light.
The other artists who he indicated have already been confirmed include Billy Kaunda, Lambanie Dube, Eli Njuchi, Edgar ndi Davis Band, Gwamba and Onesimus.
“We are happy that we are giving people variety and for the first time as a festival we have a headliner for gospel music on Sunday. In the past we only had headliners for the first and second day with gospel being sidelined but we are having a new crowd for Sunday this year,” Lucius said.
He said they were cautious of Covid and that they would make sure that they follow all the measures.
“We hope the time we will be having the festival, the situation will be completely normal. But we are ready and people will not regret attending the festival,” Lucius said.
The festival has this year shifted from Sunbird Livingstonia to Sunbird Nkopola due to construction works.
Sand Music festival is among the few top festivals alongside Tumaini and Hangout taking place this year with Blantyre Arts and Lake of Stars in no show due to Covid.
Tumaini takes place in November at Dzaleka Refugee Camp whereas Hangout which is also having Makhadzi taking place at Kabumba Hotel in Salima end October.
