adminCourage Musariri Entertainment Reporter
BULAWAYO groups that will curtain raise the triple music extravaganza lined up for Friday believe they have the power to sway fans into attending a particular show. Fans have dubbed the shows “Judgment on Friday the 13th.” Highly acclaimed acts, Oliver Mtukudzi, Jah Prayzah and Peter Moyo will have shows starting at the same time on the day.
Local groups, Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts (IYASA), Ziyawa Queens and Family Voices, yesterday said they could influence fans to choose who to fork out money for through their preliminary performances.
Bulawayo hosts multitudes of musicians, with new ones popping up every day but the avenues available for local artistes to showcase and hone their craft in a live setting are limited.
However, Friday night will be judgement day for these local groups as they are faced with a task of not only entertaining but setting the tone for the shows they will take part in.
IYASA and family Voices will take part in the Bulawayo Shutdown show at Amphitheatre with Oliver Mtukudzi while Ziyawa Queen will share the stage with Jah Prayzah at Club Royal.
In an interview, IYASA director Nkululeko Dube said the group was ready to deliver a Christmas bombshell that would attract revellers in large numbers.
“We will perform for the first time a new song recorded while on tour in Europe. Fans will have to be there to see for themselves because this will be extra special,” he said. Dube said sharing the stage with Tuku was an honour which they wanted to appreciate with a top notch performance.
“Its only three days to go and we look forward to performing. Fans should expect to be blown away with our new eye catching dance routines which will be showcased at the gig. It is our performance that will draw the fans away from the other shows to ours,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Family Voices’ Brighton Ncube who said they were ready to introduce themselves on the music scene.
“We are an accapella group well known outside Bulawayo but this is our chance to step up and announce our arrival,’ he said. Ncube said fans should come early to watch local groups perform and offer their support.
“Those who will come late will regret missing most of our act when their friends start telling them about in on facebook,” he said.
Ncube said their act will include a number of surprises and fans should look forward to hearing accapella renditions of Tuku’s songs.
“This gig is not only about Tuku and Sulumani but is also about local groups such as us and IYASA. Fans should give us an opportunity and judge us after our performances,” he said.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu