adminTHIS week we were greeted by the bloom of the Jacaranda trees. Is it spring or summer? That I am not sure but I am certain though that the bloom of the jacaranda signals good times for the music industry.
The beat goes on and on till summer fades away for another season. There is no more hibernating and the serious introverts have nowhere to hide besides to join the urban movement.
Open air concerts are here and musicians start to have busy schedules and oftentimes will have to sleep on the road. Try to call a musician friend they will tell you that they are busy.
Do not fret because this is the season for them to shine and make money. In this part of the world people this time reignite their partying hormones and the demand for entertainment swells.
From this month up to the end of summer next year, the beat goes on.
Music lovers need entertainment and with this simmering heat, nothing cools off the body than the sounds of good music.
It has been long since you took that garden chair and sit outside listening to your favourite artiste.
I yearn for that moment when Djembe Monks and Bulawayo house DJs combine on stage while I nod my head at the far end of the venue.
When POY comes on stage and introduces crowd favourite Ndolwane Super Sounds. I cannot even remember the last time I took my family out for a day time musical show.
I expect such a treat the coming week as Bulawayo turns heads to the Intwasa arts festival.
On checking on my diary, I smiled at the prospect of a busy yet fun-filled week of Intwasa koBulawayo. Yes, like the jacaranda bloom, I was reminded of a new season.
It dawned on me that we are to be fed with loads of new songs and surprises. In this space, we have told city artistes of the value that comes with participating at an arts festival.
Fans expect nothing but quality. Even on a free entry, one must not be reduced to chuff. Music fans are like customers, they are KING. Give them quality and they will return the favour.
This is what Intwasa arts festival director Raisedon Baya should tell all the artistes invited this year. The culture of cry baby musicians is over.
This is 2013 and the trend has to change.
Paying a ticket to a show means the musicians must meet my expectations. I need value for money. I promise that if Intwasa artistes live up to this, I will be a faithful follower of music.
Musicians must give us the Intwasa moment to remember. Last year’s closing show for the festival is still the talk of town.
Revellers and festival goers agree it was unforgettable. The performers were great. After enduring blunders all week, the last day was surprisingly a day to remember.
This year we want more than that. Musicians invited must blow us away. The superstars are what the fans want and they are the money makers at these festivals. Such big names bring in the crowds and huge earnings and endorsement to festival organisers.
With Bulawayo having a few big names, local musos will be quick to label arts journalists and critics as haters when we “reduce” them to small artistes.
Truth is relative but if there are no big acts on stage, that cannot be argued further.
Fans will expect quality but are the musicians given quality deals by the promoters?
The summer music festival scene is exploding and Intwasa has enjoyed the same.
I have no official statistics but having attended all the festival’s shows, I know numbers have increased. We remain hopeful though that as the festival grows, it will attract the kind of culture that we see at international shows.
I dread the day musicians at Intwasa will sell out concerts months ahead of time
Intwasa over the years has created a business model that is favourable to musicians, promoters and producers.
I have realised that the organisers have grown to be more than event organisers and promoters, in the music side of Intwasa in particular.
Instead of spending time and money into a single musician, Intwasa music concerts have run efficiently and proved cost-effective by grouping musicians.
The huge crowds that thronged the City Hall car park last year got the same decent product. We all either watched top Bulawayo bands for free or paid a fee and enjoyed the same.
I would want to get everything I need in one show.
Music concerts in such festivals must be turned into one stop shops.
The debate about the small and the big artistes will fill up our press during the week. The big musician are assured of a lot of money while the small band (sadly they are many in Bulawayo), will earn less.
This would sound crude but it is the sad truth about festivals and Intwasa is not an exception.
Our wishes for an enjoyable musical Intwasa should be granted to us the fans that make the festival great.
Music festivals are most enjoyable because you get to experience live music at its best.
Waiting for musicians to come on stage can be mentally exhausting but I am ready for that. Musicians should be clever enough to use platforms like these to entice fans to attend festivals.
Take the leap, go out and support a musical act at Intwasa. You will have more fun than you’ve ever had.
Online Reporter