adminEntertainment Reporter
A NEW club for live music is set to open in Newlands this week featuring quality music performances in an eclectic line-up drawn from the abundance of excellent live music of every persuasion that has become a characteristic of the cultural nightlife of Harare.
Keeping an “open” stage to present a variety of different genres, Misty’s is keeping an open mind to include mainstream, trad and contemporary jazz; RnB, fusion, reggae, blues, afro jazz and afro pop – a melting pot of great music, the kind which is so much in demand by music-lovers of Harare and offering something for everyone.
In “entertainment square”, by TM with plenty of easy parking and security, the club offers a well stocked bar and wide range of cocktails, with a light snack menu, and opens Tuesdays through Sundays, with live music featured from Wednesday to Sunday each week.
Opening night this Friday features the popular 4-piece band Evicted led by Derek Bailey on lead vocals, along with some of Harare’s talented backing artistes – Dominic Benson on bass, Theo Rhode (guitar) and Justin Soutter (drums). The group is well travelled in the SADC region and delivers a mixed-bag of funk, rock and pop — a red-hot opening which will set the tone and pave the way forward for hundreds of great acts at the club.
Misty’s reckons it will be a place to wind down, live it up, see and be seen, mix and mingle with beautiful Zimbabweans who want to relax and enjoy, and are looking for something different. Established by a partnership between the highly respected Zimbabwean orthopaedic surgeon, Alban Bowers (long-time jazz musician alongside a demanding medical practice), and the acclaimed pianist, teacher, composer producer and music director Bernie Bismark, along with others who have responded to a call for a classy venue with quality entertainment.
Alban Bowers said: “Music has always been my passion since I was a child and it is exciting that we have the opportunity to provide an upmarket platform for fellow Zimbabwean musicians to perform and develop. I have travelled significantly around the world and visited many wonderful music venues where musicians can thrive and people can enjoy great music in a dedicated vibrant venue.
I have corroborated with Bernie Bismark and Dominic Benson of BB Music Promotions to source the best musicians Zimbabwe has to perform at Misty’s so the vibe is going to be amazing.”
“The opening of a new venue always carries such promise,” said Penny Yon, arts administrator for Pamberi Trust which runs one of the largest arts development programmes in the city. “And with the amazing output of great live home-grown music in Zimbabwe today, more and more spaces are needed to give music lovers the opportunity to consume the rich cultural benefits in different settings around the city, and the opportunity for artistes to create their art.
When space is restricted, people only get to see a fraction of the rich music talent that is all around us, some never to be seen for want of a public stage. Misty’s looks promising to be an inclusive and exciting platform, and I look forward to seeing some great things going on there!”
Musicians of Harare will welcome the opening up of a new stage, extending their reach in different parts of the city and the greater Harare community.
Bernie Bismark, who has also travelled widely in the world, studying and performing in the US for many years, said: “Zimbabwe is a wealth of both young untapped talent and matured talent. Lack of venues to showcase some of these talents has been a major problem in Harare, so the opening of Misty’s is timely. We are excited because our main focus is live music.
At Misty’s, you can expect a quality world-class program me – it’s a place you can relax and have a great time with good food, good drinks, good music. It’s a place musicians can embrace, as well as music-lovers.”
The opening of Misty’s takes place on the edge of the world music craze currently sweeping the city and pulling Zimbabweans audiences together with artists from far corners of the world – some of whom may drop into Misty’s to mark the occasion of the opening this weekend.
Keeping the momentum going at Misty’s and following on from Evicted, on Saturday, the feisty young Ammara Brown, will take to the stage with a dynamic performance, along with other fresh alternatives and old favourites, and many more lined up in the months ahead.
Online Reporter