The Republic Day weekend has sunset treats in store for music buffs with Afro-rhythms by a Zimbabwean band promising a stand out experience at the “Freedom Jam — Pondy Music Festival”.
“The Blessings Chimanga & Dreams” band from Zimbabwe will launch the 16th edition of the iconic Freedom Jam festival with a concert on Saturday.
The Tourism Department is supporting the event scheduled at the Bandstand, near the Nehru statue on the western side of Gandhi Thidal. Entry is free.
The popular band from Zimbabwe is fronted by lead singer and marimba exponent Blessings “Bled” Chimanga.
The band has not only blazed a trail in Africa but has also won fans throughout the world, including India, touring the south repeatedly because of popular demand.
Marimba skills
Chimanga, whose stage presence goes hand-in-hand with his electrifying marimba skills, has been leading the four-piece band on a “Dance To The Beat” tour. The band had developed a new and unique style of music named the Afro Jazz Soul Power. The lyrics of the songs are in English and Shona (Zimbabwean main local language).
The band features Igeal Njolomah (Bass guitar and backing vocals), Thulani Kawani (Sax and Guitar) and Blessing Muparutsa (Drums and percussion).
Also featured on Republic Day evening is “Rhythmic Energy” — a group of more than 30 passionate musicians which earns its living from various professions but its focus is music.
The members of this group pour all their energy and time into their passion.
According to organisers, every year the group decides to visit different places in the country to give performances and this year it decided to return to the city for Freedom Jam after an enjoyable experience several years ago. The musicians play a variety of music from brass band renditions of Carnatic bhajans to movie soundtracks from Star Wars , Bahubali , and so on.
Look forward to a plethora of brass, woodwind, strings, keys and percussion instruments with their soulful natural sound. This was one music group that believes in the ethos of music for its own sake, the organisers said.
“Yazh The Band”, the city’s latest musical sensation, would take the stage to deliver the last act of the opening evening. On Sunday, it will be time for “a whole lotta rock” with five bands of different styles taking the stage.
Rock, all the way
Changing course, “H2O” will eschew their usual set of rock songs for a new set list of Tamil, Bengali, Hindi and even French numbers. While guitarist Ishite will croon popular Hindi hits and Bengali songs, bassist Francis will render evergreen numbers of Ilaiyaraja as well as Joe Dassain.
Up next, J's Lounge, a classic rock outfit from Chennai, led by ace guitarist Jesh Murdjani will look to showcase their flair for progressive rock — with covers ranging from Pink Floyd to Blue Oyster Cult.
The evening will feature three bands from the vast cosmopolitan students of Puducherry. Vertigo and Delirium are bands which originated in the city’s medical fraternity. While Vertigo specialises in hard rock, Delirium does a mix of Indipop, fusion and rock.
