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(NYASATIMES) UK’s Beverley Knight to grace Lake of Stars music festival

UK’s Beverley Knight to grace Lake of Stars music festival
By Kimpho Loka, Nyasa Times
September 23, 2011

British soul and R&B singer, Beverley Knight, is expected to appear at the forthcoming Malawi Lake of Stars (LOS) international music festival, it has been disclosed.

The music carnival, which will feature local and international artists, will be held at Sunbird Nkopola, in the lakeshore district of Mangochi from 30th September to October 2.

The international acts his year’s LOS are the Foals from UK and Freshlyground from South Africa, while Malawi has Lucius Banda, the Black Missionaries, Maskal and Skeffa Chimoto as headliners.

Disclosing Knight’s appearance, festival founder Will Jameson said the 38-year-old singer/songwriter will be another high-profile musician to perform at the 2011 music feast.

Beverley Knight: To perform at Malawi Lake of Stars

“She is expected to have a ten to thirty minutes performance,” disclosed Jameson.

Beverley emerged as one of Britain’s biggest new pop stars of the 90s. Acknowledged by many as the Queen of UK Soul, she has sold over a million albums in her 17-year career.

The 38-year-old has sold more than one million albums and her seventh studio release, Soul UK, is her highest charting to date.

Being the UK’s most consistently successful Soul artist since she landed her first record deal in 1994, Beverley released her 7th studio album ‘Soul UK’, which was released on 4th July this year. She has had 4 gold selling albums.

Some of her greatest hits include “Get Up!”, “Shoulda Woulda Coulda”, “Not Too Late For Love” and “Keep This Fire Burning”.

Meanwhile, Jameson says about 80 percent of the preparations on the site are complete, with all the three stages to be ready by next Monday.

Apart from the headliners, this year’s LOS music festival has attracted about 250 artists, both local and international.

“The total number of main local musicians is over 60 and about 10 main international musicians.

“The other special thing is this year we will have performances from Beijing and Japan, apart from those from UK, US, South, Namibia, Kenya and France, among others,” he said.

According to Jameson, international acts will start jetting in the country next week; “the Foals and Freshlyground are expected in Malawi on Friday.”

“At the moment we have The Very Best already in the country and they are currently in Lilongwe where they are doing some recording,” disclosed Jameson.

The Very Best is a UK-based duo of Johan (Swedish) and former Black Missionaries drummer Esau, formed a few years ago and they have now toured America and Europe.

As per tradition, most of the equipment that will be used at this year’s LOS will come from the UK and as indicated by Jameson, the equipment will be in Malawi two days before the start of the event on Friday next week.

LOS was borne from a desire to raise money for a developing economy, promote Malawi as a top travel destination and expose Malawian artists to international crowds, as well as putting on an amazing event that now forms part of the global festival circuit.

Last year the festival generated US$1 million of local spend with around a third being in foreign currency. Over 100 local people were employed and more than 1000 hotel beds were slept in providing a major boost to local families and businesses.

This year, more is expected as about 4,000 tickets are expected to be sold. Currently, tickets are on sale, either online, as part of a package, or at various locations in Malawi at K11,500 (US$75) for three days.

Failure to buy tickets now means patrons will have to cough more as entry on door will be K14,000 (US$90). Full details on ticketing and travel can be accessed through the Lake of Stars website atwww.lakeofstars.org

Labels: ENTERTAINMENT, MALAWI

posted by MrK @ 4:06 PM