An explosion of rhythm, colour, and creativity, this year’s UP Live III, marks UP’s 3rd-Year Anniversary. Taking place in the antiquated train yards of the Railway Museum, UP Live is a unique blend of art, music, film and great food, providing an aesthetically stimulating setting for the latest in arts and culture in Nairobi.
Rand Pearson, editorial and creative director at UP, describes the annual event as “a convergence and confluence of all the content of UP magazine. We have music, art, literature as well as a street faire.” The musical performance, a big part of the magic that is UP Live, is guarantied to be unique. “There are collaborations between different artists. We’ll get The Old Cambrians Band to back an artist for example – it’s not just band after band, instead it is a production. UP Live is the artistically the best live show in Kenya,” says Rand. Last year The Old Cambrians Band, and the Slum Drummers collaborated with the diverse line-up of headliners including Ayub Ogada, Blinky Bill, Mumala, and Miss Karun resulting in a night in danger of spontaneous combustion. This year’s musical collaboration will bring back a prominent brass section, a choir, and some of the best musicians on the scene today.
Speaking to Zelalem, the executive producer of this years event (and the previous UP Live event), it becomes obvious that we are in for music an aesthetical explosion. “The first UP live at Kenyan National Theatre had a mabati thing going on, UP Live II had the UP fabric collage made of pages from the magazine representing everyone in Nairobi and the urban cultural movement taking place. UP Live III promises the same innovation, ingenuity and creativity,” he says enthusiastically and continues. “We thought about different venues, because initially the idea for UP Live was to keep changing venues, but we all fell in love with Railways Museum so much, we agreed it would be very difficult to beat it as a venue.”
The railway museum is prime location situated at the north-west end of Nairobi station and can be seen from the Uhuru Highway where it crosses the main line. The museum is a perfect symbol of Kenya’s history and past. It was established in 1971 by the then East African Railways and Harbours Corporation to preserve and display relics and records of the railways of East Africa from their inception to the present day. UP Live thus functions as a symbol of the progress that Kenya has undergone since then showcasing the rich diversity and expansive creativity of Kenya’s present. Prepare yourself for a day and night filled with the sounds, lights, and culture of Nairobi’s alternative urban culture.
UP Live III takes place on the 7th of June. It kicks off at 12.00 pm and tickets are KES 1000.
By Ondi Madete
http://www.upnairobi.com/dt_portfolio/up-live-part-iii/
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