#MUSIC & FESTIVAL
Happy New Year family! Happy 2014 and what a great year
we anticipate! And to start off this January on a high note; the scorching sun
could neither have been relentless; when Sarabi Band officially curtain raised
the two-day Blankest and Wine Festival at Carnivore Grounds on Saturday.
Despite the technical hindrances, which was quickly
forgotten; the Saturday’s cast of musicians played for one hour and the deejays
spinned for half an hour-in-between. Uganda’s Maurice Kirya got the ladies
seduced to the dance floor with his charming tunes.
The “njaanuary” blues; infamous and abated, could not
hold back the crowd as they mingled with friends and caught up on the merry
times.
The monthly outdoor social event ran for two days to the delight
of the crowd. Hip-hop performances courtesy of Muthoni DQ and Octopizzo, house
and dance spinner DJ Protégé signaling the cue for evening performances and
contemporary beats by Just-A-Band and upcoming act, Wangechi was the menu for
the evening.
With Kenya’s being a reggae and Dancehall nation; the
return of decks-man I-DJ Kriss Darlin’ became a crowd talk about as he kept the
crowd on toes.
The sands of time have indeed witnessed this now popular
event transform from a non-sponsored nondescript gig hosted at Tayana Gardens
Ridgeways; to a multi-sponsored festival at the Carnivore Grounds.
Muthoni “Drummer Queen” Ndonga; the founder and CEO of
Blankets & Wine recalls: “the concept and idea came when I was still
an artiste performing at Das Restaurant in Westlands. The transition has been
overwhelming, when we started out at Ridgeways with 120 people with Hellon,
Abbi and I performing without pay and going to Hillcrest as the numbers grew,
then heading to Mamba Village in Karen and currently here!” Muthoni
vividly recalls.
Blankest & Wine turning 5 and fact is that it has
seen performances from various artistes and bands, both local and regional in caliber.
We have seen artistes grow and given a platform for alternative music that wasn’t
being played on radio or TV. This gave rise to Afro and Neo Soul genres.
Meanwhile; South Africa’s Mi Casa (Spanish for “my house”);
acclaimed for its Deep House Music forte, was busy on stage teaching the crowd
their trademark “jika” (which means “turn”) dance moves. The band proved to
be a jack-of –all trades as they did an
acapella of Drake and Majid Jordan’s “Hold on, we’re going Home,” hit
before showcasing their individual musical prowess. The night’s performance was
capped off by Kenya’s boy band Sauti Sol.
It was basically the same script but different casts at
the final day of the festival. On matters music, Anto Neo Soul to Harry Kimani
to Miss Karun gave their all with their band, The Villagers Band and Chris
Adwar, and obviously to the joy of everyone, Mafikizolo.
It was a no brainer as the crowd became overwhelmed when
the group’s hit song ‘Khona’ received a double encore. And
as Mafikizolo concluded the show, it was evident, and as explained by the organizers
that it was the end and the beginning of a lifestyle that seeks to expand in
the near future…again. So brace yourself!
Fare the well Sunday Blankets and welcome to the AGE OF
FESTIVALS!
PHOTOS
BY EYE-CON-https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.738328642851972.1073741919.609419172409587&type=3
BY
EMBUKANE VINCENT LIBOSSO; with additional reading from The Pulse Magazine.
