HARARE - Revellers will be in for a treat next month with two beer festivals on the offing as showbiz promoters cash in on the warm weather.
With the traditional Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival set for October 11 at the Glamis Arena in Harare, yet another beer festival has been planned for Harare’s new open venue, Sunset Arena just adjacent the City Sports Centre on October 24 and 25.
While officials from the Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival are still to officially unveil their international headline music acts, chances are high that reggae dancehall star Busy Signal will be the main man.
On the other hand, South African music legend Freddy Gwala will headline the two-day Sunset Arena Beer Festival with the support of a host of local music acts that will perform during the three days of beer drinking, with the shutdown featuring local dancehall music acts.
Speaking from South Africa, Gwala said he was happy to be honoured by Zimbabwean promoters.
“Like I have always said in the past, Zimbabwe is my second home and it is always special when I perform there.
“I like the fans there and the musicians I have always worked with have given me the best. We will meet next month and I promise some surprises.”
Organisers of the Sunset Arena Beer Festivals say after the Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival, the celebrations will continue with the October beer drinking party.
“Our beer festival will feature Freddy Gwala and several local artistes.
“I am sure that while dancehall artistes and fans will feast on Busy Signal’s popular tunes, others will cherish the sounds of Gwala and his popular dances. It will be party time in October and we promise a mouth-watering event.”
With Busy Signal songs dominating the local dancehall circuit and in nightclubs, the reggae star will sure shake the roofs. The dancehall star will however not get it easy as he will share the stage with some of Zimbabwe’s top dancehall music acts who are doing wonders locally.
Artistes like Soul Jah Love who is billed to perform will definitely rock while the towering Jah Prayzah has all the stamina and hits to cause an upstage although his music is not entirely dancehall.
Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival, a brainchild of Delta Beverages has been one of the best organised musical events in Zimbabwe and has featured several international artistes in the past that include Jamaican reggae stars Cocoa Tea, Fantan Mojah and Beres Hammond.
Locally, it has engaged Transit Crew, Winky D, Guspy Warrior, King Shaddy, Suluman Chimbetu and a host of other acts.
Delta Beverages partnered with the Harare International Festival of the Arts who of late have been producing the Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival.
Delta Corporation also promotes its brands through cultural activities including the Jikinya Dance Festival, the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival and the Chibuku Road to Fame competition which is similar to reality television shows such as American Idol and the Gulder Ultimate Search in Nigeria, sponsored by Nigerian Breweries.
They also host the Lion Lager Campus Nights meant for university students and Lion Lager Beer Festival.