Akello, Birungi face off for Blankets and Wine opening act gig
Akello Jackie performs at Zone 7 last week. COURTESY PHOTO
Last week, fans of live music thronged Zone 7 bar and restaurant in Mbuya, a city suburb to get a glimpse of what to expect during the December 13 edition of Blankets and Wines event at the Uganda Museum.
Fans for the first time have the opportunity to vote who gets to perform as the opening act by buying a bucket (with five bottles) of Tusker Malt Lager. Then you pick the artiste of your choice.
The first audition saw Jackie Akello taking on Brenda Birungi on Wednesday at Zone 7 and as early as 8pm, the bar’s gardens were turned into a concert ground of sorts. Janzi Band as usual was on hand to give the revelers a memorable evening. The band played classics after classics and when the battle began, the audience was already warmed up to pass on their judgment.
Brenda Birungi, a 2011 Tusker Project Fame contender was the first to perform. A talented vocalist, Birungi kicked off her performance with her single ‘I’m gonna love you’ then followed it up with a rendition of Alicia Keys’ ‘No one’.
Jackie Akello was next up but it seemed like the audience already knew her vocal prowess. Singing in her luo dialect, ‘Amaari’ (I love you) was her first track and she dedicated it to all the lovers in the house. She then followed up with ‘Afoyo’ (Thank you).
Other artistes vying for the opening act gig during the December do include Rogatien, Sitenda, and Kenneth.
According to Phoebe Nakabazzi, the Tusker Malt Lager Brand Manager, the whole essence of doing this is to give upcoming artistes a platform to showcase their music. “We have many artistes who have great music but haven’t had the opportunity to perform to a large audience. This is one of the reasons we decided to grant them that opportunity,” she says.
The other musicians who will performing at the closing Blankets and Wine Kampala fete of 2015 are The Kansoul from Kenya who are the main acts, Swahili Nation and Myko Ouma.
