Maria Chiguvari
AFTER the success of two urban grooves concerts held in Harare in June, Kayse Connect are taking the event to Dunstable Conference Centre in the United Kingdom.
The concert is slated for August 28. Urban grooves artists are now spreading their wings to the UK to try and make Zimbabweans in the diaspora revive their love affair with the genre.
Artists billed to perform are Maskiri, Leonard Mapfumo, Madiz, Tererai, Ngoni Kambarami, Alexio Kawara, Decibel, Xtra Large, Plaxedes Wenyika and Trevor Dongo.
The Harare concert drew a larger crowd than expected with many fans being turned away.
Those who were lucky to be part of the sold out concert appeared to enjoy every minute of the concert singing along to the songs.
The show featured Roki, Decibel, Tererai, Shinsoman, Xtra Large, Stunner, Mafriq, Diana, BaShupi, Plaxedes, Madiz, Dino Mudondo, Maskiri, EXQ, Nasty Trixx, Dj Tamuka, Willom Tight, Trevor Dongo and Pauline.
Leonard “Leo” Mapfumo and Rockford “Roki” Josphats emerged as the Urban Grooves’ darlings in 2002 with the hit ‘Seiko’, which earned Roki a National Arts Merit Award (NAMA) for most promising artist in 2003.
In 2005 the duo produced an album, titled R & L, with the song ‘Maidei’ reaching the number one spot on ZBC top 10 singles charts and staying in the charts for 42 weeks, a feat that is yet to be matched by other musicians.