By Beth O’Connor
Published August 30, 2018
Lake of Stars Festival has announced the final lineup of musicians to perform during its 15th anniversary in September 2018.
Electronic music giants, Major Lazer Soundsystem, behind global hits ‘Lean On’ and ‘Cold Water’, will headline this year’s event scheduled for September 28 – 30 on the tropical shores of Lake Malawi.
RELATED:Arts Residency Programme Invites Applications
Composed of record producers and DJs Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire, Major Lazer’s unique sound mixes reggae with dancehall, reggaeton, soca, house and moombahton. Their latest single, Let Me Live, a collaboration with Rudimental featuring Anne-Marie and Mr Eazi, is an energetic dancehall-influenced number with accompanying music video filmed in Johannesburg. Their headline set at Lake of Stars Festival is part of a wider African tour with performances including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia.
One of Africa’s hottest groups, Sauti Sol of Kenya, will also headline this year’s festival.
Sauti Sol are a multiple award-winning afro-pop 4-piece who have attracted huge critical and commercial acclaim across the continent, including being crowned Best African Group at the AFRIMA Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards, Soundcity MTV Awards and the UK’s BEFFTA Awards. The band, whose music blends warm resonant pop with traditional Kenyan influences, visit Malawi as part of their Melanin world tour.
Lake of Stars Director, Will Jameson, said, “we are thrilled to host Major Lazer Soundsystem and Sauti Sol in Malawi for this year’s festival. Both acts will deliver amazing and energetic performances in our beautiful new setting right on the shores of Lake Malawi. Tickets and festival accommodation are selling out fast and with this new addition to the line up I’m sure it will be our best celebration of music and culture to date.”
RELATED:Kenya Tourism on the Upswing
Other international acts joining the festival bill include Love Ssega, a founding member of Clean Bandit whose new solo project channels a vibrant mix of New Wave, 80s Hip-Hop, African polyrhythms and NYC disco into smart modern pop; award-winning DJ and broadcaster Gemma Cairney; and UK-based Ghanaian rapper Kobi Onyame, who’s album Gold has recently been shortlisted for the 2018 Scottish Album of the Year Award. Poetry and spoken word will be represented by Hollie McNish who’s memoir Nobody Told Me won the Ted Hughes Award and who’s poetry videos have attracted millions of views worldwide, alongside Scottish poet Michael Pedersen, a Robert Louis Stevenson Award winner and co-founder of the literary collective Neu! Reekie!
RELATED:Kenyan Band to Perform at Malawi’s Lake of Stars Festival
Among the local talents on offer are rapper Fredokiss, who recently added a Best Hip Hop artist award to his list of accolades; afro-soul star Faith Mussa, who was part of Lake of Stars successful UK shows earlier in the year and Madalitso Band who have been showcasing their traditional Malawian sounds at festivals across Europe this summer, alongside a host of other artists from the worlds of music, poetry, theatre and dance.
While regional tickets (within Africa) are now available to book online via Plankton, international tickets (excluding Africa) are available to book online via Eventbrite. Both ticket types have the option to book a pass with or without on-site camping at the festival. For festival goers travelling to Malawi, visit lakeofstars.org for help in planning your trip.
