High Vibes Festival Takes off Nov. 10

King Mensah from Togo

The second edition of the High Vibes Festival is here and music lovers in Accra can look forward to some compelling performances from accomplished artistes on the cutting edge of African and global culture and some exciting newcomers from next Wednesday, November 10 to Friday, November 19.

Organised by Pidgen Music and Creative Storm, this year’s festival is collaborating with some of Accra’s key music venues as a way of introducing new artistes to them and contributing to the venues being seen as places that showcase great music not just from Ghana but elsewhere.

“We are bringing on a range of musical genres that should draw maximum audiences and ignite a real celebration of the capital’s increasingly dynamic live music scene,” says the festival’s Administrative Director and CEO of Creative Storm, Kwesi Owusu.

High Vibes 2010 opens at Rockstone’s Office, near the Police Headquarters, on what the organisers describe as a ‘Hip and Movie Vibe’ next Wednesday with two recent films on Ghanaian musical culture: Singing 4 Freedom, exploring the history highlife and Coz Ov of Moni, the ‘first pidgen musical’ featuring MOBO nominees, Mensa and Kubolor.

The objective for the event at Rockstone’s Office is to celebrate the history of how young people have managed to develop something out of highlife to add to Ghana’s musical culture. The highlight of the evening is a unique hiplife lyrical clash hosted by Reggie Rockstone, the originator of the genre.

Lined up are Sarkodie as well as brilliant emerging acts such as Trigmatic, Kay Ara, Macho Rapper and Yaa Pono whose clip on You Tube is said to have received over a million hits.

The evening’s special guest is Gyedu Blay- Ambolley, who was on the scene before hiplife with his hugely popular Simigwa rap. He will tell about what inspired his style of rap and his current involvement with hiplife artistes.

The festival, on Thursday, November 11, presents three of Ghana’s most exciting women vocalists: Nana Yaa, Efya and Ofie at a programme dubbed Acoustic Divas Night at the African Regent Hotel.

It is a buffet dinner from 7.30 to 10.30pm in an intimate acoustic music setting in collaboration with African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF). The evening is to celebrate the AWDF’s 10 years of progress empowering African women. Also featuring there will be Kezitah from Togo. Limited tickets are on sale.

From 11.00pm again on Thursday is the Frenchy Vibe bash at the Boomerang Nite Club at Caprice. It promises to be a hot Francophone night with Degg J Force 3, Guinea’s dance sensation in session. A collaboration with Boomerang Night Club, the event will be hosted by Omar I, Ghana’s best Francophone disc jockey.

A jazzy flavour will be brought to the festival on Friday, November 12 from 8.00pm at the +233 Jazz Bar & Grill on the Ring Road. The evening features Kae Sun, Ghanaian-born Canadian star performing in Ghana for the first time and the infectious rhythms of the Agorsor Band.

Keyboardist Kwame Yeboah, famous for his work with Osibisa, Kojo Antwi and Craig David teams up with guitarist Kwesi Dankwa to introduce their Dzidudu sound. Gyedu Ambolley also shows his jazzy side on the evening.

There is a big outdoor bash of music from Ghana and across West Africa from 4.00pm on Saturday, November 13 at the Holy Gardens, Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Featuring are Wulomei, the Warriors, Sarkodie and R2 Bees from Ghana, King Mensah (Togo), Degg J Force 3 (Guinea) Awa Sissao (Burkina Faso) and Kezitah (Togo).

The festival ends with what should be a memorable evening featuring fiery Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, the co-originator of Afro-beat and Degg J Force 3 from Guinea. The show starts at 7.00pm.

High Vibes 2010 is supported by the French Embassy, AWDF, Coca Cola, Culturefrance, Alliance Francaise, UNESCO and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture.