New coastal band up and away - by Clarice Theys
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SWAKOPMUND – The newly formed coastal band, Afro Velvet, recently staged its first concert at the Vineta Sport grounds. Three of the group’s members from the highly successful rock and blues band, Gravel Road, decided to broaden their musical repertoire with jazz and shambo.
The concert was well attended, given the short notice the public received.
A bonfire in the middle of the crowd provided a warm and intimate atmosphere and also shielded the crowd against the mist, which gradually spread over the scene.
“Our music is Afro Fusion and 100 percent our own compositions. We are currently also trying to bring in a small Reggae element into it, quite a challenge. However, we won’t just settle for the little bit we know.
“We are committed to give our best. Rock ‘n Roll is still a big favourite and we’ll see how we can fit that in as well,” said band percussionist, Ferdinand Hengombo.
He intimated to Art Life that they are experiencing the same fate that most artists do in Namibia.
“Acquiring enough funds is currently a big challenge. We are prepared to play in any town in Namibia, but it can become a very costly endeavour in terms of the transportation of our instruments. If we can’t transport the equipment, we’ll have to hire the instruments, which obviously will increase costs, resulting eventually in higher entrance fees to our shows,” he said.
“We struggle a lot with quotations … companies or individuals who want to hire us some of whom have found our charges too expensive. We paid all expenses of the last show ourselves because we love music and to entertain people,” he recalled.
Afro Velvet is a friendly and accommodative bunch of young men. They said that they are willing to play with other artists – especially vocalists and are even prepared to provide other bands with their studio space if needed.
The band’s short-term goal is to have another concert over a weekend, which will be December 18 and 19 in Swakopmund. In terms of the future, they’re planning to launch their first album in the first half of 2010.
Their message to other musicians is not to become lazy and to start taking up an instrument.
“Stop backtracking … do the real thing! Start contributing and creating own bands … Learn to appreciate each other and get rid of all the ‘beef’ in the industry … There is a place for everybody,” Hengombo concluded.
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