Theatre in the Park to host ‘911 Band’
CHIBUKU Road to Fame 2023 winner, “911 Band” is set to debut at Theatre in the Park, Harare, tonight at a show the organisers had deemed as an opportunity for the group to meet fans.
The 911 Band comprises Taona Tiakudze, Matthew Mabengo aka Migobass on bass, Tinaishe Mugari (hotsticks) drummer, Peniel Kariteni (pennystrings) acoustic guitarist, Clemence Shirichena (clean bird) lead guitarist and Tanatswa Yotama the keyboardist.
According to the organisers of the event, Rooftop Promotions, they said this is a breakthrough for the group as it introduces itself to a wider and crossover audience at Theatre in the Park which also plays host to several acclaimed local and international plays.
Rooftop Promotions producer, Daves Guzha said the venue has always been a space and platform to herald new and upcoming artists. Guzha urged music lovers to come in their numbers and support 911 Band as they begin their careers in the mainstream music scene.
911 lead vocalist cum public relations of the group, Taona Tiakudze popularly known as TK, said the Gweru-based group was more than happy to perform in Harare for the first time.
“Well, we are so excited about our first show at Theatre in the Park and we looking forward to more business with the Theatre in the Park as well as other new opportunities that are coming our way,” he said.
TK said depending on the number of shows coming their way, the group might consider relocating to Harare although three of their members are studying music at Midlands State University.
“I guess we will have to have a base in Harare and a base in Gweru because some of the members including myself are still at the Midlands State University.”
“But we wouldn’t mind a donor so that we have a house in Harare,” he said.
Those who will attend can expect nothing short of a thrilling experience at the concert.
“We want to appreciate our fans and families for their steadfast commitment to supporting us this far and we pray that God makes them flourish and live long to see us shine till the end!” Tiakudze said.
But firstly, why the name 911 Band? “We want to be the first band to come to thought when a need for entertainment emerges just as an emergency in the US people call 911 and here (in Zimbabwe), we want that to be a trend of a musical emergency,” said TK.
He said the group is taking music as a business rather than as a hobby.
“It’s not “just a band but a musical enterprise, hence our key values are professionalism and integrity.”
“We have set ourselves as a company and the money we got we invested in our sound and transportation,” he said.
The lead singer said the group is yet to release their debut album a requisition for the group to participate in the Chibuku Road to Fame.
“An album is still in the making and perfection and at this concert, we will sample two to three songs from our upcoming album due out later this year but most of the songs on this show will be cover songs,” he said.
However, the group was founded in 2019 but after the Covid-19 pandemic, it only regrouped in 2021. The versatile group is inspired by several musicians from Winky D, Jah Prayzah, Oliver Mtukudzi, Mokoomba, and the Travellers band also from Gweru.