Fri 10 Aug
Gasper Nali, a musician who lives on the shores of northern Lake Malawi, is coming to Wales as part of his summer tour. Nali lives on his own, supporting himself mainly through his original music by playing regularly at nearby tourist lodges. A few years ago, when he was largely unknown, a clip of him performing his song A Bale Ndikuwuzeni went viral on social media. The video quickly gained over 18m views, making him shine beyond the borders of his hometown of Nkhata Bay.
Nali creates the most catchy and haunting melodies on his handmade three-metre-long bass guitar, called babatoni, using an empty glass bottle and a stick while stomping on an kickdrum fashioned from cowskin. His fans describe his energetic music as unstoppable dancing fodder and confirm that he knows how to entertain at a one-man party.
Zoona Malawi – Nali’s second album, a follow-up to a 2015 debut also titled A Bale Ndikuwuzeni – is set to be jointly released this month by two world/folk underground specialists, the American Mississippi Records and Sweden’s Sing A Song Fighter. Recorded live in the natural environment of Lake Malawi, it’s as pure and upbeat as the style that made him notorious. Gasper Nali’s infectious voice and danceable music should make this one-man performance an unmissable one.
Tickets: ÂŁ10-ÂŁ12. Info: 01639 843163 (FM)