Macheso gears up for UK tours

In an apparent joint preparation for their upcoming United Kingdom tours, Alick Macheso and Suluman Chimbetu will have numerous shows together around the country beginning this weekend.

The musicians are set to tour UK separately next month. Macheso leaves the country on July 28 for shows on August 1 and 2 while Chimbetu's tour is set for the end of August.

The duo has lined up joint "farewell" shows in Harare, Chinhoyi, Gweru and Bulawayo in the next couple of weeks.

Their first joint show takes place at New Life Nightclub in Budiriro on Friday while the following day they go to Club CSC in Chinhoyi.

Both musicians are looking forward to their joint 'operation' with anticipation.

Macheso said it was good to be working with Chimbetu before they embark on an international offensive.

"We will both tour the UK next month and we are preparing for the tours as a combination," said Macheso.

"This is a combination that has come a long way. It has been many months since we worked together and I am happy to be working with Sulu again. I take him as my son because we worked well with his father.

"When soccer teams prepare for important assignments, they play friendly matches and we are taking this national tour as our friendly match ahead of the UK tour. I will be playing my new songs for UK fans for the first time and we will polish everything through our local shows"

Chimbetu said he is looking forward to an exciting UK tour and encouraged his local fans to assist him in preparing for the international assignment.

Speaking through his publicist Joe "Local" Nyamungoma, the Dendera musician said enough groundwork will be done ahead of the show.

"It has been a long time since we performed in the UK and the coming tour will be important for us," said Nyamungoma.

"We are happy that we will be working with Macheso ahead of the tour. The shows will be exciting because we will both be putting our international acts in order. It is a good preparation and we are looking forward to it.

"Our Friday show at New Life Nightclub is likely to be the greatest as we launch our campaign. We encourage people to come in their numbers for the gig. A lot is in store and we promise surprises and fireworks."

Meanwhile Macheso who has been shying away from performing in greater Harare following a recent divorce settlement with his ex-wife Fortunate "Tafadzwa" Mapako made a sensational return over the weekend with a gig held at Ice&Fire Pamuzinda.

The long awaited gig saw the sungura kingpin rekindling his romance with Harare fans after starving them for over a month.

Fans almost fell on each other to greet their "idol" while the daring ones literally kissed his trainers just like what fans did to Winky D during the maiden Australian "Sando Dzangu Tour".

The sold out show which also had the likes of Jah Prayzah and Progress Chipfumo on the bill climaxed when Macheso aka Extrabasso took to the stage in grand style.

Those with a penchant to show off invaded the stage and showered Extrabasso with some new dollar notes in appreciation of his bass guitar skills.

The scenes at the Friday show could have made an instant hit on the "Zvirikufaya" meme which has since gone viral on Facebook.

They "flossed" their cash, poured liqueur on the floor and took "selfies" with Extrabasso during the set.

For the past weeks, live shows had been hit by low turnouts but at Ice&Fire Pamuzinda it wasn't all gloom and doom , if anything it showed that some people still have disposable income despite the state of the economy.

Extrabasso played a selection of some of his old and recent hits from "Charakupa", "Makandidana" to "Baba naMai", "Madhawu" to "Tafadzwa" which was arguably one of the most requested numbers on the night.

Like most of his shows, Extrabasso played until the wee hours and fans loved every minute of it. It appears Extrabasso is beginning to appreciate the reality on the ground that he was made for the stage although his major weakness is that of groupies.