News / National
Is Bulawayo City Hall venue cursed?
20 Sep 2017 at 07:00hrs | Views
EVER since music promoters turned to the Large City Hall car park to host local and international shows, it seems the gigs have been marred by unprecedented poor turnouts.
The venue - located in the convenient Bulawayo central business district -has been the best alternative for most promoters after council banned evening shows at the traditional Amphitheatre a few months ago.
Firstly, it was the much-hyped Jamaican Busy Signal gig at the venue which ended in chaos.
Soon after that, local artistes organised a show at the same venue featuring the likes of high-riding Madlela Sikhobokhobo, Jeys Marabini, Sandra Ndebele, Clement Magwaza and Cal_Vin, among others.
It was again a classic flop.
Then, a few weeks ago, respected South African kwaito star Babes Wodumo's show proved not any different. Fans surprisingly stayed away.
The surprise rebuff saw the organiser - 2 Kings Entertainment (2 Kings) - declaring the show free, in a desperate attempt to boost numbers.
And when everyone thought Wodumo's fellow countryman, hip-hop star and crowd-puller Cassper Nyovest, who last year filled the 20 000-seater TicketPro Dome in South Africa was going to break the jinx and exorcise the City Hall, it turned out to be same old disappointing story.
Just above 500 people turned out for Nyovest's gig last weekend.
2 Kings spokesperson Terminator Makoni attributed the poor turnouts to ugly scenes witnessed at Busy Signal's show.
"The events of that day are still vivid in their (fans)minds, it was indeed a sad scenario, when they hear or think of City Hall car park they quickly think of violence and paying for artistes who won't perform.
"Imagine, on that day most people had to scale the wall to safety, so it's hard for people to easily forget," Makoni said.
"For now, the only way forward is to look for another venue. There is no solution.
"It's unfortunate the city fathers have their own decisions and I feel they killed all the concert rhythm by banning the use of the Amphitheatre and Trade Fair grounds for night shows."
Intwasa Arts Festival director Raisedon Baya who was one of the organisers of the local artistes' show that flopped, said promoters only need to publicise their shows.
"City Hall car park is the best venue. There is nothing wrong with it. Poor turnouts are due to bad publicity and bad timing."
The venue - located in the convenient Bulawayo central business district -has been the best alternative for most promoters after council banned evening shows at the traditional Amphitheatre a few months ago.
Firstly, it was the much-hyped Jamaican Busy Signal gig at the venue which ended in chaos.
Soon after that, local artistes organised a show at the same venue featuring the likes of high-riding Madlela Sikhobokhobo, Jeys Marabini, Sandra Ndebele, Clement Magwaza and Cal_Vin, among others.
It was again a classic flop.
Then, a few weeks ago, respected South African kwaito star Babes Wodumo's show proved not any different. Fans surprisingly stayed away.
The surprise rebuff saw the organiser - 2 Kings Entertainment (2 Kings) - declaring the show free, in a desperate attempt to boost numbers.
And when everyone thought Wodumo's fellow countryman, hip-hop star and crowd-puller Cassper Nyovest, who last year filled the 20 000-seater TicketPro Dome in South Africa was going to break the jinx and exorcise the City Hall, it turned out to be same old disappointing story.
2 Kings spokesperson Terminator Makoni attributed the poor turnouts to ugly scenes witnessed at Busy Signal's show.
"The events of that day are still vivid in their (fans)minds, it was indeed a sad scenario, when they hear or think of City Hall car park they quickly think of violence and paying for artistes who won't perform.
"Imagine, on that day most people had to scale the wall to safety, so it's hard for people to easily forget," Makoni said.
"For now, the only way forward is to look for another venue. There is no solution.
"It's unfortunate the city fathers have their own decisions and I feel they killed all the concert rhythm by banning the use of the Amphitheatre and Trade Fair grounds for night shows."
Intwasa Arts Festival director Raisedon Baya who was one of the organisers of the local artistes' show that flopped, said promoters only need to publicise their shows.
"City Hall car park is the best venue. There is nothing wrong with it. Poor turnouts are due to bad publicity and bad timing."
Source - dailynews
