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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
PREARATIONS for the 2015 Jameson Victoria Falls Carnival have begun with organisers drawing a list of artistes to take fans into the new year. One of the organisers Emmanuel Tivatyi said between 7,000 and 10,000 people are expected to grace this year’s three-day extravaganza. “We’ve just received a list of the first batch of artistes who are Mango Groove, Goodluck, Jason Le Roux and Mokoomba. As usual the carnival dates are December 29, 30 and 31,” said Tivatyi.

He said tickets would cost $60 for each of the first and second night and $65 for the New Year’s Eve bash. Tivatyi said there is also a promotional package where fans would pay $90 for any two nights. The itinerary posted on the carnival’s website shows that the capacity for the train party at Jafuta Lodge on December 29 has been increased to 1,500 people.

On December 30 there will be multiple parties in town at venues to be announced while the carnival will be at Victoria Falls Primary School on New Year’s Eve. Mango Groove and GoodLuck are renowned South African bands. Mango Groove released first multi-platinum album in 1989 and is led by charismatic lead singer Claire Johnson. To date the band has sold over 750,000 albums in South Africa alone while enjoying lots of airplay across all radio and TV stations.

GoodLuck is one of South Africa’s most exciting live electronic bands challenging audiences from around the world to take interest in a modern sound. The group, formed in 2011 has sold out concerts in Cape Town, London, Johannesburg, Amsterdam and Berlin. Mokoomba is a Victoria Falls six-member band that plays a unique blend of Tonga and Lubale traditional rhythms fused with different genres.

The band has toured over 50 countries around the world and has won several awards. Last week they played at the Association of Health Funders (AHFoZ) in the resort town where they left people asking for more. Jason Le Roux is a Zimbabwean DJ whose work has made him an electronic poster boy and is no stranger to fans as well as to the carnival as he rocked the dance floor to an obscene level last year. Zyon Black, DJ Rax and Bhana are some of the icons likely to be on the line-up.

The first formal music festival in Victoria Falls started in 2009 with Falls Fest, which continued until 2011. In 2012 Sean Young and Blessing Munyenyiwa founded the Victoria Falls Carnival and this year Seed Experiences has been brought in to manage the event with them.The Victoria Falls Carnival showcases artistes from all over Southern Africa and caters for all musical tastes.