Unplugged x Coca Cola Food Fest Harare with Felo Le Tee: A Review

This past weekend Unplugged x Coca Cola Food Festival Harare returned for its second edition under the combined music and food festival format. First Capital Bank Sports Club once again hosted the event, and while the conversation online had been dominated by the festivals of October, the thousands in attendance proved that Unplugged was still in the hearts of many Hararians.

On the day the winds of August also returned for one last showcase of their powers, which made for a cold night. However, the frigid air couldn't dampen the jubilant atmosphere. Festival goers seemed to accept nature's terms in an unspoken transaction, the freezing temperatures were deemed a worthy exchange for a good time out. 

A few favourites returned, while a host of new names made their debut on the long line of food outlets that took up the entire left side of the grounds. There was a (The) Mixologist that served up delicious burrito bowls, a BIRD5NEST with tasty Asiatic creations and a Soul Food Kitchen. I might've only been in Harare but my palate certainly travelled the world.

Arriving there just before the sunset, we were welcomed by the sounds of The Travellers Band. With drums, saxophone and guitar, they pulled us into nostalgia by putting their own twist on more than a few old favourites. From Afrobeats, to pop and even dancehall.

The talented group passed on the baton to DJ Chiweddar, who gave the people what they wanted as usual. While hopping from one hit to another (those of yesteryears and a few more recent), the rhythm of each song was emphasized by the strum of his keytar, almost to a fault. He might not introduce you to new music but he certainly knows how to keep you moving and you know what, every festival needs that.

While Chiweddar maintained the vibe, Tamy Moyo certainly elevated it. Balancing hits of old with a healthy selection from her most recent album 'Bold,' Tamy Moyo had the crowd's attention from the word go. Energy. Vocals. Choreography. She was unmatched by any other performer in bringing all three together, and every single track that she performed from her last album translated beautifully onstage. If anything she didn't perform enough music from it.

After Tamy Moyo's performance wrapped up and preceded by a brief interlude, Holy Ten came on stage to great fanfare, and as he commenced his set he gave back as much energy as he received. From the moment he began, the hit songs just kept coming. "Madhafela," "Banga," "Delilah," "Pressure"... He was well on his way to a half-decent performance when he decided to say a few words to Voltz, and the crowd didn't like that.

What had been a singalong all along soon became a chorus of boos. Which was understandable and I added a fair few of my own boos to the chorus, but mine had nothing to do with Voltz. Personally, I was just annoyed that he was talking and throwing out chants (Hoyo, 5 plus 5...) almost as often as he actually sang his lyrics. While this may be fine for MC Tatts (we like him for that entire reason), it's not what we expect when an artist is performing.

Now if that awkward moment left a sour taste in people's mouths, then Killer T was the perfect palate cleanser. The Zimdancehall hitmaker didn't miss a beat from start to finish, and while "Kana Ndanyura" might be the song of the moment, the singer still has bigger songs in his repertoire. Easily the best performer on the night.

When Felo Le Tee finally hit the stage, the crowd's appetite was just right and the DJ duly obliged. Drifting between velvety smooth amapiano tracks, Felo Le Tee was ever the entertainer. A few vocals here and there, along with laidback dance moves were a match to the rhythm of the music. The DJ's set was executed with a certain flair and finesse. While striking, it was definitely easy on the ear. As I would discover with my Shazam, Felo Le Tee has a deep and rich catalogue.

As the performances ended, the cold weather once again became apparent, but it felt worth it. Another Unplugged festival, another day of making memories. This time is certainly better than the last.

Side note: While I love the collaboration of corporates with event organizers, I just feel that those big screens on the side of stages are being under-utilized (this goes for all festivals). Those screens need to be showcasing the performance of whoever's on stage, we don't need to stare at a company's logo the entire time. Show us the performance then revert back to the logo during the interludes. It will be just as effective as the current status if not more in terms of marketing.

Greedysouth rating: 7.2/10

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