Live rock music returns to Kampala night life

Bad Cat was one of the night’s surprise acts. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI

As described by Wikipedia, ‘Rock’ is a genre of popular music that originated as “rock and roll” in the United States in the 1950s, and developed into a range of different styles in the 1960s. The genre later expanded to Uganda in the mid-2000s with a number of clubs like Sway, Steak Out and Rouge among others hosting with the ‘Rock music’ theme nights.

Because it was the in-thing by then, Rachael K, Halima Namakula’s daughter opted to embark on doing rock music. Ofcourse Ugandans never showed their support, opting instead to listen to Linkin Park, Green Day, Avril Lavigne and the likes. Hundreds others made the now defunct Steak Out on Lumumba Avenue their Thursday night companion. Slowly, revellers outgrew the genre. But fast forward to 2016, Cayenne Lounge has decided to bring Rock Music back to Kampala night life with the launch, last Thursday, of a weekly live rock music show featuring Matatu Rock Band.

Because the music originated from the US and UK, it was no surprise that whites outnumbered blacks in attendance as they danced and wiggled to every track the five-man band – including two ladies – played including songs like ‘First cut is the deepest’, Happy, Red Red Wine, Brown Eyed girl,Time after Time and Labamba among others during their three hour musical performance.

After their first session, Touch Fm’s Bad Cat, a female deejay took to the deejays box and started mixing rock jams. She seemed to enjoy her music even more than the audience, throwing her arms in the air, singing to every song and dancing at the same time.

Judith Heard, the host of the night thanked everyone for turning up in big numbers and promised that Rock night would happen every Thursday at the same venue before letting the band play for their second session.

issejjombwe@ug.nationmedia.com