Nostalgia. This is one of the most powerful of emotions, in fact it can be said that there's nothing quite like it. It is an embrace of the past, the warmth of memory mingling with the present, the only power strong enough to propel us to time travel, even if only within the confines of our mind.
When a legendary act makes its return to the stage, or when a concept is resuscitated, it is often that we find out that the product is long past it's best before date. In the entertainment space a return is always harder than a beginning. New music is released each and every day, and equally new event concepts make their debut every other weekend.
Time is an eraser that weather's away all, yet sometimes you encounter outliers, who dare to defy the sands of the hourglass; Liquideep and Unplugged, an artist and an event that have both maintained fond memories in those that have experienced them.
When a legendary act makes its return to the stage, or when a concept is resuscitated, it is often that we find out that the product is long past it's best before date. In the entertainment space a return is always harder than a beginning. New music is released each and every day, and equally new event concepts make their debut every other weekend.
Time is an eraser that weather's away all, yet sometimes you encounter outliers, who dare to defy the sands of the hourglass; Liquideep and Unplugged, an artist and an event that have both maintained fond memories in those that have experienced them.
A matter of not just the quality of the product but a shared feeling, a call that unites in revelry. Brought together there would be surely no doubt of success? This was the story of Unplugged's 2025 return at First Capital Bank Sports Club. Under new management but still with a belief in the same principles, the festival arrived riding the winds of expectation.
As always the setting is everything, and on the occasion its return, Unplugged got this right. The stage was grand in design and well thought out; Big screens that broadcast performances and a tongue that stretched to the audience. The VIP section allowed for exclusivity and proximity to the stage without obscuring the line of sight for regular ticket holders.
The threats of the heavens to pour down did not mute the fashion in the slightest, and it was cooler boxes and beautiful women as far as the eye could see, you could easily meet the love of my life 4 times.
Unplugged's afternoon kicked off with DJ Joe and ROPA. gracing the decks. This was followed by an R&B serenade starring SAIIREN and Melyssa. The energy curve of the night was a gradual one, and it had an appreciative audience to compliment it.
From the early afternoon interlude, the tempo was raised by rising superstar Sane Wav, quickly followed by the gifted Delroy Shewe. A few initial hiccups aside, Unplugged's sound hadn't sounded this good in almost half decade and a continuously swelling crowd was a testament to the organisation.
All through the day, MC Tatts and DJ Fujee were the glue that held everything together. The moments between artists were barely noticeable as the duo maintained the vibe out of an infectious showcase of sheer willpower and adulterous chants the crowd responded to in full voice.
As dusk turned to night, Sylent Nqo with his band in tow sang to us about love in vocals that sounded as good as vinyl (a showcase that invited an audience of flying termites). "Huya," "Denga," "Good One," all featured on the set list, with selections like "The Life Of A Mosquito" to diffuse the emotional tension.
Before long it was teatime, and Saintfloew stepped onto the stage with the full compliment of his band. Now Liquideep and nostalgia might have brought us together, but Saint turned the clocks forward back into the moment.
He is a name that only recently reached the pinnacles of Zimbabwean music but his stage craft is that of a legacy act. "Gundamwenda," "Silas Mavende," "Pamwe Wanga Usingade," "One by One," "Bipolar," the performance had everything. It's exclamation point was the return of Delroy Shewe to the stage for a rendition of "Superstar" that will live long in memory. By the end, it was hard to argue against Saint being the country's current best performer.
As teatime concluded, the present gave way to the past, and Liquideep once again performed in Harare. The buildup was slow, interrupted by minor technical issues but then all of a sudden it was 2010 and thousands were pleading to be a "Fairytale," checking statuses on "BBM," and reminding each other that we don't have to be "Alone." We were basking under the starlight of nostalgia.
In some moments it was less singing and more talking us through it, but when he did sing it was beautiful. Almost 15 years later, and the music sounded just as good as when we were still in high school and Tsvangirayi was still Zimbabwe's Prime Minister.
When they signed off, MadeHerBelieve arrived with yet another sonic sermon that drew yet more believers (We might need to beat him up because haanakidze so muEvitro). How good was it? The headliners, Liquideep, were done, but we didn't see the usual festival exodus because he ensured everyone remained static, dancing in place.
Over a year in the making, Unplugged's return had been well worth the wait.
Greedysouth rating: 7.7/10
As always the setting is everything, and on the occasion its return, Unplugged got this right. The stage was grand in design and well thought out; Big screens that broadcast performances and a tongue that stretched to the audience. The VIP section allowed for exclusivity and proximity to the stage without obscuring the line of sight for regular ticket holders.
The threats of the heavens to pour down did not mute the fashion in the slightest, and it was cooler boxes and beautiful women as far as the eye could see, you could easily meet the love of my life 4 times.
Unplugged's afternoon kicked off with DJ Joe and ROPA. gracing the decks. This was followed by an R&B serenade starring SAIIREN and Melyssa. The energy curve of the night was a gradual one, and it had an appreciative audience to compliment it.
From the early afternoon interlude, the tempo was raised by rising superstar Sane Wav, quickly followed by the gifted Delroy Shewe. A few initial hiccups aside, Unplugged's sound hadn't sounded this good in almost half decade and a continuously swelling crowd was a testament to the organisation.
All through the day, MC Tatts and DJ Fujee were the glue that held everything together. The moments between artists were barely noticeable as the duo maintained the vibe out of an infectious showcase of sheer willpower and adulterous chants the crowd responded to in full voice.
As dusk turned to night, Sylent Nqo with his band in tow sang to us about love in vocals that sounded as good as vinyl (a showcase that invited an audience of flying termites). "Huya," "Denga," "Good One," all featured on the set list, with selections like "The Life Of A Mosquito" to diffuse the emotional tension.
Before long it was teatime, and Saintfloew stepped onto the stage with the full compliment of his band. Now Liquideep and nostalgia might have brought us together, but Saint turned the clocks forward back into the moment.
He is a name that only recently reached the pinnacles of Zimbabwean music but his stage craft is that of a legacy act. "Gundamwenda," "Silas Mavende," "Pamwe Wanga Usingade," "One by One," "Bipolar," the performance had everything. It's exclamation point was the return of Delroy Shewe to the stage for a rendition of "Superstar" that will live long in memory. By the end, it was hard to argue against Saint being the country's current best performer.
As teatime concluded, the present gave way to the past, and Liquideep once again performed in Harare. The buildup was slow, interrupted by minor technical issues but then all of a sudden it was 2010 and thousands were pleading to be a "Fairytale," checking statuses on "BBM," and reminding each other that we don't have to be "Alone." We were basking under the starlight of nostalgia.
In some moments it was less singing and more talking us through it, but when he did sing it was beautiful. Almost 15 years later, and the music sounded just as good as when we were still in high school and Tsvangirayi was still Zimbabwe's Prime Minister.
When they signed off, MadeHerBelieve arrived with yet another sonic sermon that drew yet more believers (We might need to beat him up because haanakidze so muEvitro). How good was it? The headliners, Liquideep, were done, but we didn't see the usual festival exodus because he ensured everyone remained static, dancing in place.
Over a year in the making, Unplugged's return had been well worth the wait.
Greedysouth rating: 7.7/10