Descripción
September 30, 2026All AgesTickets - $25 Advance/$30 DoorsDoors - 7 PMSweet Poison Victim - 8 PMWITCH - 9:15 PMWITCH BioA pioneering Zambian psychedelic act, W.I.T.C.H. (the name is an acronym, standing for WeIntend to Cause Havoc) were one of the defining acts of Zamrock, a fusion of Western rock andrhythm & blues with traditional African sounds. They were among Zambia's most popular andinfluential bands in the 1970s as a wave of psychedelic and hard rock gained an audience inAfrica. A landlocked nation in the South of Africa, Zambia was formerly Northern Rhodesia untilgaining its independence in 1964, and as Zambia established its own national identity, localmusicians began embracing the progressive influences of artists such as the Beatles, the RollingStones, and Jimi Hendrix, as well as the forward-thinking soul and funk sounds of James Brown.By the mid-'70s, Zambia was falling into political chaos as the nation's once-profitable miningindustry ran dry, and many Zamrock bands reflected this with a darker, more psychedelic-influenced sound that suggested a familiarity with the likes of Deep Purple and Grand FunkRailroad. W.I.T.C.H.'s 1972 debut, Introduction, was the first commercial album released by aZambian band, and they continued to deliver music until fading into dormancy in the mid-'80s. Areissue campaign launched in 2011 brought the band to a new generation of listeners, andW.I.T.C.H. reunited in 2014 and started touring again shortly thereafter. In 2023, they releasedZango, their first new album in almost 40 years. The original lineup of W.I.T.C.H. included vocalistEmanyeo "Jagari" Chanda, guitarists Chris Mbewe and John Muma, bassist Gedeon Mulenga, anddrummer Boidi Sinkala, who were veterans of Zambian cover bands of the late '60s; Chanda(whose nickname "Jagari" came from his fascination with Mick Jagger, one of his strongestinfluences) had worked with the Red Balloons and the Boyfriends (the latter group would evolveinto another key Zamrock outfit, Peace), while most of the other members were members ofKingston Market. In 1971, Chanda sang with Kingston Market at a school function, and he wasinvited to join the group; they soon changed their name to the Mighty W.I.T.C.H., and then simplyW.I.T.C.H, using the acronym they'd coined as explanation. Fuelled by marijuana and Westernrock and soul, the group's debut album, Introduction, was released in 1972, and was among thefirst commercially released LPs issued in Zambia. W.I.T.C.H.'s third album, 1975's Lazy Bones!!,is generally regarded as their finest work; while they were hampered by the primitive recordingtechnology available in Africa, they developed a large following in Zambia and were playingstadium-sized shows throughout the continent. After W.I.T.C.H. toured as an opening act forOsibisa, the U.K.-based Afro-rock band, they began including more local influences on their nextalbum, Lukombo Vibes, but in 1977 the group began to splinter when Chanda left to return toschool and become a teacher. A reshuffled version of W.I.T.C.H. continued to record up until themid-'80s, going in a more disco-influenced direction with Patrick Mwondela, on albums like1980's Movin' On and 1984's Kuomboka. Around the mid-'80s, however, the band ground to a halt.In the 21st century, crate diggers interested in idiosyncratic rock sounds from around the worldrediscovered W.I.T.C.H., and the German reissue label Shadoks released new CD editions ofIntroduction and Lazy Bones!! In 2011 the American label Now Again Records released We Intendto Cause Havoc!, a comprehensive W.I.T.C.H. box set that featured their five studio albums plusa bonus collection of single tracks and unreleased material. This sparked new interest in theband, and by 2013, a Chanda-led W.I.T.C.H. with Mwondela, had regrouped and was touringagain. In 2023, W.I.T.C.H. released Zango, their first album of new material in almost 40 years. Itincluded contributions from fellow Zambian artists such as Sampa the Great . In June 2025, theyreleased Sogolo, their second album. ~Mark Deming, RoviSweet Poison VictimTrying to describe Sweet Poison Victim can be a bit difficult. Sure, there are some familiar elements in their music, from the plucky pop of West African High-Life to the rhythmic groove of Reggae and Cumbia to the impassioned wail of classic Soul and the hypnotic pulse of garage rock, but the final product is impossible to pigeonhole. Their influences are mutated, melted down and molded into something new and wonderful. Something that has to be seen and heard in order to be believed. But don’t waste your time trying to describe their sound. Just remember to dance. Named after booze, Sweet Poison Victim blends sounds from Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, the Caribbean, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil with Western Pop and Psychedelic Music. The result is a buzz like no other.