Last band standing 2014 launched

The National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) this week launched the 4 th edition of the Last Band Standing competition. This musical competition provides a platform for local bands to compete against each other in knock-out rounds until only the finalists are left. 

Auditions for next year’s show were held earlier this month after 56 entries were received and 24 bands were chosen to participate in the next Last Band Standing. The bands set to participate in the competition which starts on 1 February 2014, are Mr Green, 3DB, Amakhoe, Axue & the Birds, Big Mamma, His Sanctuary Gospel Band, Hishishi Papa, Emelda & Friends, Linda, Esme & band, Jaliza & friends, Dixon & friends, Famaz Attak, Moj’s, Rushhour, Sim Sisters, Slow, Wambu & the Seuns, Michael Seraun !Owos-Oab, Mahetage, Ongoro Nomundo, Pule and friends, Gerry Dread and Lady on Sax. “The fact that all the artists who previously participated in this competition have achieved success, shows that this event is a success and we as dBAudio are proud to be part of this”, said Aaron Synberg of dB Audio. Tafel Lager who is also one of the sponsors donated N$450,000 to the NTN for the competition. The first round of the competition starts on 1 February next year with Famaz Attak, Linda, Wambu & the Seuns as the first participants to go against each other. They will be followed by Jaliza & friends, Amakhoe, and Mr Green. On 08 February Sim Sisters, Michael Seraun !Owos-Oab and Pule & friends will compete against each other followed on 12 February by Ongoro Nomundo, His Sanctuary Gospel Band and Axue & the Birds. On 15 February Dixon & band go against Mahetage and Esme & band. Big Mamma, Lady & Sax will go against 3DB on the 19 th while Rushhour, Hishishi Papa, and Gerry Dread will try to outperform each other. Moj’s, Emelda & friends, and Slow will battle it out on stage on 22 February. Only 8 bands will go through to the second round of the competition. The Last Band Standing programme is a platform for musicians to promote their music and share it with other musicians as well as attract audiences. The participants will also attend workshops from 18 to 25 January where experts will teach them on capacity building as artists as well as give lessons on sound check. The winner of the competition walks away with a cash prize of N$50,000, 2 nd runner up N$30,000, 3 rd runner up N30, 000 and the 4 th and 5 th runners up N$10,000 each. Sponsors of the competition are dB Audio, Tafel Lager, Omalaeti, NBC, the National Arts Council of Namibia, Queenspark and the NTN.