WINDHOEK– Surely the curtains are coming down tonight at the Garlic and Flowers Restaurant in Robert Mugabe avenue in the centre of the City when one of Namibia’s celebrated live music artists, Sledge Kanime perform.
Sledge promises to give adherents of the old school music dating back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s a dose of nostalgia at this venue that these days can easily be taken to be his home ground even if he has featured there only two times this time around in two years. But Sledge is increasingly proving to be a popular live act in the City if his two previous acts, one at Garlic last year and other the Khomasdal Community Hall early this year is anything to go by. This March Sledge celebrated 40 years in live music with a formidable line up of live bands of yesteryears like the Ugly Creatures and Baronages. This show left nostalgic revellers craving for more and wondering when would they again be treated to such nostalgia not knowing what Sledge and the spring had in store for them. And that night is tonight.
Tonight’s show is based on love songs from yesteryears when he will be performing songs from his previous shows plus and other cover versions from artists such as Barry White, Lou Rawls, The Whispers and The Miracles.
Sledge started his musical journey at the tender age of 12 years with the band then called the Do-nuts doing cover versions of soul hits like When a man loves a woman and My Special Prayer made popular by none other than Percy Sledge, hence his own stage name, Sledge. Sledge later joined the Children from Pluto (CFP) band and onwards the Deadwoods in Walvis Bay doing songs such as Good time sally, Maybe the magic and We are an American band by the Grand Fun Railroad.
Sledge later teamed up with the legendary Baby Tjirimuje, founder of the Beebop Brothers, in a band called the Gypsies performing songs like Free me by Uriah Heep, Baby come back by The Players and many more.
Sledge later joined The Masters and the Ugly Creatures with his old time friends, Elvis Afrikaner, now late, and Baby Doëseb, the master on guitar as well as the late Jefta on base guitar. Tickets go for N$50 at the door on the night with the doors opening at eight O’clock (20h00).