Rash Band

Rash Band is an Award-winning Swahili rock band from Kenya.

RASH was founded in late 2013 by Maximiliano Filardi (lead guitarist) and Abed Kariuki (former rhythm guitarist) after meeting in university and realizing they both shared a passion for rock music. They were soon joined by Sebastien Filardi (former bassist), Samual Warui (Vocalist) and Samuel Gakungu (Drummer) vowing to make music that will cross the East African borders and appease both the local and international rock scene.

In recent years, the band underwent a few line up changes with Sebastien being replaced by Colbert Akunga on bass, and Abed being replaced first by Yubu Kazunga and then later by Evans Mutanduki on rhythm guitar.

In 2018, RASH was nominated for the Urban Music Awards for Best African Artist as well as the African Music Awards (AFRIMA) in the category of Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Rock with their song “Nitachange” featuring Ruff. In 2019 the band took home the AFRIMA award for Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Rock with their single “Grave Robbers”.

For the past 6 years RASH has been hosting a yearly event “Legions” performing alongside other renowned and established artists from the Nairobi rock scene. RASH has been featured in several documentaries (Un Monde de Metal by Olivier Richard, My Africa is by Nosa Garrick, This is Africa Fest by Hardcore Help Foundation, and Inside Africa by CNN) and performed in various events and festivals in Kenya (This is Africa Fest 2016 & 2017, Rift Valley Festival, Ongea Summit 2016, Airtel Sondeka Festival and more), Uganda (Nyege Nyege 2016) and Ghana (AFRIMA Music Village 2018).