SA: Urban Village to host video recording gig

The 29 May performance, presented by artist management and booking company Akum Agency, will be the band’s first official live video recording.

“Every event or concert is special to us as it gives us a chance to connect with our villagers,” the Soweto-based outfit told Music In Africa. “However, this will be the first live music video recording we’ve shot. We will film the entire set and release it free for people to watch on YouTube.

“We’ll be collaborating with two Soweto-based designers, the fab Nikiwe Dlova, who has done hair with our sis Msaki, and Floyd Avenue Collection, to have us looking sharp for the night. There’s a chance for our beautiful audience to feature in the video, so come vibe with us on 29 May at Untitled Basement.”

“Every Urban Village show is a vibe; we love connecting with new and old audiences. We’ll be playing some new songs that will be coming out on our debut LP to be released via Nø Førmat. We will be dressing up Urban Village style and encourage the audience to do so too. Our manager Jess White will be playing some tunes before and afterwards under his DJ moniker IAMSIWAS.”

The four-piece group has been gaining popularity with South African music fans in the past few years. The band – which employs an eclectic mix of languages and musical influences such as mbaqanga, maskandi and rock – is described as one that "encourages, motivates, entertains and awakens cultural and traditional consciousness".

“It encapsulates day-to-day personal and societal experiences echoed with teachings by the elderly, bringing us back, not to be regressive but to take us back to a point where our identity reflects us and our stories,” the band's management s ays.

Buy tickets to the event here.