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News
'Lake of Stars stimulates, challenges, opens your eyes and ears, and
redefines the festival experience as we know it. There isn't another festival
like this on the planet'
- Rahul Verma, The Metro, Oct 2007
Lake of Stars 2008
October 10th – 12th @ Sunbird Livingstonia Beach, Senga Bay, Malawi
Lake of Stars had a fantastic year in 2007! Our first musical road trip from South Africa to Malawi, over £4600 raised for UNICEF and many more people attending the festival from all over the world. Not to mention all the UK network gigs that went on throughout the year raising funds and awareness.
It is time again to look ahead to October and plan the journey to the heart of Africa for the fifth Lake of Stars Festival. You can fly straight there with Kenya Airways or take part in the Lake of Stars Road Trip with Bundu Safaris (details below). You can choose to come over for a quick week away or take more time out and fully explore all that Malawi has to offer – from the majestic Mount Mulanje to the beaches of Lake Malawi. Whichever way you choose to do it you can count on having an unforgettable adventure with some incredible memories.
Check the information section on how to get to Malawi and where to stay once you’re there.
The 2008 Lake of Stars Festival has moved venues and will be at Sunbird Livingstonia Beach, Senga Bay, Malawi: Friday 10th – Sunday 12th October.
18 day Lake of Stars musical road trip with Bundu Safaris
It's 3000 kms to Lake Malawi, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's
dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.... A first ever.... a roadtrip from Johannesburg to
Lilongwe based around music; a festival on wheels. Two overland trucks, roll into the Lake
of Stars Festival together; one for the bands and film crew and one for the punters. Rock up
at a village, set up the stall and pump out the music. An amazing overland adventure from
South Africa through to the sunny shores of Lake Malawi. Music is the main reason for the trip.
We will attend several gigs and nightclubs, culminating with the amazing Lake of the Stars Music
Festival at Lake Malawi. A mixture of African music, wildlife and beaches, this trip is
for those who love African rhythm, want time to chill on the beaches of the Indian Ocean and
Lake Malawi and of course to see the amazing animals. On this Africa adventure, we will
travel overland away from the usual routes through Mozambique and north into Malawi.
This is the definitive Southern Africa Music Festival Adventure Tour.
Find out more: Bundu Safari's page with info, pics and itinerary
Films from Lake of Stars 2007
The Festival film
The Road Trip film
Press on Lake of Stars 2007
'This has been a life changing experience for all of us. Come here for the
people, come for the music, come for the famous Malawian hospitality, come
here for that lake if nothing else, but just make sure that you come here some
time.
And you know what, it is a long way away but you can get here safely and you can
get here in comfort and it is worth every single second and every single penny.
We shall be back next year!'
- Jo Good, MTV, Oct 2007
'In today's saturated festival climate Lake of Stars is utterly unique:
Lake of Stars unites myriad people from all over the world whether NGO workers,
adventurous festival goers, backpackers, Malawians, and South Africans, through
the universal language of music. It's a sharp reminder of what festivals should
be about, and combined with the stunning setting, unbelievably friendly locals,
and dizzying range of music, Lake of Stars stimulates, challenges, opens your
eyes and ears, and redefines the festival experience as we know it.
There isn't another festival like this on the planet'
- Rahul Verma, The Metro, Oct 2007
'The annual Lake of Stars festival is bringing international flair to Malawi's
palm-fringed shores'
- Mari McCloy, Mail & Guardian (South Africa)
'I wouldn’t even put this in the same bracket as Creamfields or Global Gathering,
it's on a whole higher plane... it's just so much more interesting than any other
festival. This has been a soul-cleansing experience'
- Annie Mac, BBC Radio 1
'...be ahead of the crowd and get acquainted with Malawian music in situ,
along with the cream of UK DJ talent, under the palms and mango trees along
the lakeside, where students, travellers and locals come to dance late into
the night until the sun rises and the fishermen return with their catches at
dawn. Great music, friendly people, and a beautiful location. Get there before
everyone else does'
- Simon Broughton, Songlines/Wanderlust
Lake of Stars – the story so far….
The Guardian: "The event is pitched somewhere between a Womad-style showcase and a north of England rave"
Since 2004 a unique festival has slowly been growing on the shores of Lake Malawi.
The Lake of Stars Festival is a three day charity event that has featured Felix B
(Basement Jaxx), Groove Armada's Andy Cato, Mikey General (Bugz in the Attic),
DJ Yoda, Annie Mac, Ben Westbeech, Rodney P & Skitz, Wambali Mkandawire, Lucius
Banda and the Black Missionaries (10 piece Malawian reggae group). Combining Western
artists with acts from all over Southern Africa the fifth Lake of Stars Festival takes
place in October this year. Head out to Malawi, deep in the middle of Africa, for a
music event like no other.
Felix B (Basement Jaxx): "It was a truly amazing and unique adventure to travel to
the heart of Africa. I've never met such friendly people with such a passion for
music. All in all a fantastic holiday and a real eye-opening experience."
Songlines Magazine: "One of the world's most extraordinary festivals"
The festival was borne from a desire to raise money for a developing economy and
help promote Malawi as a tourist destination. Set on the shimmering, palm-fringed
shores of Lake Malawi at Chintheche Inn, for three days Western and Malawian artists
gather for a musical, social and cultural exchange which is unlike anything you will
ever see or hear. For many the festival is the focal point of travelling around this
beautiful country, forming part of an itinerary spanning what Malawi has to offer.
Andy Cato (Groove Armada): "You'll never see music cross as many boundaries and
borders as this, and you'll never listen to music in a more special place"
Malawi: Africa's most diverse country. You're spoilt for choice: Lake Malawi is
great for all manner of water sports: kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling, swimming,
water-skiing – all in warm, salt-free water. Climb or trek up Mount Mulanje (Central
Africa's highest peak) or the lush Zomba Plateau. Go horse riding – including riding
with game. Visit some of the nine game parks. Try mountain biking through forests
and past waterfalls or simply chill out on some of the most beautiful beaches in
the world. Head to the festival and the stunning Chintheche Inn: waves crash onto
the white sand, wide lawns and colourful gardens stretch out leading to the main
stage and the beach bar, built beneath a mango tree, with decking leading out to
the beach. This is a great country to meet the people: wander into traditional
villages to get a greeting from the ‘warm heart of Africa'. The landscape varies
from the sandy beaches to the high plateaux and mountains. Every time you turn
a corner in the road there's another completely different vista.
Be part of the Lake of Stars 2008 line-up:
We are open to booking new talent, so if you are interested in taking part in the festival please email will@lakeofstars.co.uk to secure your place.
Lonely Planet: "The tourist brochures bill Malawi as 'the warm heart of Africa', and for once the hype is true. Malawi's scenery is gorgeous and varied and Malawians are extremely friendly toward travellers."
Information:
Visit: www.myspace.com/lakeofstars
Email: will@lakeofstars.co.uk
Phone: (+44) (0) 772 542 8377 / (+44) (0) 208 880 6519
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