Event Details
What a privilege it is to welcome Gonora Sounds to Bluestone Brewing Co this July. We have been huge fans of the band for a long time and we are so excited that they are making a trip to the UK this Summer and playing a very special gig at the Brewery.
“This is music resounding in joy and hope, born from real life experience” – Backseat Mafia
Saturday 13th July 2024 | Doors will open at 6.30pm
Gonora Sounds will be supported by Nathan Stardust Jones, Vinyl DJ.
Simon first came across the band on Youtube a few years ago, and knew instantly that they would be perfect at the Brewery. He made contact with the band’s manager, Amaru, and then put him in touch with Sam at Midnight Mango. After lots of emails back and forth, we have finally managed to make it happen and we are SO happy to say that Gonora Sounds will take to the Brewery stage on Saturday 13th July this year, a gig not to be missed!
Gonora Sounds is a family band that has been busking on the streets of Zimbabwe since 2004. Entertaining thousands of commuters with their street beat dubbed Gonora Sounds by regular revellers. The band is led by blind singer/songwriter Daniel Gonora, a wizard on the guitar with his drumming protege son, Isaac, on drums. In recent years, the band has extended to include seasoned musicians such as Nelson “Mr Longman” Mutanda on lead guitar and Malizani Mbewe on bass. Daniel and Isaac’s street performances have garnered millions of views online, and a growing international fanbase.
The father and son duo feature in multi award winning documentary ‘You Can’t Hide From The Truth” which tells their story. For more than two decades, Daniel has pieced together a living for himself and his family, a disabled man playing for the world’s most beleaguered currency’s pocket change. He is one of the few remaining members of Zimbabwe supergroup Jairos Jiri Band, a group that tragically fell apart as successive members passed away since their heyday on the early 90s.
Gonora Sounds debut full length album Hard Times Never Kill is produced by Zimbabwean music luminary Bothwell Nyamondera and American Producer David Aglow. The duo incorporated seasoned musicians’ bassist Malizani Mbewe and Lead Guitarist Nelson “Mr Longman” Mutanda, as well as Sehlaphi Mtombeni and Isabel Piyo on backing vocals. It is about survival and beating the odds, straight from the streets of Harare. It showcases Daniel Gonora’s full breadth as a guitarist, vocalist, composer, and songwriter.
More recently, Gonora Sounds have collaborated with American Jazz Legend Pharoah Sanders, as well as several international musicians on the Fernando Arno produced “What Love”. British duo, The Busy Twist have recently remixed the band’s song Rwendo Rweupenyu into the ‘Journey of Life Remix”.
The finer details:
– Once you have bought tickets you will receive an email with a QR code for your tickets. We will also have your name on the door, you will not receive a physical ticket for this event.
– Children are welcome at this event but they will need their own ticket. Our license covers the number of people inside the premises regardless of age. We’re very sorry but if we sell out and you arrive with Children who don’t have tickets, we will not be allowed to let them in. Our license is at risk if we go over our capacity.
– Food will be available on the night from a local caterer TBC* (including a vegetarian option!)
– Parking is available in our field just next to the Brewery. You’re welcome to leave the car overnight and come back for it the next day.
– Limited seating available, this is a predominantly standing/dancing gig. We ask that you don’t bring your own chairs to the venue, thank you.
– This event is not suitable for dogs, it will be very busy and noisy and we ask that you leave them at home for this one
– Local taxi firm Home James Taxis will be available to help you get home, but we suggest booking in advance as it could be very busy!
– We are an open air venue. We do have a large stretch tent and heaters, but we recommend that you dress for the outdoors.
– We do have a card machine but we’re not able to offer cashback & signal is sometimes unreliable, it’s best to bring cash for the bar
CAMPING: Overnight camping (for the night of the gig only – arrival from 5.30pm) available in the field next door to the brewery. £5 per tent/campervan payable in cash on arrival at the Brewery. No need to pre-book.
RETURNS: If plans change and you are unable to attend the gig, we are happy to refund tickets up to 1 month before the event. We are unable to offer any refunds after 13th June 2024. Please contact us with any queries: [email protected]