New, squeaky-clean main stage roars into life
At least 1 000 music fans packed the garden at Pakare Paye Arts Centre as the main stage roared into life with smash hits from the country’s top urban groovers who descended on Norton, early February. The first such massive crowd seen at the main stage, since the Centre became fully operational recently, the show was a test case if Pakare Paye could successfully handle multitudes of fans outdoors.

While the show was a private function Pakare Paye provided facilities that proved its capacity to cater for huge volumes of artists and audiences at the same time.

And the Centre was indeed up to the task as flawless proceedings progressed for 10 hours non-stop. Among the top bill were Xtra Large, Rocki, Stunner, Snipper, Leonard Mapfumo, Inmates, Ngoni Kambarami, Knox, Sandra Ndebele, Sam Mtukudzi, Willom Tight (with Patience Musa & The Other Four), Mambokadzi, Poda…

Artistes were able to use some of the new facilities at the Centre including the airy and customized spacious foyer that was the holding area for artistes at the show televised (delayed) the same day. The new and squeaky-clean green room and changing rooms were all ready for use by the artists.

The editing suite was transformed into a television studio capturing images from the five cameras that supplied footage from the garden and main stage. In the garden’s far western corner the gazebo bar ensured the fans were continuously supplied cold refreshments while the barbecues happened well into the night. What a way it was starting the New Year at Pakare Paye…bringing the small community together and uniting it in harmony!