WITCH Announce Australian Tour After Triumphant Resurgence

Zamrock pioneers WITCH have announced an Australian tour following their triumphant return to the global music scene.

The legendary band will perform headline shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Bangalow this November before appearing at Strawberry Fields Festival, six decades after first launching to fame in Zambia.

Formed during Zambia’s post-independence golden era in the 1960s, WITCH blended psychedelic rock, garage funk, and blues with traditional Zambian musical styles, becoming trailblazers of the Zamrock genre.

WITCH (an acronym for “We Intend To Cause Havoc”) fell into obscurity in the decades that followed due to rising government authoritarianism and the nation’s economic collapse. The AIDS epidemic also devastated the band, claiming the lives of all original members except lead singer Emmanuel “Jagari” Chanda and keyboardist Patrick Mwondela.

Despite nearly 50 years away from the spotlight, the band’s music experienced a resurgence in 2012 with the reissue of WITCH: We Intend to Cause Havoc, introducing them to a new generation of fans worldwide.

Their comeback culminated in Zango, their first new album in 39 years, featuring collaborations with acclaimed Zambian artist Sampa the Great and fellow Zamrock pioneers Amanaz.

Now releasing music more frequently, WITCH dropped their latest album Sogolo in June. The title means “future” in the Bantu language Chinyanja and reflects the album’s forward-facing themes.

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“Sogolo means front or future – of a team with hope, peace, love and entertainment,” said Chanda. “We’re wearing smiles, laughter and joy on our faces; we march and dance to criss-cross rhythms and melodies toward happiness.

“Let’s go friends, let’s go guys – SOGOLO in unity.”