W.I.T.C.H. - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023

W.I.T.C.H., the band responsible for pioneering zamrock, returned to the stage during Le Guess Who? 2023 following the release of their new album 'Zango', their first in nearly four decades. On stage, they were joined by a.o. Jacco Gardner, Michael Rault and Nico Mauskoviç. Relive the performance below with our concert film and the full audio of the performance.

About
Once upon a time, W.I.T.C.H. ruled Zambia. In the seventies, the band responsible for pioneering 'zamrock' often needed police to control the crowds riled up by lead singer Jagari (whose name is an Africanisation of Mick Jagger's). As the AIDS crisis destroyed the country’s flourishing music scene, W.I.T.C.H. fell apart. The iconic ensemble is survived by Jagari, who, after decades in obscurity, was brought back into the public eye following a discography reissue by Now Again Records.

"Despite a blend of funky-chicken rhythms and doom-laden Black Sabbath riffs, the biggest talking point of Zamrock veterans W.I.T.C.H.’s set is the fact Jagari decides to snack his way through the guitar solos, producing an apple, a pear, a packet of crisps and an orange from his trouser pockets" - MOJO Magazine

Le Guess Who? Recordings
The publication of this recording is part of Le Guess Who?’s ongoing expansion of the festival’s recordings archive, with 100+ recordings from past editions now freely available online.

This archive contains audio and/or video recordings of performances by African Head Charge, SANAM, Alan Sparhawk, Stereolab, Tom Skinner, Selda Bağcan, clipping., Aldous Harding, Deerhunter, Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Microphones, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Lightning Bolt, Neneh Cherry, Arooj Aftab, and Beverly Glenn-Copeland, as well as special collaborations and one-time performances such as Saul Williams & King Britt present Unanimous Goldmine, Indian ensemble the Rajasthan Express together with Shye Ben Tzur and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, and AEAEA, the live premiere of a collaboration between Nicolas Jaar and Patrick Higgins.

Captured at TivoliVredenburg's Ronda on Thursday, 9 November 2023.

Emanyeo "Jagari" Chanda - Lead Vocals
Hanna Tembo - Vocals
Patrick Mwondela - Keyboards
Jacco Gardner - Bass
Nico Mauskovic - Drums
Michael Rault - Guitar
Daniël Tieman - Guitar

Direction: Dammes Kieft
Camera: Anaïs Saebu, Chris Groos, Jonathan Sipkema, Nando Dullaart, Nicky Pajkić, Rikash Gobardhan, Yuma Eekman, Dammes Kieft
Production: Studio Dammes, Ramon de Lima
Montage & Grade: Emily Duurland
Sound recording: Marc Broer

W.I.T.C.H. - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023

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