WITCH

WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) were the biggest rock band in Zambia in the 1970s and spearheaded a new genre dubbed Zamrock, fusing influences that ranged from the Rolling Stones to Black Sabbath and James Brown and mixing them with traditional African rhythms and bush village songs. At the peak of their popularity, the band often needed police to keep fans at bay while their lead singer Jagari - whose name is an Africanisation of Mick Jagger’s - riled up crowds by stage diving from balconies and dancing manically as WITCH’s blend of psychedelic rock and African rhythms permeated the surrounding atmosphere.

The story of WITCH is a legend that was almost lost in time until only a few years ago. But the most incredible thing about this mighty band and their brilliant garage, blues and psych-rock sound is that the story isn’t over yet. Largely unknown outside of their home country, WITCH finally got the exposure they deserved when Now Again Records reissued their entire discography in 2012. The charistmatic Jagari, the sole surviving original member of the band, has put together a new line up and Zamrock lives again!

Zango, the band’s first new album in nearly 40 years is full of international and inter-generational collaborations that chart musical histories from Zambia and beyond, and the chance to hear it – and other WITCH tunes – live in Perth is one you don’t want to miss.