YSTRADGYNLAIS will be celebrating summer with some really hot African sounds from Gasper Nali when he comes to The Welfare on Friday, August 10.
Becoming an internet sensation with somewhere in the region of 20 million views, seems an unlikely scenario for an unknown artist living on the northern shores of Lake Malawi. But that’s the circumstances that Gasper Nali found himself in when someone uploaded an old film of him performing his song A Bale Ndikuwuzeni.
Its appeal is not difficult to understand. The song belts along at a frantic pace, propelled by the wiry sound of Gasper’s babatoni, a super-sized, one-string bass that’s played with a drumstick and an empty beer bottle and that he invented himself.
This is a big instrument and, together with a primitive kick drum a great voice, Gasper makes a big sound. Indeed, it’s scarcely believable that just one man is making it. But don’t just take our word for it. Twenty million you-tubers would happily testify to his amazing and danceable original Afro Beats!
Gasper, 35, lives a quite modest life in the small town of Nkhata Bay on the shores of northern Lake Malawi.
In his younger years, he and his brothers would travel a bit with a family band in order to make money, but these days he lives alone in a small house in Nkhata Bay, mainly supporting himself by playing regular shows at a nearby tourist lodge. His music is simple but joyous, and totally infectious.
Gasper will be appearing at The Welfare in Brecon Road, Ystradgynlais on Friday, August 10 from 8pm.
Tickets are priced just £12 (£10 concessions). Further details are available at www.thewelfare.co.uk; www.facebook.com/welfare.ystradgynlais or [email protected]. Alternatively telephone 01639 843163.