263 Culture Festival or Freeman HKD Festival?
That is the question merrymakers will be asking this weekend with these two major events taking place this Saturday in Harare.
The 263 Culture Festival will be held at Belgravia Sports Club while the Freeman HKD Festival is at Alex Sports Club.
Spoilt for choice is a understatement in this scenario as both gigs have so much to offer and it will be difficult for hardcore party people to make a choice.
A look at the 263 Culture Festival
The NetOne 263 Culture Festival is an annual event that is now in its second year and comes with a lineup that is just outstanding to say the least.
With Amapiano being one of the most dominant sounds in the world right now, fans have an opportunity to see some of the best in the genre with the likes of Uncle Waffles, Kelvin Momo, Mthunzi, Zee Nxumalo and Aymos set to perform.
Hip hop fans are also in for a treat as they will get to see Blxckie and Moozlie live on stage.
To top that off, talented local stars have also been roped in and these include Tamy Moyo, Djembe Monks, Voltz JT, Mr Brown, Young Gemini and Tanto Wavie among others.
Not to mention that Sekekta Base, Fujee, Rax, Iroq and Chucknosis will be among the list of DJs on rotation.
Just looking at the entertainers on that list, one can clearly tell there won’t be a shortage of entertainment.
We managed to get a glimpse of the team setting up the venue and what I can confirm is that the stage is massive.
Tickets for the 263 Culture Festival went on sale a few weeks ago and they start at $15 for students, $20 early bird, $40 standard and $150 for VIP.
Cooler boxes are allowed but organisers have highlighted that glass bottles will not be allowed, meaning your drinks should be in plastic containers or cans.
What to Expect at the Freeman HKD Festival
Freeman is without a doubt one of the biggest names on the local entertainment scene, having been a dominant voice in Zim dancehall for over a decade.
While this is the first edition of his festival, it is not his first rodeo at the venue, having hosted his album launch there last year.
The lineup for the event is also packed with talent including Holy Ten, Voltz JT, Poptain, Master H, Tamy Moyo, Feli Nandi, Seh Calaz, Takura and Nutty O among others.
All these musicians are major players in their respective genres and have had their fair share of live performances on the big stage.
There is a lot that will be happening at this fete which also doubles as Freeman’s album launch for his new project, “Me vs Me” which is already available on online platforms.
Earlier on in the day there will be a soccer tournament featuring Gallis FC, Vigilance FC, Zim Musicians FC and TNFC.
Whenever these teams play, they usually attract huge crowds and that is likely to be the case come Saturday.
Tickets are being sold for $10 general $30 VIP and $50 VVIP. There are also lounge tables which accommodate 6 people and these are going for $1 000.
263 Culture Festival or Freeman HKD Festival?
There are a lot of factors that will come to play when choosing which event is best between the two and it will boil down to personal preferences.
For amapiano fans, 263 Culture Festival is a no brainer as they are bringing out the big guns but for those who prefer local music the Freeman HKD Festival boats a better lineup in the regard.
When it comes to the pricing, Freeman’s gig is on the cheaper side of things and this will be an option if your pockets are not deep.
On the other hand, 263 Culture still offers value for amount you pay as you get to see several top international acts on the same stage for the price of one.
Something to take note of is that these will certainly be different crowds and settings.
Those who are well versed in the capital’s leisure scene already know that the Belgravia event will be more of a chilled, picnic vibe while the Alex adventure will be more on the high-octane level. It’s basically a North vs South of Samora scenario just to be clear.
Overall, these are both good events and I am sure everyone will have a good time regardless of where they end up going.
