Music lovers treated to a night of brilliance

MUSIC lovers who attended the highly anticipated Suva Soul Revival sold out show at Kanalevu Kitchen yesterday witnessed an amazing night of brilliant local musicianship.

Executive partner for Upbeat Events Peniette Vulaca said yesterday’s show was their second concert since the events company started in 2021.

“Both shows were a sellout,” she said.

“The reason why we chose to have the second show at a small venue was to give our guests an intimate connection with the music where they are close in proximity to the musicians and artists on stage.

“This way, it doesn’t lose the personal connection with the musicality that our guests will feel on the night.

“We want to grow the appetite for the genres of music that our local musicians have the capability of playing live at shows like hard-hitting jazz numbers, funk, soul music and R&B and to do so progressively.”

Mrs Vulaca said in the future, however, they are looking at expanding the audience by hosting a bigger show.

“Our set up for the night was to have the food part of the event before the actual music show starts so that when the show begins, everyone’s focus is on enjoying the musicality that our local musicians are going to showcase.

“We wanted to make the music become the focus of the event and so that is what we are aiming for with the layout of the floor – to have people sit around the musicians and artists during show time.”

She added that for this year’s show, they had a lot of seasoned musicians who were well known in the music industry in Fiji.

“From what I gather at band practices, the general feeling that I have gathered from the musicians is that the type of music they are playing is challenging and they love the challenge of learning and growing in their craft.

“From an organisational perspective, I think the last two shows have taught us as a team that there is a seat at the table for everyone.

“There are a lot of great music shows that take place here in Fiji by so many talented artists and hardworking event organisers – I think for me being able to see the appetite grow for these genres of music that our musicians are playing at this show is an example of how music will always have a seat at the table for everyone.”