Last Saturday night, two excellent Toronto-based Zimbabwean bands played at Placebo Place on Bloor St. (A small, funky artist loft, located above an auto mechanic garage).

Nhapitapi Mbira opened, followed by the Tich Maredza Band. For the final set, all 9 musicians played together. The audience had long since given up the cushions on the floor, and everyone was moving to the music.

Band members:
Nhapitapi Mbira:
Mutamba (Moyo) Rainos: vocals, mbira, percussion & dance
Memory Makuri: vocals, dance & percussion
Evelyn Mukwedeya: mbira & percussion
Pasi Gunguwo: vocals, mbira, percussion

The Tich Maredza Band:
Tichaona Maredza: vocals, guitar
Larry Lewis: lead guitar
Tichaona Gombiro: bass
Andrew Mark: drums
Ruben Esguerra: congas

Original Vimeo video link: http://vimeo.com/38163307

For more on the bands:
http://www.myspace.com/tichmaredzaband
http://www.myspace.com/nhapitapimbira
http://www.sonicbids.com/2/EPK/?epk_id=309214