Le Critique by Kempson Flint "The Most Read Blog In Zambia": Truing Up Into 2016 In Style: The Top 5 New Year's Eve Parties

The Countdown by Kempson Ari Flint the Zambian Blog Sensei

@ZambiazHarshTag Instagram: @zambiazhandle

PS: Handles and links in the blogpost are live!

There’s something for everyone this year, from the party animals to the turn up movement and even the grown folk. The official standard on everything cannot sign out without giving you the list of must attend shindigs of the year. You might see one of me or four of me depending on what state you’ll be in when I touch down at where you’ll be fading 2015 and waving in 2016. Time to turn up and list the Top 5 New Year’s Eve Parties of 2016., Cue the fireworks and an espresso for yours truly @ZambiazHarshTag the all-round event sensei has the scoop you need.

New Year’s Eve Sundowners at SKY Bar Hosted by Dj Eleftherios Mukuka

A great new year’s eve begins with a great build up. What better way to kick start the festivities than with a Sundowner session at the location with the best view and ambiance in Lusaka to some world class compositions provided by a local. Located on the rooftop of Foxdale Court @FoxdaleCourt, Lusaka’s only green shopping mall/office park is Sky Bar. Providing the tunes on the 1ne’s and 2wo’s will be non-other than International renowned house Dj/Producer Eleftherios Mukuka @elmukuka. Come and hear him spin his original music including hit record Getting There featuring Abel Chungu @AbelMusuka. You do not want to miss the last sunset of 2015 and the energy of an authentic Zambian house set.

Sky Bar is the mecca of Zambian house and has an unmatched ambiance due to its unique setting and location as well as the warm reception of the owner of the bistro. Debbie, who is always present to ensure every patron, receives the highest standard of service the milieu is known for as well as a choice menu of food and drink also of world class pedigree. Aside from the distinct sunset and view, you get the same vibe you would get in Soho or Manhattan establishment or any classy establishment worldwide.

I saw him play at the R & G Oktoberfest as well as at bring the house down at the Horse Shoe Halloween party. Believe me when I tell you that you do not want to miss the intensity and contagious energy Eleftherios transmits through the speakers that will keep you tapping your feet and bouncing from side till he plays the last note. K50 gets you in and as the first gig of the day it kicks off at 4:30pm and ends at 8pm. The first 50 people get free tapas to go with their beer or cocktail. Set to the sky from Sky Bar to the sounds of the house maestro.

There is no other vantage point in Lusaka (perhaps sauf Findeco which really doesn’t count and still can’t compete) where you can see Zambia/Africa’s most beautiful sunset, as you sip on a cool beverage to mellow house sounds. The soundtrack to the final sunset will be provided by the Zambian/Greek house maven who is maestro charged with the task of ensuring things are moving and grooving. Get that K50 ticket early and kick start your New Year’s Eve in the sky watching the sun go down at SKY Bar with the last Eleftherios @elmukuka gig of 2015.

Catch Elftherios’s last gig in Zambia before he departs to kick off things at a new label at The Empire Lounge Launch Party powered by Heineken on 2^nd January 2016.

Flying Into 2016 With R&G and Flying Fish At The Black Saddle Lounge Bar feat. Dj Switch

First they brought the beach to Lusaka, and then threw down the biggest music festival in Zambia. For the first time ever, R&G @RandGzambia are collaborating again with Flying Fish to bring another massive extravaganza to shut down 2015 in true lit mode. Get those pre-sale tickets at a K100 early at Giordano East Park Mall so you can fly past the ques. Once again it’s on with the urbane party masters.

Starting at 9pm, The Flying Fish New Year’s Eve Party is the perfect follow up after watching the sundown at SKY Bar. Best believe R&G will flex as always and you will tell your kids about how epic that night into the a.m. was at BlackSaddle Lounge Bar. With the massive hit single doing serious rotation on music TV countdown shows including the Channel O top 50 ten videos of 2015, the hit maker Dj Switch

@DjSwitchSA of the hit Way It Go which features heavyweight rapper Tumi @TumiMolekane, and newcomers Nasty C @Nasty_CSA and Youngsta @YoungstaCpt, will be the headline act marshaling things at the event. There will be enough Flying Fish Green Apple to keep the revelers airborne and as always freebies to remind you about how awesome the party was. It is official like a referee whistle, get those tickets early at K100 or you could pay an extra K50 at the door. You do not want to be on the FOMO end of things, fly yourself to The Black Saddle Lounge Bar.

With its industrial cosmopolitan feel and exquisite balcony and specious setting of The Black Saddle Lounge Bar, no doubt the originators of the party and festival circuit will deliver an epic gig as always. Just as R&G @RandGzambia and Flying Fish brought you the beach to Lusaka with Dj Zhinle @DjZhinle, the New Year’s Eve Party will be no different. With a new flavor called Green Apple, Flying Fish and R&G are switching things up with Dj Switch and the usual suspects Winner of Miller Sound Clash Dj Blocks @DjBlocksZambia and The Care bear house Dj/Producer Sebastian Dutch @sebastiendutch will also be on hand to mix things up. Enough said; jump on the saddle and fly into 2016 with R&G and Flying Fish with the Green Apple @DjSwitchSA.

Enter 2016 Live At The WEB New Year’s Eve Party With Ben and Kiki and Nexus Sounds

If you about that live music with no gimmicks and no miming and love to get your two step and shuffle on, proceed onto the Soul Train. This shindig is for the steppers who dig that smoove like butter finger snapping jamming. It can only be at The WEB which is the shrine of all live music,

that’s where you will get that soul and funk into your new year’s eve. Ben and Kiki, our very own Zambian version of The Carpenters or Cher and Bono and the tightest live act and critically acclaimed Nexus Band will be on hand belting all your favorite new skool and old skool hits. Cue the band.

Where you at the Joss Stone gig? No you say? Yeah it sold out and Nexus also burnt the house down! For a K150, they will do it again and if you feel like tucking in your napkin like a mob boss get the VIP table for an extra 1hunit. It will be a nonstop ride through memory lane, every note sounding like it did when they recorded at Motown in the motor city Detroit. Yeah I have a request Nexus, how about Master Blaster by Stevie to send me into 2016 *laughing*.

The WEB has been a certified live music establishment, Joss Stone’s coming basically just bona fide that and gave the Nexus lead singer the green light to take it to the next level. I always look forward to hearing Nathalie belt classics like Can’t Nobody or Dance With Somebody in her rich soulful voice. The band are also equal to the task churning out some amazing melodies and keeping the funk alive. Want to get live into 2016, advance to The Web New Year’s Eve Party and get down to the sounds of Ben and Kiki as well as the famous Nexus Band and party like it’s 1999.

Keeping It Strictly 80’z and 90’z At The Twangale Park New Year’s Eve Festivities

I’m an 80’z baby and cannot resist sounds from the 90’z, the soundtrack of my life and my peers can testify to that. The greatest era in music circa the millennials, the epoch of house parties, BBQ’s and that fashion that’s coming back round again. I remember staying up every Friday night to tune in to The Essential Flavors on Radio Phoenix @rphoenixzambia to hear jams that are classics now. The host of the event and Dj for the night was the host of the show, the venue Twangale Park in Lilayi @TwangaleParkLSK is the perfect setting for the event, away from the noise and flashing lights. I must state from the jump that this is a strictly no under 25 event.

Before founding the Dj Academy @DJACADEMYZAMBIA, owning Flava Fm @flavafm87dot9, hosting Jazz Fest, doing voice overs, hosting Big Brother Africa parties and being the poster guy for Zambian Independence Parties in the diaspora, lawyer and International Dj Gesh Groove @geshgroove (Chishala Chitoshi) was the main man on the party circuit with his outfit The Boys With The Noise (back when you could still drink liquor at the trade fare) *Nostalgia has hit me bad* Ladies and gentleman this man is an authority on all things 80’z and 90’z music and an institution on all things concerned with being a disc jockey and has done it all. The Twangale Park New Year’s gig is not for the pant sagging generation, fall back if you didn’t sneak out of the house or jump the gate/fence to be out on Friday or Saturday night when you weren’t even old enough to drink.

Pre-sale tickets are available at Radio Phoenix East Park Mall at K200 a pop and K300 if you also want a plate, you’ll pay extra at the door. From Soul For Real to Chaka Khan, Billie Ocean to Aaliyah, Gesh has that database on lock and will be on the decks spinning the hits t’ill sunrise. If you about that old skool life this is definitely your jam. Ya’ll ain’t even gotta go home, the venue Twangale Park also has a lodge on sight and they have discounted rates for the night with breakfast. Get a Deluxe room K1,305 and save K145 or go boss and get an Execute room at K1800 and save K200 or splurge and treat yourself to an Executive suite K3150 and save K350, dial +260962489097 and check yourself in so you don’t worry about where you’ll crush. Enough said *Gesh voice* Yeah yeah! Make it a night to remember at Twangale Park @TwangaleParkLSK, get your dancing shoes on and groove to 80’z and 90’z sounds provided by yours truly Gesh Groove @geshgroove.

The Horse Shoe Steak House Gold Dust Dinner Dance With Jane Osborne

Think the roaring 20z cabaret vibe, people looking sharp and got their napkins tacked in as they listen to a singer and a live band. It’s the priciest ticket in town and without a doubt the most glamorous event. TheHorse Shoe New Year’s Eve Gold Dust Dinner Dance opulent affair, something for the couples and people looking to get there grown folk on.

Will the event be worth your time and money? Yes Horse Shoe Events are amazing, if the Halloween party is anything to go by. They always deliver top notch theme oriented shindigs, and I know without a doubt this event too will be top notch. For K650 you are getting the works, red carpet treatment from food to entertainment. Veteran songstress and legendary performer will be on hand to entertain revelers backed by a live jazz band. There is also a four course gourmet meal to treat your taste buds, the steak house is always quality and some free vino on each table to wash down the meal. The entertainment continues with Dj Madesi @DjMadesi and the Dj Montiroza the Dj without a face @DjMontiroza to see you to the countdown and beyond.

The Horse Shoe Stake House will be transformed into the grand ball room for one night only. Ladies get your white gloves ready and gentlemen prepare your top hats for the most suave soirée to mark the end of 2015 and waltz you into 2016. This event promises to be magic and a sophisticated entry into 2016.

There you have it party people, the list of the hottest New Year’s Eve parties. It’s is that time again, the buzz is heated and December 31^st is fast looming. Unlike in the past, there is no shortage of quality events to tide you into 2016. The venues are set, the masses are fired up and the hosts and performers are ready to entertain. Choose your vibe, party and crowd and turn up into 2016 in style. Oh if your beard game is not strong or your voice doesn’t have enough bass, carry some official government document. See you on the New Year’s Eve Party circuit in my 1000 selfies and Kempson TV raw footage.

Other parties you might want to check out on the night include: