All NIght Congolese Soukous Concert with The Zong Zing All Stars

Event information

An All Night Congolese Soukous Concert Extraordinaire, featuring over 3 hour set from The Zong Zing All Stars, replete with Dancers, Stage Antics and acrobatics. Think Grand Franco circa 1976. This gig is being filmed and recorded for a live CD and DVD to be released in the autumn.

About the Band

Zong Zing are a 9 piece band playing uplifting dance music called 'Cavacha'. 'Cavacha' is the core rhythm of Central African music that has given rise to ‘Soukous’ in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ‘Makosa’ in Cameroon and ‘Coupez Decallez’ in the Ivory Coast.

The band formed at The Magpie's Nest Club (BBC Best Folk Club of The Year 2009), just over two years ago as an a cappella group, and later evolved into a full band.

Zong Zing is a Congolese expression meaning “All Stars”. When a select group of musicians get together for a particular show or recording they really are Zong Zing. Or, they are All Stars!

The Musical Style: Cavacha

‘Cavacha’ is a highly danceable music characterised by intricate guitar picking from three guitarists, soaring vocal harmonies and driving percussion. The music reaches a crescendo during the “Seben”, with the intricate guitar picking, irresistible rhythms and sublime vocal harmonies combine to create a barely suppressed euphoria: and is arguably one of the most infectiously danceable forms of music in the world!

The band’s musical credibility is pan-Africa and strictly heavyweight. It's core members have, in the past, played with Orchestra Virunga of Samba Mapangala, Ok Jazz of Franco Makiadi, Big Musica of Defao, Matimbila of Remi Ongala, Rumba ray de Maray of Papa Wemba and they even have a semi finalist of X factor!

In the last two years, they have gone from strength to strength, playing and rocking packed audiences in and around London and at some of the UK's top mainstream music festivals (those that have discovered them already). Their sound is a product of the fusion between the pan-African and European musical influences in the band, which creates a modern musical form that is steeped in folkloric heritage. The band are truly bringing the Authentic Sounds of the London-African Underground to the Mainstream!