Dema Naa of Tamale, Hafix Abdulai Chogu, is promising another exciting package when the third in the series of the popular TV Africa’s entertainment show ‘Sound Splash’ hit the Northern regional capital of Tamale on Friday December 16.

As the festive season draws closer, the train is being fixed and when all is set, fans in and around Tamale will witness another impressive performances from some top artiste in Ghana to shower in the New Year.

The previous two events at the same venue hit a record turned out and already over 10, 000 tickets have been sold to fans who are keen to fill the 20,000 capacity.

The event was designed by Tarch House multi-media with support from the television network and will offer the platform for indigenes to interact and meet their music idols.

“Once again we’re going to turn Tamale around and surely Sound splash is the event which has captured the imaginations of our people up north” Hafix Chogu said on The Rundown Show.

“Tamale is a peaceful place and we want everyone to be there and have fun. Tickets are selling fast and if you delay, you might be left out of the party”

“This is third year that we’re bringing sound splash to our people in the North and we believe we’re going to have another fantastic time”

“Some of the finest artiste that we hear on radio and see on TV are coming and so it going to be a very huge occasion for all of us”

Some artistes who will be making the tour thick in the region are Mamunatu Ladin, Abu Sadiq, Lil Malik, Tuba Dagomba, Lord Okla, Sherif Ghale and Abada. These artistes are top musicians who make the northern region go round and they have all promised to put up the best of their stage performances.

The album from the multi-award winning artiste has been accepted my music lovers after the lead single from it, ‘Faithful’, featuring Bertha, continues to receive heavy rotation on the airwaves.

It won him the Best Male Video Award at the recently held 4Syte Music Video Awards at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The launch of the album will take place in the studios of Accra-based YFM where he is expected to do live band performances of every song on the album with the after-party expected at the Aphrodisiac Night club.

When the Rap Doctor appeared on the Rundown show on Wednesday night, host Yaw Sakyi Afari asked him why he chose the title clinic.

He said: “You know I have been doing a lot of work on Hepatitis B over the past months, where I have come into contact with many people who live with such diseases”

“We’re left with about 1,200 people to reach the 5,000 milestone as we continue with the education, awareness and free screening exercise and so I opted to give it a name the clinic because when I get back into my crazy world, I am the Rap Doctor, and doctors work in clinics”

“The song is unique and the track ‘Faithful’ which has since enjoyed massive airplay will be delivered at another pace once again”

“There more interesting songs on the album and fans should just go and grab a copy for themselves”

The launch, expected to be graced by a host of celebrities, would  also see the musician sign autographs for his fans, and also take photographs with any of them who so wishes. It is expected to start at 8 o’clock in the evening.

Among the artistes expected to attend the much-anticipated launch include the entire Lynx Family (Richie, Asem, Eazzy, Zigi, OJ Blaq), as well as every other artiste featured on ‘The Clinic’ album – such as Tinny, Irene Logan, Bradez, Efya, Bertha, Kesse, Roro, Soul Black, Racquel, Vera, Caroline and Wisdom.

The album, his third as a solo artiste, has 10 tracks recorded and mastered by some of the renowned sound engineers in the industry today, including Apietus, Zapp Mallet, Richie,Keywa, Jam Master J, Magnum, Roro, Dan Grahl and Ivory Coast’s Young Boss.

The tracks include ‘Faithful,’ ‘Sika,’ ‘Holla at You,’ ‘Kwame Se – Tinny Se,’ ‘Dont Judge Me,’ ‘One In A million,’ ‘Celebration,’ ‘Mafe Wo,’ ‘White Wedding,’ ‘Digital,’ ‘Woadaada Me,’ and ‘Mr. Verstaile.

The songs were recorded and sound engineered by some of the popular names in the industry such as Zapp Mallet, Apietus, Richie, Kaywa, Roro and Magnum.

US based Ghanaian movie director Koby Maxwell has arrived in the country to premiere his debut movie Paparazzi: Eyes in the Dark’ and says he will bloom in the gray area.

The movie is the first from the musician who wrote and played a role in the movie which will be shown to the public for the first in Accra on December 9, at the Silverbird Cinemas.

He did not only act in the movie but also wrote and performed the movie’s main soundtrack, “Do It”.

Making his debut appearance on The Rundown show on Wednesday night, the young but enterprising producer said: “Paparazzi Eye in the Dark” tells the story of aspiring photographer Rich Amarah, who dreamed of making his fortune through his art, but found the life of being a sneaky paparazzo to be more lucrative”

“By selling pictures to the national newspapers, he has the opportunity to rub shoulders with the rich and famous”
“Ghanaian recording artist Mr. Maxx (Koby Maxwell) was at the top of the paparazzi food chain and Rich’s appetite for success leads him into a whirlwind of chaos when he accidentally films the “scoop of the century”.

“This Event not only becomes the paper’s biggest exclusive but threatens his very survival as he alone holds the images to the city’s biggest murder mystery.

“We brought the best cast and took our time in editing the movie which us three months to shoot and three to edit”
The movie stars big names like Van Vicker, Tchidi Chikire, JJ Bunnny, and is directed by Bayo Akinfemi.

As a gifted bass player, singer, lyricist, and composer who brings a unique mix of music blended with European, American, and African sounds, fused together to create a colorful, unique, and powerful sound, Koby Maxwell is definitely making a mark in the music industry internationally.

Since he arrived the United States ten years ago, Koby’s has performed at prominent places such as the Kennedy Center and Radio City Music Hall .

In addition, he has shared the stage with prestigious artists including Nancy Wilson, Chaka Khan, and Dionne Warwick.
In August 2006, he performed at Reggae on the River and shared the stage with Reggae superstar Sean Paul, Barrington Levy, Sanchez, Ziggy and Stephen Marley, Bunny Wailer, the Father of Afrikan music – Salif Keita, and many more.

Earlier in August, the World Music and Independent Film Festival (WMIFF) acknowledged Koby by awarding him the “Best Reggae African Music” award for “Do It”.

Contemporary highlife musician Dada KD is bracing himself for the 2011 edition of the popular Music of Ghanaian Origin (MOGO) which comes off on Friday December 2.

A plethora of activities have been line up to celebrate true Ghanaian musicians who have blazed the trail of the industry over the years.

The event put together by Accra-based Citi FM, will see over ten hiplife artiste mount the stage at the National Theatre to entertain and thrill lovers of the genre of music.

MOGO has in the past attracted massive patrons and this year’s edition would be no different on a day the West African country celebrate National Farmers Day and the German-based artiste insists he and his compatriots are ready for a massive showdown.

He said on The Rundown show: “MOGO has always been a fantastic platform to celebrate our own type of music and I’m proud to be part of the event once again”

“The event has never disappointed fans and Friday won’t be different. We’re ready to dish out good tunes to Ghanaian as we celebrate our cherished farmers who have fed us all these years”

“We must all come together and feel part of our own heritage and that what MOGO has offered over the years. We the musicians are ready and I believe our fans should come to the National Theatre in an expectant mood”.

On her part,  Programmes Manager at Citi FM Jessica Saforo said all was set to part the curtains on stage.

“All is set for the show and I can tell you that the production team, the venue, the artistes, the rehearsals has been ongoing, and everything you can think of is ready for this show.

“This year would be different and of course better than the previous years because we have laced the performance list with both the known and somehow unknown faces.

“There are a lot of very good highlife musicians out there who are not in the lime light and have been in the shadows waiting to be exposed”

“We are bringing some of them as well as the Pat Thomas, the George Darkos, the Pozo Hayes, the Kwabena Kwabenas and someone like Adane best who has not appeared on stage fora long while”

The event has now metamorphosed into a 3-day comprehensive celebration and has now been christened the MOGO Festival.

“The concert, which always comes off on Farmers Day, is in its 6^th year and has always sought to celebrate good music brewed in the Ghanaian pot and also recognise the talented musicians who cooked it up”

“This year, the MOGO Festival which comes in a triple package would officially open on Thursday December 1 with a forum for musicians and other stakeholders in the Ghanaian music industry. The program starts at 10:30 in the morning at the Citizen Kofi Entertainment Centre.

“The MOGO forum would be a brainstorming and assessment platform where pertinent issues regarding the development of Ghana’s music industry will be extensively discussed”

“It is expected that practical and actionable resolutions will be reached at the end of it and these will be implemented as soon as possible in order to promote the highest standards of professionalism, creativity and excellence in Ghanaian music.”

The MOGO Festival is sponsored by MTN; in celebration of their 10 millionth milestone and is supported by Zenith Bank, Logistics Movers, MUSIGA, The Globe Newspaper, and powered by Citi 97. 3 FM.

Talented gospel singer DSP Kofi Sarpong is hopeful his second album ‘Agyenkwa’ will flourish and make a huge impact among lovers of  music.

Since the top police chief turned award-winning musician burst onto the scene in late 2009, he has never looked back. He grabbed the Gospel Song of the Year at the 2010 Ghana Music Awards and also got nominations for the Gospel Artiste and Discovery of the Year in the same year.

As a staunch Presbyter, he will launch his new album at the Kanda Presbyterian Church near the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Sunday December 4, 2011.

‘Agyenkwa’ is a compilation of soul-touching melody and a couple of danceable tunes.

“The new album is simply sensational and it’s all intended to give praise and worship the almighty God” DSP Kofi Sarpong said on The Rundown show on Wednesday night.

“The first album was fantastic and the response that we got all over the country and the world were amazing. We believe this one will bring a lot to bear on many households and impact lives positively”

“The title of the song itself is explanatory and hopefully, it will serve as a motivation for people to be born again and work for the good of the Lord and mankind. He is our saviour and we must continue to give reverence to him”

He has worked with the Ghana Police Service for the past 13 years and his believe is to make a difference in the lives of the youth that he meets through his law enforcement carrier.

He happens to be one of the few talented gospel music stars in the country presently who are working tirelessly to keep the flames of their genre burning.

DSP Kofi Sarpong hails from Berekum. His father was a former police officer and is currently married with two adorable kids and a loving wife.

Ghanaian pop singer Jon Germain insists he will thrive in his new found love after his debut album ‘Enigma’ earned massive reviews at the international stage.

The radio and television host surprised many Ghanaians by releasing an album which has rocked many locals and earned many nominations including the Channel best video and new artiste of the year.

Even though his music career might come as a surprise to most people Jon emphasises the fact that presenting was just an accident and has served as a means to a much craved for end.

“Those of my friends like Okyeame Quame and co who knew me back in 1991 knew I could sing because they saw me coming from the studio all the time” Germain told Yaw Sakyi on The Rundown show

“I have always had the love for music but the time was not right for me. But I believe the time is ripe. The idea was to bring out a single track but my friends who heard the song were impressed and said I could turn it into an album”

“If you go to Europe, it’s rising up rapidly and surely it will catch up with everybody. Some even think I sing better than Joe but hey, you can’t really fault them. That’s how they think and feel”

His formative years as an artiste were shaped by listening to a lot of Pop, Rock and Rnb music which were his father’s favourite genre. He started writing songs since he was 12 years old and has written songs for MGKK and Van Greene.

Jon’s musical influences come from Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Bruce Hornsby, Richard Marx, Peter Cetera Frankie Paul and Michael Bolton.

Germain reiterated: “My songs are all based on emotions, and songs on this album are based on past relationships, hard times, the shocking passing away of my father and the women I loved.

“My songs are meant to make you fall in love, make you believe in love and help you get through the hard times in life”

The outstanding musician from Northern Ghana has returned home after he performed in major concerts in Danish capital of Copenhagen.

This year’s mega concert attracted musicians from across the globe who entertained their audience with their rich collection of both continental African music and contemporary western songs.

King Ayisoba, whose song ‘I Want To See You My Father’ won the Popular Song Of The Year award in 2007, performed alongside other popular musicians from Europe and other parts of the world to promote the African and in particular Ghanaian arts and culture.

His performances attracted a great number of audiences to the African market side where African products, cultural and traditional wear were being displayed for sale and for exhibition purposes due to the kind of instrument- kologo- he used in his performance.

But after returning from the European country, Ayisoba admits there is more work for his folks back home to do and be recognized worldwide and says they must keep their eyes on the ball.

“I want to advise them to try create their own exclusivity since that will catapult them to the top” Ayisoba told Yaw Sakyi on the Rundown show on Wednesday night.

“You travel outside the country and you’ll realize that almost all our current musicians are not known. Nobody simply knows them but they sit here and think they’re stars”

“They only talk about Osibisa and that is it. That is why my creativity is now given me a lot of leverage. Some of our people go to Europe, play in front of small people at club and they say they went to play in some big gig”

“We’re deceiving ourselves. We need to create our own unique style rather than copying the foreign way of doing songs” he added.

King Ayisoba is from the Upper East Region of Ghana. He is a singer, lyricist and musician.

Singing in English, Twi and Frafra, King Ayisoba has struck a chord with the Ghanaian as well as international audience and has embraced his Kologo with great passion.

As a master in playing the Kologo, he has already done lots of collaboration with many local artistes like: Batman, Sidney, Kontihene and the late Terry Bonchaka. His style can be classified as a unique form of Afro-beat with an emphasis on traditional music, which has captured fans around the globe.

The South African superstar has arrived in Ghana with his band for a double entertainment package this weekend from November 18-19 as he host a red carpet premiere of his movie, ‘Soil’ at the Silverbird cinemas and a music fiesta.

He will stage a big concert at the Banquet Hall of the State House alongside some renowned Ghanaian artistes such as King of Burger highlife, George Darko, highlife veteran Pat Thomas, and the sultry songstress Efya, will also be on hand to light up the evening.

He told Yaw Sakyi on The Rundown show in exclusive interview on Wednesday night that he’s is keen to continue with projecting African values and insists failure to do so will be detrimental to the future of the younger generation.

“We shouldn’t forget what our heritage stands for and continue to let our young generation know where they come from. It’s imperative otherwise we lose track of our past and that will be unfortunate” Masekela said

“I can’t continue to play forever but my dream and obsession is to inspire the heritage of the young generation and also ensure that we instill in them our proper cultural heritage”

“My wife comes from Ghana and I look forward to staying here sometimes and do some more work in this great country. I have already done some collaboration with Pat Thomas in the past and I’m happy to say we’ll doing some our past tunes”

Touching on the event at the Banquet Hall, he said: “The ladies who like to wear high heels should come with short one. Because they will dance to the extent that it might break.”

“I promise the audience of great time with some of the finest in the country. I am here with my own band for the first time and I believe patrons will be excited. I wouldn’t single out any of my over 50 albums as the best because it’s the audience who determines that”

Before the event on November 19, Masekela will host a red carpet premiere of his movie, “Soil”, at the Silverbird cinemas. The movie stars local actors including Ken Fiati, Solomon Sampa, Asuman Davis and Baaba Akude, to name a few.

It tells the story of a son of a chief, who after being banished from his village, is asked to return as his dying father’s last wish. However, complications arise upon his return.

The movie delivers a true on-screen African experience. ‘SOIL’ was produced by Elinam Masekela, was written and directed by, Adam Wilkinson. It boasts of a colourful soundtrack done by Hugh and Ghanaian Highlife icon, Pat Thomas.

Christened Hugh Ramapolo Masekela, the African jazz prodigy has built a music career spanning fifty-eight years, and has a large number of albums to his credit. He was part of the first African jazz group with a music album and has performed to record-breaking audiences across the world.

His well-known hits include “Grazin’ in the Grass” which sold four million copies; “In the Market Place”; and his famous hit single “Bring Him Back Home”, which became an anthem for the movement to free Nelson Mandela.

One of Masekela’s earliest memories is of winding up the household gramophone for his parents; by the age of 10, he was familiar with most of the 78s issued by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Cab Calloway and Glenn Miller.

Other early influences were the traditional music of the Swazis, Zulus, Sutus and Shangaan, all of which he heard at weekend musical gatherings in the township and neighbouring countryside. A difficult and rebellious schoolboy, Masekela was frequently given to playing truant. On one such occasion, he saw Kirk Douglas in the Bix Beiderbecke biopic Young Man With A Horn – and decided there and then that he wanted to become a trumpeter and band leader when he grew up.

His teacher, the anti-apartheid activist and Anglican priest Trevor Huddlestone, welcomed this enthusiasm and gave Masekela his first trumpet, a battered old instrument owned by a local band leader. A year later, in 1955, Huddlestone was expelled from South Africa.

In New York, he met Louis Armstrong, and enthused to him about Masekela’s talents and persuaded Armstrong to send a trumpet over to Johannesburg for the boy.

In 1983, he made his first live appearance in London for over 20 years, at the African Sounds For Mandela concert at Alexandra Palace. In 1986, Masekela severed his links with Jive and returned to the USA, where he signed with Warner Brothers Records, releasing the album Tomorrow, and joining labelmate Paul Simon’s Graceland world tour.

In 1989, he co-wrote the music for the Broadway show Sarafina!, set in a Soweto school during a state of emergency, and released the album Up Township.

During the 90s he returned to a more traditional style. He celebrated his 60th birthday in 1999 with a new album that revisited some old numbers.

Ghanaian hiplife group 4×4 insist they have clicked into gear to win their second consecutive overall best video at the 2011 Vodafone 4syte Music Video Awards on Saturday November 19.

The group made up of Sylvanus Dodji Jeoffrey (Captain Planet) Raphael Edem Avornyo (Coded) and Prince Tamakloe (Fresh Prince), stole the show last year where they grabbed awards in four categories including the best video award with their hit track ‘Fresh One’.

They are back in the hat this year after they were nominated in four categories which includes: Best group video, Overall best video, Best Photograhy and Best Editing with their emerging hit track ‘waist and power”.

But they must fend off competition from the likes of Asem, Okyeame Kwame, Obuor, R 2 Bees, Jay Ghartey, Becca and Bra Kevin Beat for the top-most award.

But the popular group claim they have done enough to win it for the second time of asking.

Coded said on the Rundown show on Wednesday night: “We respect our opponent in the group but we believe our video is top of the hill and deserve to win the ultimate”

“We’re gunning for the award in the four categories that we have been nominated for. It wasn’t easy putting that together but if you watched our last track, it was solid and that helped us to win”

Another member of the group Captain planet also retorted: “We always want to give our fans the best because they deserve the best”

“And that is why we want them to continue voting for us. The song is doing well in the market. We have expert who work on our videos and that’s why we have churned out such wonderful videos in the past”

The nice-looking Fresh Prince couldn’t be left out of the exciting discussion and chipped: “ We want our fans to come in numbers and support us because we’re positive of winning more awards at the venue”

“We love and respect them and we’ll always give them the best”

This year’s edition, which will celebrate the top music videos of last year, has over 20 categories and is divided into two main categories. The first category which include Best Group Video (BG), Best Choreography (BC), Best Hiplife Video (BHP), Best Highlife Video (BH), Best Reggae Video (BR), Best Female Video (BF), Best Male Video (BM), Best  Collaboration (BC), Discovery of the Year (DO), Best Story Line (BS), Overall Best Video (OB), Best African Act (BA), and Best Hip hop Video (BHHP) will be judged solely by the public through voting by texting the ‘name’ and the abbreviation of the category of the artiste to short code 1738 across all networks.

The remaining categories; Best Photography, Best Directed, Best Special Effects and Best Editing will be decided by a four-member distinguished judging panel comprising Ivan Quashigah, CEO of Farmhouse Productions, Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Movie Producer and Director, Ramesh Jai, CEO of Apex Advertising and Ignace Hego Kwame, CEO of 4syte.

As part of activities to celebrate five years of sought-after entertainment show on TV Africa, the team is putting together a mega beach party which some of the country’s finest artistes at the Muuston Beach at Kokrokobite on January 2, 2012.
Activities line up for the one-day event include Beach Volley Ball,Volley Ball, Tug of peace and Music and Dance.

Programe: The Rundown Beach Party

Venue: Muuston Beach-Kokrobite

Date:January 2, 2012