By Bolarinwa Akande
Excitement appears to be mounting, as the Season 2 of one of Africa’s most-anticipated music television series, Coke Studio, kicks off on August 29, with a music concert at the main auditorium of the Lagos State University (LASU).
Leading the pack of artistes lined up for performance at the concert include are Olamide, Flavour N’abania and Phyno.
Others are Omawumi, Seyi Shay, Waje, Iyanya, Phyno, Chidinma and Burna Boy.
Speaking on the rationale for engaging these artistes, the Brand Manager (Colas) at Coca-Cola Nigeria, Femi Ashipa said: “Our decision to feature these artistes was spurred by our consumers’ request. These artistes are currently among the rave-of-the-moment in the Nigerian entertainment industry.”
Apart from Lagos State where the concerts will kick off, music fans will experience the Coke Studio thrill in nine other cities: Benin (UNIBEN); Port Harcourt (Rivers State University); Ibadan (University of Ibadan); Osun (University of Ife); Enugu (Enugu State University); Owerri (Federal University of Technology, Owerri); Abia (Abia State University); and Calabar (Cross Rivers State University).
According to Ashipa, the contracted artistes will not only thrill the audience with their latest party songs, but will also perform with some aspiring artistes, who will be chosen from the audience. To qualify for this dream opportunity, an aspiring artiste is required to do a voice drop in a modern, well-equipped mobile studio set up on the Coke Studio tour bus at it moves around different locations in each city. The best voice drop will get a chance to perform alongside the star artistes during the concerts.
He noted that the concerts and the dream opportunity for aspiring music artistes are among the new elements that have been introduced in Coke Studio Season 2 to dial up the experience for Coke’s consumers and other music fans.
In addition to the concerts, Coke Studio will also retain its original element – the recorded TV shows, which will be telecast beginning September 13, 2014 on AIT Network, MTV Base, HipTV, NIGEZIE, Sound City and Trace Urban TV. The show is made up of eight recorded 45-minute shows. Each episode will showcase unexpected fusions by various groups of artiste to create a unique sound.
The show will also provide viewers with behind-the-scenes footage of the artistes’ interactions and experiences on the set.