LISTEN to audio music, pre-recorded dancehall tracks or karaoke. Nothing beats live band music, at least for the trend today. Distinguishable however, is one band from another, as not all liven up revellers the way one may desire.

But that is not about this musician Tshila, who has broken ground to take fame in live band music. With guitar in hand, this voice maestro is ready to entertain her audience for any event.

Sarah Tshila’s acoustic songs have strong traditional undertones she blends beautifully with her hip-hop background. The lyrics are not just touching, but intelligibly intoned, as she dazzles while singing in carefully selected outfits.

She has sung in Lugisu, Luganda and some times slots in a word or two of Kiswahili. Many may not understand what she actually voices, but who cares anyway, when the beat makes up for that. Her voice, neither premixed nor auto-tuned, makes her music alluringly original.

“This is what I call music,” a reveller says of Tshila’s number. The admirer, like many others have confessed, prefers listening to her music live. Jude Okello, one who is fond of her states that Tshila’s music, particularly that which is live, touches his very soul. “Many musicians go to stage and tell the DJ to play truck number to which they mime. That is to rip off show-goers, because I would rather buy a CD of that particular musician than see them mime,” Okello argues.

A number of other musicians are into solo band music. One of them is Lillian Mbabazi, who performs with the Sun-downer Band. Barbwire Thong is also a new live band, now treading the line that was only synonymous with the famous Afrigo and Eagles Bands.

Live performances help musicians market themselves, through interaction with fans. This was the case for Afrigo Band, the oldest in the country, with a 14-member crew, many of who have been with the musical group since inception in 1975. The band has produced and sold at least 22 musical albums, which today mark the sound of Uganda.

Afrigo leader Moses Matovu says it was the mission of the band to attract both old and young fans. “We have been growing with our fans. We have some now old fans, who have interested their children as well, with the band. Their children have also introduced their own offspring, making our audience the greatest,” he reveals.

Mist Band is another that plays live music for different audiences. Specialised perhaps in jazz, it has curved a niche among its revellers. Moses Matovu, who is also a member of Mist Band, says time is here for people to enjoy the real music, instead of listening to mimes. Every musician, he holds, should be able to sing even if they cannot play any instrument.

“Its unprofessional of musicians to mime. Anybody can mime,” Matovu exclaims. “If you cannot play an instrument, you should be able to sing. Tabuley Rochereau from the Democratic Republic of Congo could not play any instrument, but he would sing very beautifully, with a strong voice.”

He lashes at singers he terms as “studio made musicians,” suggesting that they are not real musicians. Matovu, however, attributes the promotion of live band music to FM radio stations that undyingly market the music, when they repeatedly play it on air. His argument is that the majority of musicians promoted on radio are not studio singers.

Meanwhile Moses Sserugo an Arts journalist and music critic sees it a stride that many live band musicians are coming up. “It is a good thing that many musicians are making a transition from choirs to becoming big international stars. Live bands will help musicians grow their careers even more.”

A Kenyan reveller Wafula Wekola on his part says the beauty of live bands lies with instant interaction with the musicians. They also provide a platform to dance while mingling with others.