This year’s Lake of Stars festival in Malawi promises to be the biggest yet, hosting a line up of international artists from Malawi, the UK, South Africa, Kenya and the USA

Over 5,000 miles away, deep in the heart of Africa, are the paradise, palm-fringed shores of Lake Malawi. This is the setting for one of the most talked about events of the last few years: The Lake of Stars Festival. For three days Western and African artists gather at the award winning festival for a musical, social and cultural exchange unlike anything seen before. With a music policy ranging from Afropop, folk and reggae to beat boxers and the best international DJs, the festival has something for everyone. Over the past few years Andy Cato, Felix B of Basement Jaxx, DJ Yoda, Mikey from Bugz in the Attic, Annie Mac, Rodney P and Skitz, Ben Westbeech, The Petebox and Joe Driscoll have rubbed shoulders and jammed with some of the best and most exciting African and global artists around, from Wambali and Lucius Banda to the Black Missionaries and Blue Skies, Goldfish and Wapifa and Joseph Tembo.

This year’s Lake of Stars festival is going to be the biggest yet, hosting a line up of international artists from Malawi, the UK, South Africa, Kenya and the USA, all who will bring their own unique flair to the shores of Lake Malawi. The festival opened in 2004 and since then has gone from strength to strength and is now considered one of the top choices in international music events. Guests for 2008 include Mercury award nominated Seth Lakeman and Mary Anne Hobbs from BBC Radio 1.

Will Jameson, the festival’s founder, says, “It’s been an incredible adventure so far and one that has challenged at every turn. Everyone involved works incredibly hard and it’s all of this effort which has created the Lake of Stars.”

“The idea has always been about uniting cultures, bring people together through music and to highlight Malawi, a country that not many people had really heard of a few years ago. It’s such an inspiring and beautiful place, and the people there are some of the friendliest you can hope to meet. I am really proud of what’s been achieved so far, and for Malawi Lake of Stars has become a part of the cultural calendar; people travel from all around this amazing country to go to the festival.”

For many incredibly talented Malawian and African musicians, the festival gives them the chance to express themselves on an international stage and get recognition for their awe inspiring live performances. Malawi is rich in musicians and music is an integral part of its culture. From sonorous live bands, mesmerising solo artists and raucous collectives taking over the main stage, a variety of DJs play a mixture of reggae to house, breaks to hip hop, jazz to disc, keeping the eclectic mix from ever standing still over three days and nights by the shimmering Lake Malawi. The festival should be in the diary of every music lover and person looking for a bit of adventure.

It also helps raise money for Malawian charity organisations and into the economy, creating an estimated £100,000 last year alone. Lake of Stars is creating another important platform for the globalisation of music and integration of culture, as well as giving festival lovers from the UK the chance to escape the dull and dismal weather and head to one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

All proceeds made from the festival in 2007 went directly to UNICEF. With 2008’s event on the horizon, Lake of Stars welcomes the world to join in as the festival aims to achieve a greater international dimension.

For more information, please check  www.lakeofstars.co.uk or contact  will@chibuku.com