Ladysmith Black Mambazo open this year's Bury Festival

BURY FESTIVAL REVIEW: This year’s Bury St Edmunds Festival kicked off with the amazing sounds and moves of Ladysmith Black Mambazo bringing their message of love, peace and harmony to festival goers.

The nine strong male group founded 58 years ago by Joseph Shabalala sings isicathamiya – a cappella style and their performance comes with stunning high kicks and moves as their warm vocals harmonise to bring the sound of their Kwa-Zulu Natal heritage to their audience.

The group, which collaborated with Paul Simon on his Gracelands, album sang the well-known Homeless and their own Long Walk to Freedom dedicated to Nelson Mandela.

Four sons of founder Joseph were on stage with lead vocals interchanged between members. Tough Times Never Last and All Women are Beautiful plus songs in their native tongue had the packed house totally engaged and enjoying the humour that the singers slipped into their performance.

Their finale piece was a tour de force as the group and audience handclapped the rhythm for amazing lithe, light- footed but energetic dancing and beautiful singing.

This is the first time the Grammy award winning group has appeared at the festival and they provided a fantastic opener.