The Sunday Mail
Takudzwa Chihambakwe
AFTER closing its doors to the public back in June 2015 due to financial constraints, the Book Cafe returned with the pop-up gig concept at the end of last year.
Pop-up gigs have no permanent home; they pop up, so to speak.
However, the Book Cafe may have found a semi-permanent home for the gigs at the New Ambassador Hotel.
The venue has revived the spirit of the arts brand.
Recently, The Sunday Mail Leisure passed through New Ambassador Hotel and found the rooftop packed. Revellers were being entertained by multi-award winning group – Mokoomba – and were having a good time.
The setting brought back yesteryear memories of number 124 Samora Machel Avenue, where the Book Cafe had re-established itself as Harare’s arts hub after moving from Five Avenue Shopping Centre.
“The response from the audience has been great since we began the pop-up gigs back in September at the New Ambassador Hotel,” said Book Cafe brand owner, Tomas Brickhill.
“It has been a rough patch for us since the closure of the cafe, which was shortly followed by the closure of Misty’s. This has resulted in very few venues in the capital dedicated to live local musical performances which in turn has affected the audiences.
“The whole idea behind these pop-up gigs is to meet consumer needs and also create a space for rising and established local artistes to showcase their talent and interact with their fans,” revealed Brickhill.
Initially, Book Cafe had planned to shift from one venue to the other. However, they seem to have settled at New Ambassador Hotel.
Brickhill explained their decision: “I guess it’s all about the vibe that comes with the venue. The fact that it is on the rooftop kind of draws memories back to the initial set-up at the original Book Cafe at Five Avenue.
“It is also in the CBD, so accessibility is easy, just like it was the case with our two previous venues. Besides that, the hotels’ general manager, Hugh Mandizha, has been very supportive of our ideas.”
Brickhill revealed that this year, they would continue with the pop-up gigs. He however highlighted that they have a strong desire to reopen the Book Cafe.
“In 2016, we will continue being variable as much as possible, always keeping revellers in suspense. We will definitely be working with other venues as well but we will probably be setting up something a bit more regular with the New Ambassador Hotel.
“Ultimately we would want to find our own space and re-establish the cafe with the various facilities that make it a unique creative space for the convenience of the artistes and patrons,” he said.
