Over the weekend I attended a music festival called the Malawi Music Fest in Dayton, Ohio. The festival served as a benefit for a program called Determined to Develop. Their primary purpose is to help communities in Malawi, Africa, helping them build up education systems, health, environment, women's empowerment, and orphan care. Not only did they raise funds through the music, but they also held a silent auction that also benefits the program and the communities they help in Malawi. Once again, I attended as a photographer (click here for photos), but I also had a great time listening to the music.

The first performance was by a solo artist called Isicle. His set consisted of different mixes of electronic music with flavors of hip-hop, rock, and experimental sounds. I liked his performance because he played music I don't generally listen to, so hearing it live was an interesting and fun experience for me. Although his vocal ability wavered from time to time, I have to give him the benefit of the doubt. He was the first act, and he was doing a lot of work by himself. I could never go up on a stage and do what he did with as much enthusiasm. Overall he gave a wonderful performance.

The second group, The Zygotes, played music on the other end of the spectrum with a rock blend which, to me, sounded a little alternative, a little punk, and a little psychedelic. What I found refreshing about this group was that they were noticeably younger than the other bands who performed, yet they played with just as much maturity and passion as the other performers. It wasn't hard to see they enjoyed playing for an audience, and enjoyed playing together as a group. They were skilled musicians, and they certainly proved themselves.

Next in the line up was the group The French, another rock group, closer to Southern rock this time. The most notable aspect about their set was the audience. I rarely turned around and looked at the other audience members, but I didn't need to look to know they were engaged. A couple of women standing next to me were dancing to every song, prompting the vocalist to react to their energy. Others around me were singing along to a few of the group's songs. As with the previous two performers before them, The French were talented and enthusiastic about what they were doing.

Finally--although not the last group on the agenda for the festival--was a two person group called MEGA PIXEL. Their specialty is a hip-hop/pop blend. I was slightly thrown off when they started because it was a mix I wasn't expecting, but I had a blast listening to them. Both of them had great voices, and the rapper of the two, Dave, could actually rap. Both engaged the audience, and, like the groups before them, were having a good time as well. While each had their own role in the duo--one focused on guitar and other various sound mixing and vocals, the other vocals including singing and rapping--they came together to create a fun mesh of genres and give a great performance.

Overall, the Malawi Music Fest was an excellent program of different types of music. Every musician who performed (and most likely including the final group I didn't catch) played with passion, energy, and talent. It was another relatively small show, but everyone was having a good time. I would go see future shows by any of the performers, and to me, no matter how big or small the show, that's one of the most important takeaways from live music performances. The music festival is one I would definitely attend again.