Legendary Zamrock Band WITCH Transports Austin to the Psychedelic 70’s at Radio East
On August 19, 2026, WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc), the legendary Zambian Psych Rock band, stopped in Austin’s Radio East on their Zamrock to the World Tour.
The band, formed in the 70s, is Zambia's most famous psychedelic rock band and a pioneer of the genre Zamrock. The band disbanded and was forgotten for many years due to economic collapse and authoritarian government crackdowns. Zamrock bands had to perform during the day to avoid government-imposed curfews, and the movement eventually faded away.
The band’s leader, Emmanuel 'Chanda', known as Jagari (after Mick Jagger), once considered the most electric Zamrock performer, left music to become a teacher and then an Amethyst miner in the Zambian Countryside. His path back to rockstar status came when documentarian Gio Arlotta and musician Jacco Gardner located and traveled with Jagari through Zambia to learn about and revive his past as a rock icon.
This process resulted in a reunion of WITCH, and they began touring again in 2017. Two original members, Jagari and Patrick Mwondela (keyboard), continue the WITCH revival in 2026.
THE POINT
The audience was buzzing with energy during the opening set by Austin’s The Point, a rising trio that beautifully blends Ethiopian Jazz, Saharan guitar music, Dub, Psych, Jam, Thai Morlam, and the avant-garde. The Point’s music is stunning, and your brain battles over whether to close your eyes and feel the music or keep them open to witness the incredible skill on stage. They were a perfect lead-in to WITCH’s set - Similar enough, but uniquely different.
WITCH
WITCH opened with the lingering instrumental “Try Me”, as original members Mwondela and Jagari took the stage. They moved from the sweet, mellow opener to the faster, rhythmic Zamrock songs, with Jagari showcasing his famous rockstar energy. In between songs, he took time to tell stories about the experiences that created the songs, showcasing his other side- teacher.
During the song “Introduction”, Jagari sang the introductions of each band member, followed by “I love you, I need you…” When it was his turn to introduce himself, it became “I love ME” to cheers of agreement. The desire to connect with the audience by celebrating everyone and imparting wisdom and stories made it one of the most memorable shows this summer. We were time travelers experiencing true psychedelic vibes of the 70s - peace, love, and rock n roll!
BONUS REEL
To watch the documentary that chronicles the revival of WITCH, you can stream it for free on Tubi: We Intend to Cause Havoc (2019) - Stream Free | Tubi
WITCH continues their US tour through October and The Point will be supporting Improvement Movement in September and October. Keep scrolling for their respective tour posters!
