The atmosphere in Rubavu will be different on Saturday, December 31, with music set to take over the town ahead of the forthcoming Erica’s New Year Eve Music Festival.

A long list of local musicians is ready to light up the stage at Umuganda Stadium which will host the much-anticipated New Year Eve Festival.

The festival was organised by Erica’s Business Group to help music enthusiasts close 2022 in celebration and usher in the start of 2023 in style.

Organisers named a lineup of artists of different generations to ensure that audiences of all ages get entertained by the best music from their favorite artists.

Rappers Shizzo, who recently left the United Stated to spend the festive season in Rwanda, and Young Grace lead the lineup as they look to perform at home after years doing music in the diaspora and Kigali respectively.

They will be joined on stage by music group The Same who chose to do music in Rubavu.

"We look forward to having Rubavu people coming to the show and reuniting with the star artists and show them some love during the festival,” said Eric Safi, a lead member of the festival organising team.

Besides the homegrown artistes, a number of Kigali’s top artistes including Bull Dogg, Ariel Wayz, Kenny Sol, Calvin Mbanda, Eric Senderi and Orchestre Impala are also set to perform at the festival.

"Rubavu will be different with this lineup. Rubavu is the best place to unwind and I hope closing the year with such a music festival is the best way to start 2023 in style. It is going to be a memorable one,” Safi said.

Tickets for the festival are already up on sale via www.ticqet.rw at Rwf2, 000 for regulars, Rwf5, 000 for VIPs and Rwf10, 000 for VVIPs.

Students will pay Rwf1, 000 on condition that they present their student cards.