When I stepped into the first edition of Rhythm Fiesta by Tamasha Band, I didn't know what to expect.

Initially, I was sceptical about the turnout, as fans were divided between this event and the food festival taking place on the same day.

By the time I arrived, DJ Milo was already on stage and his set had the audience dancing non-stop as more and more people continued to arrive. To break the monotony Buda Boss introduced an exciting quiz segment, which added a fun twist and kept people engaged as they raced to shout out the answers first.

Next, DJ Reinherd took to the stage and treated us to an hour of pure musical mastery, once again proving why he is one of Nakuru's best DJs.

The energy reached another level when Gikuyu pop star Ayrosh took to the stage. His performance brought the house down and he went on to deliver fan favourites such as 'Maheni', 'Kirinyaga' and 'Mwanake Millennial', not to mention several mugithi tracks that had the crowd fully energised.

The highlight came when Ayrosh surprised the audience by inviting Mutoriah on stage to perform with him. Mutoriah then serenaded the fans with 'Beta', and the crowd sang along to every lyric as though the song had been written just for them.

Not to be outdone, the Tamasha Band took to the stage, treating us to an electrifying mix of old-school and reggae music. They showed their appreciation for the audience by giving away gift vouchers and T-shirts.

Vijana Barubaru alongside Tamasha Band performs at the Rhythm Fiesta on September 27, 2025.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

To spice things up further, they welcomed Vijana Barubaru on stage and started with the popular 'Mbao Moja'. From the moment the 'Sasa Hivi' hitmakers started their performance, nobody in the crowd could stay seated, they all rose to their feet, dancing and singing along.

The atmosphere was so charged that we lost all track of time. Just when we thought the night was over, Arbantone sensation Tipsy Gee, known for hits such as 'Finish Kumalo' surprised the crowd by joining Vijana Barubaru on stage for an energetic performance.

Tipsy Gee performing at the Rhythm Fiesta on September 27, 2025.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

Throughout the night, MC Meso held the audience's attention. Having taken to the stage shortly after 3 pm on Saturday, he seamlessly steered the event until the very end at 3 am on Sunday.

After their performance, Vijana Barubaru praised the Nakuru crowd, noting that the event proved the city’s appetite for live music.

“The crowd was top-notch and brought the energy. This event has made us seriously consider adding Nakuru to the cities we want to tour,” they said.

Robert Riziki, the drummer and vocalist of Tamasha Band, emphasised that the band aims to host Rhythm Fiesta at least four times a year.

Tamasha Band performs at the Rhythm Fiesta on September 27, 2025.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

“We want to bring the live music vibe to Nakuru. Our goal is to provide an alternative to the clubbing scene. As you saw today, every performer was backed by a live band. That’s the culture we want to build: a culture of live music in Nakuru,” he explains.

Despite this being only the first edition, Riziki adds that they are eager to receive feedback from fans to help them make future events even better and more tailored to their audience.

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