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Lake of Stars is a four-day international music festival held on the shores of Lake Malawi, the third biggest lake in Africa.

About
Lake of Stars has been held annually in October since 2004, in various locations on the shores of Lake Malawi. The event was founded by Will Jameson, and was born of his desire to raise money for a developing economy whilst helping to promote Malawi as a tourist destination and expose Malawian artists to international crowds. The festival has a diverse music policy ranging from Afropop, reggae and folk to beatboxers and international DJs. The festival has grown from 1200 in its maiden year in 2004 to 3000 attendees in 2008. Sponsorship from vinspired, the national young volunteers service, was secured for the first time for the 2009 festival.

Origins
Founder and Director of Lake of Stars Will Jameson first visited Malawi in 1998 when he worked in Dwangwa as a volunteer with the Wildlife Society for six months. During that time he travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. On returning to England, Will took with him a souvenir – an empty carton of ‘Chibuku Shake Shake’ beer. Halfway through university at Liverpool John Moores, he decided to start a club night with friends Damo Jones, Charlene McDaid and Rich McGinnis. They named the night after the Malawian beer and went on to win Best UK Club in the Mixmag Awards in 2004.

In the same year, Will launched the first Lake of Stars festival, headlined by Chibuku regular, Groove Armada’s Andy Cato. The festival attracted dozens of people from the UK and hundreds attended from all over Malawi and southern Africa. It won the Malawi Tourism Award in its first year and is now recognised on the global festival calendar. Will was named as one of the Observer and Courvoisier Future 500 for his pioneering work with the festival and charities in Malawi.

Ethos
The four main pillars of Lake of Stars are: Music Travel Charity Development The event aims to unite diverse musical and cultural backgrounds by being a truly international gathering of world and African talent. Lake of Stars promotes Malawian music and tourism, raising funds for charity and developing and supporting projects in the local area. Proceeds from the festival are donated to charitable projects close to the festival site. This means that as the festival grows, so too will its sphere of influence and potential to raise money for projects further afield.

History
vinspired Lake of Stars 2009

In 2009 Lake of Stars will be held at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge, near Mangochi in southern Malawi. Headlining the festival will be The Maccabees, SWAY, Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, Radioclit presents The Very Best, Tayo, Radio 1’s Nihal, Fabric’s Ali B, Ross Allen and Dekker & Johan, with many African acts yet to be confirmed.

Lake of Stars 2008

Lake of Stars 2008 was held at Senga Bay, in northern Malawi, when the festival achieved its largest attendance to date. 3000 people travelled to Senga Bay to see Seth Lakeman, Scratch Perverts, BBC Radio 1’s Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Skitz, Man Like Me, Fabric’s Ali B play, alongside many local African acts.

Lake of Stars 2007

In 2007, Lake of Stars was held for the fourth time at Chintheche Inn, in Northern Malawi. 2000 people attended, while BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac, BBC 1Xtra’s Rodney P & Skitz and Malawian artist Lucius Banda headlined. Lake of Stars 2007 raised over £4600 raised for UNICET projects in Malawi, with Lake of Stars branded events taking place before and after the festvial in the UK (including London, Leeds, Liverpool, Brighton and Newcastle), Dublin and Africa (including Cape Town, Lilongwe and Johannesburg). An overland tour from South Africa to Malawi was organised to showcase Africa to UK artists and journalists travelling to the festival.

Lake of Stars 2006

For the third year running, Lake of Stars 2006 was held at northern Malawi's Chintheche Inn, on the western shore of Lake Malawi. 1800 people came from around the world to see Yewande of Atlanta, USA and Mikey General from Bugz in the Attic. The festival was opened by the Malawian Minister of Tourism, and pre-festival monthly events took plave in London and Liverpool, with pre-festival parties organised in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Lake of Stars 2005

Lake of Stars 2005 was again held at Chintheche Inn in northern Malawi. This year, 1300 people attended to see Felix B of Basement Jaxx and DJ Yoda headline. The event generated over £100,000 for the Malawian economy.

Lake of Stars 2004

The very first Lake of Stars festival was held at Chintheche Inn, on the north west shore of Lake Malawi. 1200 people attended, mainly from the UK and Malawi. Andy Cato of Groove Armada headlined. Lake of Stars was given the Malawian Tourism Award for services to tourism in Malawi.