Your Chance to Check Out One of Kenya’s Best Rock Bands

Parking Lot Grass is one of the hottest rock bands in the country right now. They came together in mid-2010 at the height of the monthly Battle of the Bands at Choices Bar & Restaurant. The band is made up of Raphael Sipalla (lead vocals), Victor Chweya (guitar), Alistair Gould (bass guitar), Amos Kiptoon (bass guitar) and Nick Wathi (drums).

The band spent most of 2010 and 2011 performing at every show they could find and spreading rock culture in Kenya. Towards the end of 2011, the band started recording music for an EP (Shimo Mfukoni) that was set to be released in early 2012, and later a full-length album. The first two singles off the EP, Etched On My Heart and Speed Racer went straight to number one on XFM’s Newly Released Chart.

Parking Lot Grass mention Metallica, Foo Fighters, Chevelle and Bullet for My Valentine as some of their influences. With the foreign influences, the band still tries to maintain a local feel in their songs, and they are one of the few Kenyan rock bands that use Swahili in their lyrics. The band which categorizes its style as experimental, hard rock are having a concert this weekend.

Rock Therapy is the first in a series of events and will take place on the 11th of August. Parking Lot Grass will be the first artistes featured for the bi-monthly show. The event will also feature rock-themed cocktails and the dance crew, Sarakasi. The inaugural event takes place at Rangers Restaurant (KWS) The show starts at 6:00 p.m. and charges are Kshs. 500.