Grammy award-winner Brandy will not headline the 2019 Stanbic Music Festival tonight.

The US mega star has decided to pull out at the last minute due to an illness, organisers have said.

Stanbic Head of Public Relations and Communications Chanda Katongo said: “We are excited to announce the signing of Sisters With Voices as our second headline act for this year’s Stanbic Music Festival. Sadly, Miss Brandy Norwood has had to cancel all her international appearances, including the Stanbic Music Festival, because she is unwell. To Brandy, we wish you all the best; we wish you a quick recovery; we are praying for you and we are hoping you will get well soon. But the show must go on, and this weekend is going to be epic.”

This is not the first time Brandy has pulled out of concert.
In February this year, the “Right Here” hit maker abruptly canceled her anticipated live orchestra concerts because she wasn’t allowed to lip sync, inside sources told the UK Daily Mail.

Just a few hours before she was set to appear, Brandy called off her performance on Friday, January 25, and then her second show on Saturday, January 26, in Washington.

Brandy has, however, been replaced with U.S singing trio SWV who join Nigerian music icon Davido and top local artists Afunika, Mampi, Izrael, Danny and Chef 187 for the sixth edition of the country’s biggest musical festival at the Lusaka Polo Club this weekend.

The vocal trio SWV comprising Cheryl (Coko) Gamble, Tamara (Taj) Johnson and Leanne (Lelee) Lyons became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s with a series of hits including “Weak”, “Right Here (Human Nature Remix)”, “I’m So into You”, and “You’re the One”.

The group have sold more than 25 million records worldwide.

“Right Here” is the title of their debut single. A remixed version “Right Here (Human Nature Remix)”, became a number-one R&B single, selling 500,000 copies and earning a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.

Tickets for the 2019 Stanbic Music Festival are on sale at selected Stanbic Bank branches, Computicket and other outlets across the country priced at K500 for ordinary seats and K1,500 VIP.

For Brandy-lovers, full ticket refunds are available from the same outlets from Sunday, organizers announced yesterday.