Kampala’s nightlife is set for a different kind of musical experience this Sunday as The Bar Symphony makes its return to the city, bringing the sound of a live orchestra into the contemporary nightlife setting of Kingdom Kampala.
Curated by The Singleton and WhiteCap, the event builds on a concept that is changing how audiences experience familiar music. Rather than presenting songs in their original form, The Bar Symphony reimagines popular hits through orchestral arrangements, combining strings, live instrumentation and contemporary sounds to create an entirely different listening experience.
The Singleton Brand Manager, Simon Lapyem, says the partnership reflects the brand’s interest in supporting experiences that bring people closer to music, creativity and craftsmanship.
“The Bar Symphony is an exciting expression of what happens when creativity meets craftsmanship. At The Singleton, we believe some of the most memorable experiences come from discovering familiar things in new ways. Supporting this platform allows us to celebrate musical talent, encourage creative experimentation and give audiences an opportunity to experience music differently. We look forward to bringing that experience to Kingdom Kampala this Sunday.”
The concept first made its Kampala debut on World Music Day, June 21, at 1420 in Bugolobi. Curated by producer, DJ and music arranger Joshua Waiswa, popularly known as Josh SB, the inaugural edition brought together a 12-piece orchestra to reinterpret songs across different genres.
The performance moved from the iconic Game of Thrones theme to familiar Western hits, including Chris Brown’s Gimme That, Rihanna’s Rude Boy and Ne-Yo’s Miss Independent. Kanye West’s Run This Town and Carnival also featured in a set that demonstrated how orchestral arrangements could give contemporary music a cinematic edge.
Since then, the concept has continued to grow, with a performance at the Speedball fashion showcase and a recent Nairobi edition at The Alloy, Sarit Centre, taking the experience to new audiences.
For Josh SB, The Bar Symphony is an extension of his work reimagining popular songs as cinematic compositions. His interest in transforming familiar sounds into something unexpected inspired him to take orchestral music into spaces where audiences would not ordinarily encounter it.
The idea is to make orchestral music more accessible while challenging the boundaries of conventional nightlife entertainment. At Kingdom Kampala, audiences can expect another meeting of classical instrumentation and contemporary music, with familiar songs given new arrangements and a fresh identity.
The Singleton’s involvement reflects the brand’s appreciation of craftsmanship, creativity and discovery, values that extend beyond whisky into experiences that bring people together through culture and music.
With its return to Kampala following the Nairobi edition, The Bar Symphony is building on its ambition to become a distinctive live entertainment experience across the region.
This Sunday, Kingdom Kampala will provide the setting for yet another evening of orchestral reinterpretations, familiar melodies and the energy of a night out.
