For many lovers of African music, the rich highlife sounds and rythyms of West Africa is best enjoyed when played live with a band. This, however, is far from what prevails in Ghana’s contemporary music culture. Live band music has taken a nosedive in Ghana, giving way to electronically engineered sounds and rhythms which usually lack the culture and essence of true Ghanaian music. The rich highlife sound created by great musicians such as E.T Mensah is almost extinct. The objective of “Bands Alive” therefore is to bring this amazing art form back to live.

“Bands Alive” is a music competition for young and talented bands that have the ability to perform live band music, particularly Ghanaian and African music. For 13 weeks, 12 bands would compete for a chance to become the next big band to follow in the footsteps of great Ghanaian bands like ‘The Handlers’ and ‘Osibisa’. These 12 bands would benefit from the tutelage of renowned Ghanaian highlife musician, Charles Amoah, music director for the show.

They will also profit from advice, directions and criticism from judges and industry expects such as Rex Omar, Dona May, Mac Tontoh, Dinah Hopeson (President of the Musician Association of Ghana) and Isaac Annor (Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra). The contestants would compete each week for public votes and the band with the least number of votes each week would be eliminated from the competition.