Features
LONDON, HERE I COME…and Manilal joins Mirage
His London trip was planned sometime back but was put on hold due to unforeseen events cropping up…the pandemic, etc.
Benjy was scheduled to leave the island, yesterday (04).
No doubt quite excited, he said that he is very much looking forward to meeting up with family members, friends, and music lovers, in the UK.
He also mentioned that he has plans to check out the Desmond de Silva tribute dinner dance, to be held on 9th September, in London.
In the meanwhile, Mirage, the band Benjy now performs with, will continue to operate, in the scene here, with a temporary replacement.
Mirage has undergone several changes, over the past few years, and the new lineup has Donald Pieries (leader, drums, vocals), Benjy Ranabahu (bass), Neville Davidson (guitar, vocals), Chaminda Suranjith (keyboard, vocals), and…surprise, surprise – yes, with Manilal Perera as the band’s frontline vocalist!
Manilal, of course, is a veteran in the showbiz scene, having performed with several bands before putting together his very own outfit, Upekkha.
His style of singing, and his choice of songs, will certainly give the band’s repertoire an added flavor.
Another veteran is Neville Davidson, who was very much a part of Sohan & the X-Periments.
With Sohan deciding to put the X-Periments on hiatus, the members have all ventured out, doing their own thing.
Mirage with Manilal went into action, last week, and will be seen, this Friday, as well, at the Sky Lounge, Kingsbury Hotel, in Colombo.
For certain, Benjy’s electrifying bass playing will be missed but he says he will be back soon – probably after a month!
He also did mention that while in London he will look around for opportunities for Mirage to do their thing in the UK, as well.