The high expectations of an enjoyable marathon concert to mark singer and songwriter Pat Thomas’ 80th birthday at the +233 Jazz Bar and Grill in Accra on September 26, 2026 were fulfilled and even exceeded as the show brought out the best in each performer at the bash.
It was as active an evening as it’s possible for a concert audience to have. It was running and jumping pretty much all the way.
The high point occurred when all in attendance stood and musicians in the house -including even those not on the bill – went on the stage around midnight to sing a birthday song for the celebrant.
The voices that rose in unison on the stage to wish Pat Thomas well included Amandzeba, Pozo Hayes, Akosua Agyapong, Elizabeth Tagoe of the Tagoe Sisters, Kofi Kinaata, Kwabena Kwabena, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Epixode, Ras Minano, KK Fosu, Kofi Nti and more.
“There was real sincerity about the whole event,” observed artiste manager and entertainment promoter, Paa Kwesi Holdbrook-Smith.
“Sometimes artistes participate in similar programmes and sound like being forced to perform. So they just come and do a job and go. With the Pat Thomas birthday show, it struck me that the general love expressed was genuine.”
Several Highlife stars performed at the show
Some of the performers reminisced on how far back they had known Pat Thomas and what an uplifting music colleague he had been over the years.
Others also described the man as an inspirational figure in the entertainment field. To them, Pat Thomas’ music formed part of the soundtrack to the process of they also becoming known singers. Though they can be regarded now as heavyweights in their own right, they decided to render their takes on some Pat Thomas classics before getting into their own stuff.
Pat Thomas, with his wife Naana by him, acknowledged all the warm regards. The only song he sang on the night was Sika Ye Mogya. That piece has about as much musical satisfaction for the man as well as many of his fans and well-wishers. He presented it with a lot of emotion as he thanked the performers and the audience for turning up for him at such an important moment in his life.
The Bessa Band was in good form with an initial 20-minute non-stop Highlife session. It then backed all the acts on the bill except Australia-based Ras Minano who kicked off the enjoyable evening of music and tributes with his Hope of Africa Band.
