Take the Alter Route through Soweto
I’ve never known how to feel about the tourist buses and taxis that bump through Soweto crammed with foreign faces pressed up curiously at the windows, only stopping at very specific touristy haunts- on one hand, it kind of eeks me out, on the other, it’s what tourists do in any interesting place… and damn Soweto is interesting. And tourism brings many great things with it, including strange sock-sandal combinations. Thing is, those buses are only ever going to catch the surface and perhaps cliched view of the charm-oozing hub that makes you never want to leave- but there’s an underside to Soweto that’s been brewing over the last decade as an evolving creative youth explores and reinvents their identity in a postrevolution South Africa. Be privy to this change as it’s happening right now, get to a celebration of hip and happening Soweto in 2009 next weekend at Alter Route. Oh and don’t tell the sock-and-sandle clad tourists, we’d like to keep it to ourselves for a bit as it’s just so… nice: Winter is on its way out, summer’s almost here and what better way to awaken the hibernated senses with Alter Route Soweto on Saturday August 29, 2009 at Est 1912, Rockville Soweto. Alter-Route is an exhibition that encapsulates the spirit of its surroundings and serves it up through a mix of visual, auditory and culinary ingredients that would appeal to everyone. Kgomotso Morena, event organizer, says “Soweto has passed the phase of being labelled a township. Its streets have changed, its face has undergone reconstruction and its mentality has grown. Throughout all this change, its youth has been preparing a multi-genre, multi-cultural and mix-flavoured brew of new age talent and Alter Route Soweto is a collection and celebration of all that.” All this means is that, apart from one hell of an event, Alter Route Soweto will be a platform for the brands that will be on display to be exposed to new markets and new patrons, it’s a way of showcasing unconventional artistic elements in hope of bringing people of diverse backgrounds together. For R30, the public will first be treated to the renowned Dr Badela, The Layders, Wysdiman, Meat the Veggies, Wireless Gee and playkaystat who will all not just satisfy your hearing but set the mood for the entire event. Then, as if that isn’t enough, Soweto’s finest vegetarian chef, Far a field from Shifty, whose repertoire ranges from delectable gourmet cuisine to simple yet equally tantalising takeaways will be seen cooking up a storm and selling some scrumptious bites. What’s a celebration without some visual stimulation? Guests’ eyes will be amazed...
Standard Bank Joy of Jazz & Workshops
Warm up the last winter weekend this August at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival in downtown Johannesburg… Young Jazz musicians take note, they’re running a series of free jazz workshops during the festival: Running from August 27 to 29 in Newtown, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz 2009 line-up features artists from America, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands who will be joined by top performers from South Africa and the African Diaspora. Performers from the African continent include South Africa’s Jonas Gwangwa; Afro Jazz featuring Jimmy Dludlu; Vusi Mahlasela; Brian Thusi; Sterling EQ; the 2009 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for jazz Kesivan Naidoo as well as the Nigerian All Stars featuring Kúnlé Ayo and Rwanda’s Somi. Read more about the artists below… Some of the world’s leading jazz musicians – appearing at this year’s Standard Bank Joy of Jazz which takes place in Newtown from August 27 to 29 – will run free workshops teaching youngsters and musicians the intricacies of the craft. They include acclaimed Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider; Canadian trumpeter Ingrid Jensen; American pianist Bob Baldwin and saxophonist Marion Meadows and American jazz vocalist Arlee Leonard. The two groups giving workshops are Netherlands’ popular outfit Room 11 comprising Janne Schra (vocals), Arriën Molema (guitar), Tony Roe (keyboards), Lucas Dols (bass) and Maarten Molema (drums) and Spain’s Sumrrá featuring Manuel Gutiérrez (piano), Xacobeo Martínez Antelo (double bass) and Luis Alberto Rodriguez (LAR) Legido (drums). For more information on the workshops contact Mojalefa Gwangwa at T Musicman on 011 326 0141 or email ar@tmusicman.co.za The itinerary is as follows: Thursday August 27 from 11am to 1.30pm at the following venues: · Music Academy of Gauteng (Daveyton) – Ingrid Jensen · South West Gauteng College (Soweto) – Andreas Vollenweider · Moses Molelekwa Artist Foundation (Tembisa) – Room 11 · Central Johannesburg College (Johannesburg Central) – Marion Meadows and Bob Baldwin · Beverly Hills (Sedibeng – Vereeniging) – Arlee Leonard · Tshwane University of Technology (Tshwane) – Sumrrá For more information on the line-up, venues go to www.standardbankjazz.co.za and www.tmusicman.co.za. More on the line-up: Leading South African songstresses Judith Sephuma and Unathi Nkayi are joining the already impressive line-up at this year’s Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. Sephuma – who is regarded as one of the country’s leading jazz and Afro-pop singers and is the recipient of three South African Music Awards (SAMAs) – will perform on the Dinaledi Stage on Friday, August 28. She shares the stage with Spain’s Summra; the Lao Tizer Band featuring violinist Karen Briggs and guitarist Chieli Minucci and Main Ingredient from the US which includes vocalist Cuba Gooding. Over the years,...
Don’t Miss: Oppikoppi is Smoorverlief this weekend!
Big ups to the organisers for a super-size Oppikoppi this year… we went to the first few back in the day *Editorista blushes as she shows her age*. We ♥♥♥ the graphics, the fact that Party People has it’s own bash going on, the superb line-up: a taste from our must-see list this year: the Parlotones, Dirty Skirts, the Arrows, Teba (legend!), Kwani Experience, Koos Kombuis (legendary!), Karen Zoid (best of SA), Kidofdoom, Fokofpolisiekar, Cassette, Battery 9 (legend!) and of course 340ml. We await to hear about the bands in the mix…watch this space. Oppikoppi is turning 15 this year at the Oppikoppi Farm in Northam from the 7th to the 9th of August – that’s this weekend! If you haven’t got tickets yet, maak ‘n plan, or just get in your car and drive to the north west… follow the hippy-looking skorokoro’s and you should make it....
2nd Annual Jozi International Comedy Festival
The second annual Jozi International Comedy Festival will be taking place at the end of August featuring a diverse line-up of 7 big hitters….Go Go Go… Last year, HuntaLive brought the broadest selection of comedy styles and material ever seen by Johannesburg fans to the Jozi International Comedy Festival, resulting in an annual event, now sponsored by Nando’s. The Nando’s Comedy Festival promises to be the highlight on the Johannesburg Comedy Calendar for 2009. The Festival, which will run over seven days, will consist of an international stand up theatre show – the “UN Comedy Show”, a late-night stand up show “UNhinged” and a local stand-up competition “Comedy Showdown”. The Nando’s Jozi Comedy Festival will run from 17th August to 23rd August 2009 and tickets can be purchased at Computicket www.computicket.com. Tickets are priced from R150 to R220. SHOW SCHEDULES & TIMES: UN Comedy Show: 17th – 21st August (Monday – Friday) at 20h00 (8pm) And 23rd August (Sunday) at 18h00 (6pm) UNhinged: 21st & 22nd August (Friday & Saturday) at 22h30 The UN Comedy Show will be hosted by international comedy icon, Angelo Tsarouchas (Canada), the larger than life, Actor/Comedian, who is without question, Canada’s next “big thing”. Dubbed “The Hitman of Hilarity”, Angelo definitely exudes star power. His trademark mobster resemblance, burly size and no hold back attitude have put him in high demand on the global comedy stage as well as in television and film projects on both sides of the border. Comedy heavy weight Ahmed Ahmed (Egypt) who regularly performs at The Comedy Store in Hollywood and has toured all across the US and Europe will make his debut appearance in South Africa. He was the winner of the first annual Richard Pryor Award for ethnic comedy at the Edinburgh Festival. He has appeared in several films and television shows such as Executive Decision, Swingers, Roseanne, JAG, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn on Comedy Central, and MTV’s Punk’d with Ashton Kutcher. Comedy legend Steve Best (UK) will wow Jozi fans with his one-liners and props in an extremely visual comedy act. Likened to Steve Martin and Tommy Cooper, Steve has toured with Frank Skinner, Harry Hill, Craig Charles and Omid Djalili. He has performed all around the world including Hong Kong, Norway, The Falkland Islands, Kosovo, Bosnia, Bali, Jakarta and Denmark. After opening for Australia’s top comedian Carl Barron during his SA tour, David Kibuuka (Uganda) will return to the Jozi stage. “Dave” has a unique brand of humour that combines wit and intellect without losing touch with his audiences. He has also opened for the likes of Barry Hilton and John Vlismas on their...
Don’t Miss: The last Party People at ROKA this week…
Sadly the fabulous indoor/outdoor venue ROKA is closing down as apparently their lease will not be renewed… So many of us have kicked back at some of our best Jozi nights out at ROKA, lapped up some superb live performances and induced some of the worst cocktail hangovers… Anyone that attended a Party People will have fond memories of one of Jozi’s best party nights… this Thursday is the last time Party People will take place at ROKA and we urge all the Party People to be there! Party People congrats and we wish you an even better next venue. Change is often a good thing. On a brighter note, Cape Town Party People will feature the divine ZUBZ, do NOT miss this Cape Town… see below. Dj Kenzhero Presents Party People 3rd Anniversary Feat: Kwani Experience and Special guests Johannesburg 25th July 2009 This month, the month of July 09 is both bitter and sweet. The sweet part is that this month we, Party People; Dj Kenzhero and the people of the Party People celebrate 3 whole years of throwing and enjoying possibly the greatest Hip-Hop event to ever hit Jo’Burg City, and I say this with confidence. The bitter part is that Party People and Dj Kenzhero see the last Party People to take place at Roka, I know it’s hard to swallow. But, Dj Kenzhero could not let this affect the musical act Party People would feature this month. It took Kenzhero a while to finally decide on who will perform the last live performance at Roka and still do our 3rd anniversary justice, and along came the thought of Kwani Experience. But why Kwani Experience? Kenzhero the hero thought whom better to translate the history of Party People through music than Kwani Experience? They’ll be doing a set “with the cliché twist”, says Kwani’s spokesperson Po Box, “There’ll be new songs, favorite joints; fused with surprises and surprise acts. We don’t wanna reveal much, but expect some of your favorite acts who have performed at Party People in the last three years.” “We might also do a collaboration with Kenny, we haven’t done it since 2005 so it would be nice…just come to the show words sometimes can’t explain music”, Po concluded. And well with all that said come and join us for the last dance at Roka Lounge, situated on 44 Stanley Ave Milpark. Tickets for this one will be sold at the door for R100. Doors will open at 9:00pm. See you there! For More Info see: www.myspace.com/partypeoplesa or www.myspace.com/kwaniexp Cape-Town Feat Zubz the last letter Zula Bar, Cape-Town 24th July 2009 Last...
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