TAKE A MINUTE  With rock band Smokie on their world tour!
Sep16

TAKE A MINUTE With rock band Smokie on their world tour!

Rock band Smokie  is headed to South Africa, read after the jump to find out which venues they’ll be playing at. They’ll be back in South Africa for the third time and internationally successful British band Smokie will be in Johannesburg on Friday, 4th & Saturday 5th October for a concert at the Carnival City Big Top Arena. To call Smokie rock n roll survivors would be true but would belie the fact that they remain Europe’s top live performing band 30 years after they first formed. The original members Terry Uttley, Alan Silson and Chris Norman were at school together in Bradford, East Yorkshire and the original band also included Martin Bullard and Steve Pinnell. Smokie’s mega hits include If You Think You Know How to Love Me, Don’t Play Your Rock n Roll to Me,For a Few Dollars, Needles and Pins, Living Next Door to Alice and Oh Carol, to name but a few. Smokie today is fronted by Mike Craft on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, and consists of founder members Uttley on bass and vocals, drummer Pinnell, Bullard on keyboards and lead guitarist and vocalist Mick McConnell who joined the band in 1996. Smokie’s Take A Minute World Tour includes a number of new songs from their latest album Take a Minute, as well as all their smash hits. DATE Friday 4th October 2013 Saturday 5th October 2013 VENUE Carnival City – Big Top Arena TIME 20h00 TICKETS From R295 -R595 each BOOKING Computicket The shows start at 8pm and tickets are available from Computicket from R295 to...

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Hansa says cheers to South Africa’s dreamers!
Sep16

Hansa says cheers to South Africa’s dreamers!

To the dreamers with actions, Hansa says cheers! Dreaming big and then working hard to achieve – this is the true spirit of South Africa and Hansa Pilsener, the beer that is brewed for dreamers, is saluting these passionate, committed men and women. From fashion and jewellery designers, DJ’s and event companies, spaza shop entrepreneurs to jazz club owners, the beer that is brewed with the kiss of the Saaz hop has launched a new campaign aimed at celebrating people who are the movers and shakers, hustlers and doers of their communities, taking each day in their stride and making things happen. To acknowledge these dreamers and doers, Hansa is offering a unique break for these businesses to be marketed across various platforms including TV, print, radio, online and outdoor creative. The opportunity will run countrywide and will see Hansa afford the businesses free advertising, helping them to increase their customer base. “Hansa is raising a glass to many different types of talented people who go out every day to make a living, supporting themselves and their families and contributing to the South African economy,” said Hansa Pilsener General Manager, Khensani Nobanda. “We are acknowledging and celebrating their passion, talent and creativity.” More than 20 of these ‘dreamers’ from around South Africa will be selected over the next three months to have their achievements celebrated by highlighting their dreams, jobs or hustle on radio, TV, billboards, magazines, newspapers as well as on the Hansa website, Facebook page and on Twitter. “In this way these fledgling businesses will get exposure and much needed marketing support which will hopefully drive customers into their shops, restaurants, hairdressers, car washes or whatever else their daily grind is,” Nobanda said. To follow the campaign as it unfolds, follow @hansapilsener on Twitter or share your inspirational stories onFacebook www.facebook.com/Hansa or visit...

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Parlotones preview new album on sports channel.
Sep12

Parlotones preview new album on sports channel.

Fans of South African rockers The Parlotones will get an exclusive preview of their new album when they tune in to DStv’s SuperSport 8 channel on Monday evening. Selected tracks from the band’s fifth studio album, Stand Like Giants, will form the soundtrack to the half-hour Old Mutual joBerg2c highlights package. This is the second time that The Parlotones have collaborated with the nine-day mountain bike race, after their single “Brave and Wild” was used as the official theme song last year. According to race organiser Craig Wapnick, the band’s previous album Journey Through the Shadows had really resonated with participants on the 910km journey from Johannesburg to Scottburgh. “The theme song, for example, perfectly captured the riders’ experience on some spectacular sections of single track in the middle of nowhere. “This year, we have chosen the track ‘Powerful’ from their new album.” Wapnick said working with a well-known local act like The Parlotones highlighted the feel-good factor and South African soul of the event. “The focus of the show is the many ‘sections of happiness’ or single track trails across our great country. We’ve put together some great music and inspiring footage that just makes you want to ride.” CEO of Sovereign Entertainment and band manager Raphael Domalik said the innovative campaign was well timed ahead of the album’s release on September 28. “The Parlotones’ music is always uplifting and cinematic, which makes it easy to place the music to the visuals.” Domalik said the new album, which was generally about standing united and overcoming obstacles together, promised to be one of the Los Angeles-based band’s definitive works. “Stand Like Giants is going to live up to its name and remind people why they fell in love with The Parlotones in the first place.” The first single, “Sleepwalker”, featuring SA hip-hop artist Khuli Chana, is already receiving extensive airplay. The Old Mutual joBerg2c show, which is produced by PT Productions and narrated by Gerald de Kock, premiers on DStv’s SuperSport 8 at 9pm with repeats throughout the week. Wapnick said the highlights package would also be available on YouTube shortly. The fifth Old Mutual joBerg2c rolls out on April 25 next year. For more information, visit www.joberg2c.co.za, Facebook or @joberg2c_journo on...

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David Krut Print Workshop
Sep12

David Krut Print Workshop

Check out the printing workshop details by David Krut. Be sure to make a note of the beautiful collectibles you could purchase. It’s been more than 3 years since Senzo Shabangu started printing with the David Krut Print Workshop (DKW) in Johannesburg. Senzo arrived in this African metropolis from Driefontein in Mpumalanga, hoping to become a pilot. However, the route to flying was harder than he expected. The daily reality of people living in Johannesburg also moved him, and he realised that producing art was a means both to making a comment on the situations surrounding him as well as a possible way to support himself. He studied printmaking at Artist’s Proof Studio before starting to make monotypes with DKW in 2010. He is now a regular collaborator with DKW and has not forgotten his dream of soaring, as he is currently taking flying lessons too. Senzo works primarily in the relief linocut method. He has an expressive style of carving that radiates with energy and vitality. This vibrancy is further enhanced by his use of strong and bold sways of colour, that provide the viewer with rich surfaces, thus balancing his expressive mark making. He uses deep scarlets, velvety golds and royal blues. Much of Senzo’s work speaks of his journey to Johannesburg and becoming a resident of this bustling urban environment. These vibrant linocuts therefore echo the African energy that is so familiar to those who have experienced this lively city. Take Me Away from the City III depicts the Johannesburg skyline constructed on top of a suitcase, which can be read to refer to the artist moving to the city, his new home, or constantly carrying the city with him, his new urban identity. Much of this artist’s work is inspired by social unrest and issues that affect the average South African on a daily basis. Vusumuzi Mandlakayise represents a man carrying his possessions with him in a ‘Jozi bag’ in one hand and the burden of three humans wrapped tightly in a towel on his back. The figures being carried on the back refer directly to his mother, his wife and his son. It symbolises the stress and responsibility that he carries by being the breadwinner in his family, as is the case for many men in South Africa. The struggles and battles of daily life are further investigated in Shabangu’s print, Checkmate. The print is dominated by a large, bold scarlet chess piece hovering in mid-air, waiting to be launched in a new direction, on a giant chess board that echoes a Johannesburg landscape. It evokes ‘a game of life’ in which pieces are...

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SUOSO 3 LIVE FINALE: Top 3 is ready to pop, lock and roll!
Sep12

SUOSO 3 LIVE FINALE: Top 3 is ready to pop, lock and roll!

It’s the moment everyone has been waiting for – the epic live finale of Mzansi’s most-loved street dance reality show, Step Up Or Step Out on Sunday 15 September at 6:05PM. The long and exciting journey that has had more than two million viewers waiting with bated breath each week, is coming to an end. The cream of the crop – Cyber-Links from Durban, De Javu from Port Elizabeth and Snap, Crackle & Pop from Cape Town, have outperformed hundreds of other hopefuls through the auditions phase, sweat week and ultimately the weekly studio dance challenges. Now the top three are ready to strut their talent on the Step Up Or Step Out stage to vie for the most coveted title of Mzansi’s best dance group and the cash prize of R70 000! Says Judge Emile YX about the three winning groups: “Snap, Crack & Pop has been the most consistent out of all the groups in the Top 10. Cyber-Links has always been about precision,  which has worked to their advantage. De Javu has a strong hip hop dance style and can be a force to be reckoned with if they are all on point on the night of the finals. I look forward to seeing who delivers at the live finale.” Judge Euphonik believes that the groups went through a very strict judging process. “The fact that Snap, Crackle & Pop, De Javu and Cyber-Links came out on top says a lot about their character. I wish the three groups the best of luck and I’m sure they will have fruitful careers beyond the competition”. Judge Khabonina Qubeka adds: “The top three groups are hot. They are exciting and they are going to use this platform to not only strive to win this competition, but to win in life as well.” On the day of the live finale, viewers will experience the very best of South African street dance culture as the groups will challenge themselves on the dance floor with South African themes.  The groups will have to articulate two themes – My Heritage and My City – through their choreography. And the fate of Cyber-Links, De Javu, and Snap, Crackle & Pop lie in the viewers’ hands. Viewers have a chance to vote for the group they think should walk off with the crown by way of voting. Voting lines open directly after episode 12 at 7pm on Sunday, 8 September and close at 12 noon on Sunday, 15 September, the day of the finale. So, who will “wow” the viewers this year and be crowned the next top dance group of Mzansi? Catch the...

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REACHING GENERATION Y – Teaching youth to take risks wisely.
Sep11

REACHING GENERATION Y – Teaching youth to take risks wisely.

There’s an African proverb that says “It takes a village to raise a child” it comes with a strong punch this time around as we are constantly seeing our world change given the advent of digital media feeding our kids all sorts of information. It is more crucial now than ever before to exercise the saying to its fullest meaning. Read about Generation Y below. Generation Y has been described as ambitious and materialistic, impulsive, impatient, seeking instant gratification and relying largely on luck – not characteristics associated with wise decision-making. But luck is really being surrounded by people who care and having the right information to make informed choices in living life responsibly.  This is the message that the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) is bringing to Generation Y through a series of intervention workshops in Durban, Rustenburg, Witbank and Polokwane entitled “Taking risks wisely”, all aimed at 18 to 35-year olds. Explaining the reason for the workshops, Ms Nana Magomola, Executive Director of the NRGP explained “without the benefit of age, many young people lack the wisdom that is needed for making risky decisions. Through our series of workshops the NRGP aims to discuss some of the common risks they will encounter in life, to better understand these and equip them in managing life’s choices. Understanding the consequences of choices they make could prevent them from experimenting with drugs, gambling, alcohol or risky sexual behaviour.” While showcasing the effects of risk-taking in general, the workshops place specific emphasis on gambling and tackles issues of debt and money management, and the fact that excessive gambling does not lead to wealth. Instead it impacts on their health, their jobs, their relationships and financial well-being. In addition to receiving advice from experts and motivational speakers, an interactive play helps the youthful audience to see, through edutainment, why it is important to assess risks carefully. “The workshops deal with concerns regarding financial health and wellness, and emphasises the endless possibilities for youth in our country” Ms Nana Magomola concluded. “Edutainment is a far more effective means to reach Generation Y than preachy lectures.” A 2004 survey, “A Profile of Youth Gambling in South Africa”, conducted by the University of the Witwatersrand on behalf of the National Gambling Board, confirmed that although casino gambling is rare amongst youth given the controls in place, a fairly large number of young people do gamble, mostly amongst themselves on informal games. This finding is consistent with other local and international research which shows the propensity of adolescents to risk-taking generally, partly because the mechanisms for self-control within the brain are not yet fully developed. Prevention of...

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