Levi’s® Vintage Sunday returns to Durban
Deben, it’s your turn for a bout of stunning Sundays. Topping and tailing with two of our favourite artists – Roly Struckmeyer on the 4th October and 340ml on the 25th October, not to mention the legendary Steven Newman (ex Tananas) on the 18th, the Durban line-up is packing some real punch: After taking Pretoria by storm and giving local music fans a reason to look forward to Sunday nights, Levi’s® Vintage Sundays heads down to Durban for October, turning La Scarpetta into the venue of choice for those who want to rock the new week in with their favourite bands. For the fifth year running music lovers all over South Africa are set to have their Sunday nights reinvented and reinvigorated with Levi’s® Vintage Sundays, Mzansi’s most consistent and comprehensive showcase of local musical talent Three incredible individuals line up to kick off the party on the 4th. A fixture on the music scene in Durban since the late 80’s, Pietermaritzburg born acoustic guitarist and vocalist Roly Struckmeyer is first to take to the stage. With a delivery that will stop you in your tracks, he has the power to evoke and engage, making him a hit with a live audience. Second in line is Luke Siedle who’s incredible instrumental skills are complemented by sincere lyrics, resulting in a musical narrative that finds resonance with a diverse range of devoted fans. You’ll find the roots of folk, rock and country in his music, all reworked to reflect this rising star’s uniquely beautiful take on the world. Farryl Purkiss rounds the evening off with his ever-soulful, always observant and beautifully composed guitar tracks. The man with a golden voice and heartfelt performances is going to show you exactly why he spends most of his time on the road gigging. Starting things off on the 11th is Gary Thomas. He is constantly writing songs that challenge both himself, his instrument and his audience and who balances meticulously crafted songwriting with dynamic vocals and contained improvisation. He’s followed by Syd Kitchen – his musical territory knows no bounds, and his long list of collaborations and diverse projects is testament to his insatiable love for music and performance. A man who speaks from the heart, Syd’s compositions are truly African offerings, speaking both musically and lyrically about life on the continent. Rounding it off is Guy Buttery with his unconventional guitar and percussive techniques whose intricate soul-searching arrangements find their way into every heart that hears him. The following Sunday, the 18th, is an opportunity to experience three of South Africa’s most talented acts. Multi-instrumentalist Greg Georgiades takes to the stage with...
Represent Review: Joy of Jazz 2009
Represent shimmied in amongst all the Friday night jazz cats last weekend down in Newtown, Johannesburg at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz 2009 festival – see our photostory here and read our take below from our team Nkateko Siweya and Hloni Ditse – Sharpile guys! : It’s a Friday just after rush hour traffic – it’s the last winter weekend and there’s no sign of a cold wind or rainy clouds, I wonder why… A long stream of cars flows past in an absolutely uniform precision, going in the opposite direction. Where are they going? People are supposed to be going home at this hour! Well not these music lovers… Mhhh, maybe all these people driving towards downtown Joburg might know that something interesting is about to go down. I’m also heading downtown, Newtown to be exact, past the dim highway lights, to arrive at a light and bubbly (no direct relation to Champagne) scene of blue and white lights: the 2009 Standard Bank Joy Of Jazz. I step into a mass of people of all ages, walking and mingling as if it were a holiday: we are in Jozi, the city that never sleeps. Such energy and excitement is derived from just being out and about in Newtown, Johannesburg city and it can be felt and witnessed by each face that makes up this buzzing crowd. One thing you are never short of in Joburg is a fashion parade, from the young funky attires to the mature elegantly dressed- that on its own is an art form unique to Africa’s greatest metropolitan. Our bright colours call out loud: “Welcome to the southern spring season!!” The stages are set, the guests are here, the weather is clear and warm we are out and about in an era brimming with talent and skill. The stages in Newtown boasted the most adept and diversified jazz and soul musicians from many a corner of the globe. This is one time I wish I could replicate myself just for the night so I could get to fully immerse myself in the simultaneous happenings on all four stages. I would soothe myself with the foreign and blissful featuring artists like Room 11, Somi, Brian Thusi, Level 99, MAG, Minor Band, CJC, Live Rhythm, J4Dot, Solace and Soul Tique and the many more who showcased their talent at great length. Even though my self- morphing into four of me didn’t go down, I did manage to catch a few of the legends in action, from the very appealing Judith Sephuma’s soulful choruses to Unathi Nkayi who was just having a wonderful jol with the...
Represent Review: Alter Route Soweto
Soweto’s left-of-centre youth culture is alive and gathering… Banele Rewo and photographer Tiko Ngobeni hung out this past weekend with Soweto’s brightest young exceptions to the rule. (See our Alter Route Soweto photostory here): We love you….We love you…We love you sang Mothusi Thusi the vocalist, guitarist, flautist …actually, everythingist for the The Layders. This was after the 10 hour concoction of music, visuals, food in a cultural blend that can only be prepared in Soweto. There’s a pile of information available on Soweto for those interested, however nothing can articulate the tingling of senses experienced when Soweto’s multiple subcultures collide in art and expression. On the surface Alter Route Soweto is a gig meant to foster artistic expression within the young urbanites in the city and the peripherals. However one could not avoid noticing the dominance of subtle nuances – such as the drive for success through art, the importance of independence of thought and the buzzing entrepreneurship that defines an “Alter Route individual”. This is a person who believes in creating magic through design and clothing such as Thesis Clothing situated in Dube, Soweto, Thesis is the first choice of wear for an “alter Route individual”. Thesis had a “pop up” shop in one of the rooms of the Burnt House where the event took place and I am eagerly anticipating the next “pop up” anywhere. OB the Vegetarian Chef chopped up ingredients that stuck true to the theme of alter routing from the normal diet of cardboard meat served up at you favourite fast food restaurant. Veggies were served in everything even in the garage turned stage where the“Meat the Veggies” band heated us up to boiling point with their locally produced lounge music served with simmering smooth vocals. Alter Route Soweto is not a gig…it’s more than what the organizers describe as a “ multi-genre, multi-cultural and mix-flavoured brew of celebration for all”. It is more than appreciating a young black operated skateboarding label and apparel design from Krooked. It’s a movement that in the literal sense alters perceptions of Soweto, The City and ultimately the individual. See our Alter Route Soweto photostory here. Words: Banele Rewo Images: Tiko...
Call for Entry: Short films – Design Indaba Expo
Here’s your chance to get your short film seen by a global audience at the fabulous Design Indaba Expo (considered one of the top Design gatherings in the world by those in the know) taking place in Feb next year. Get your entries in by the end of October. All South African filmmakers, students and hobbyists are invited to submit their short films, music videos and animations for screening at the 2010 Design Indaba Expo. The curated film festival is open for viewing by all Design Indaba Expo visitors, from 26 to 28 February 2010, and is screened between the fashion shows at the fashion arena. Submissions must be less than 12 minutes in length and need to be in mini dv or high resolution QuickTime (uncompressed or pal). There is no fee for participation. Submission deadline: 31 October 2009 For more information and submissions please contact Kim Terblanche at kim@interactiveafrica.com or on 021 465...
Represent ♥’s The Phenomenal Handclap Band
We just can’t get enough of the musical collective “The Phenomenal Handclap Band”, a superb collective of musicians from the big apple…Very very more-ish. Our favourite track so far is the one below – Baby (watch video below). Listen and read here. Myspace here. Interview with Daniel Collas co-founder of the band...
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