(just more than) 2 weeks to enter Makhulu Polane
Editorista is emitting corruscating rays of cascading joy (for real!) now that Project Runway has FINALLY kicked off it’s new season (6) after a long drawn out waiting period… we love seeing talent being given a chance to SHINE SHINE SHINE – amazing what a bit of pressure can create. Well the good news is designers (my best Tim Gunn voice) you have a chance to create your own design masterpiece without pressure by entering your interpretation of the LOVE AFRICA theme in Big Blue’s Makhulu Polane t-shirt design competition. It’s open for entries until 15th Sep 09, so MAKE IT WORK: This local initiative was started by Big Blue in 2006 in a quest to discover and support fresh homegrown talent, and entries are received each year from graphic designers, fashionistas, daydreamers, students, illustrators and frustrated corporate workers who dream of design fame and winning the Makhulu Polane title. This year’s design theme is ‘Love-Africa’ and Big Blue is looking for designs that creatively celebrate Africa as a continent. Entries are open to anyone who feels they have an original t-shirt design that fits the design theme; the winning designer receives R20 000 in cash and their t-shirt will be sold in all Big Blue and Kitsch+Kool stores nationwide for two months. T-shirt designs do not need to be digitally created but they must be submitted via the Big Blue website www.bigblue.co.za , hand drawn illustrations can be scanned and uploaded. The award winning Makhulu Polane campaign is an original, annual event that encourages and celebrates South African design. Show us your Makhulu Polane and we’ll make you...
Freedom to Dance at Arts Alive
There’s one week to go till the City of Johannesburg’s nearly month-long Arts Alive festival kicks off on the 3rd of September – we’re hoping you’ve already decided which part of the festival calls your name and booked your baby-sitter. This year we’re spoilt for choice with a broad line up of dance, comedy, theatre, film, visual arts, poetry and music to choose from throughout September… We’re going to be covering the Freedom to Dance House and Hip Hop event at Carfax that kicks off the festival – here’s the deal: The stage is set, the line-up has been finalised, finishing touches are being made and the smell of excitement and anticipation is thick in the air. It’s that time of year again… the 2009 17th annual Joburg Arts Alive International Festival set to take place in Johannesburg between the 3rd and 27th of September. In addition to the numerous captivating art disciplines set to grace urban central Johannesburg such as, theatre, dance (from classical to contemporary and street), visual arts, comedy, spoken word and poetry, the festival will also play host to the Arts Alive Freedom to Dance extravaganza, taking place at Carfax – Jozi on Friday the 4th of September 2009. Aimed at youth, this evening will whet the appetite of the toughest music critic with performances by leading house and hip hop DJ’s from South Africa. Guests on the evening will also be privy tothe electric legendary beats of international house sensation Rocco who by reputation exceeds all expectations. A regular on the Europe, USA and Asia house scenes, Rocco’s Deep House is rapidly growing in popularity among South African audiences. Rocco has previously been welcomed to South African shores and has played for an astounding 3000 spectators. His most recent release called “Someday” on Real Tone Records struck a chord with international and South African audiences alike having made its way to the Traxsource’s charts for 3 weeks and already supported by Louie Vega, Mr V. and Laurent Garnier! The House Floor at Carfax will also play host to many talented South African DJ’S including MacG, Mo Flava, Willie, Oskido, Bouer and Monde. And who could forget to mention the infamously popular Black Coffee who began his DJ career in 1994 while still in High School? His Deep/Afro House, Soulful Lounge, and broken beats are known around the country and are testament to his excellence. If Hip Hop is more your scene then get ready for an evening filled with insane beats and wicked rhymes. With appearances by Beatoven, Vigi, and Tholi B the evening is set to rock all the way through to the...
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....
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