CT: Catch Simon Van Gend & Nick Turner
Back in Editorista’s more crusty hippy days, amongst other dubious activities she was an ardent groupie of the vibrant Cape Town based band Sons of Trout. Grooving to their every funked up note and lyric at packed out live performances from dodgy Middleburg, to sweaty Warner Beach all the way through to chockablock venues in Knysna and Bloem- Ed and her friends just couldn’t get enough of the boys oozing lusciousness (lipstick lady still her favourite!). Founding members Nick Turner and Mike Rennie have been seducing fans in New York for the last few years with their breakaway band Mikanic, growing a strong fanbase in the US and flying SA’s flag high. As Cape Town’s luck would have it, Nick is in town and will be performing next Thursday night at the Alliance Francais with local resident Simon Van Gend – if you love dope acoustic guitar and vocals, don’t miss it! Simon Van Gend & Nick Turner Thursday 28 May 20h / R40 @ Alliance Française 155 Loop Street Nick Turner : Just coming off a country-wide tour of South Africa with his New York City-based band Mikanic, guitarist and singer/songwriter, Nick Turner will bring his distinctive and infectious guitar style, voice and lyrics to solo performances throughout Cape Town before rejoining his band for a line-up of summer concerts back in America. Nick Turner is widely known in South Africa as a founding band member to Sons of Trout, one of the country’s top selling bands. With Sons of Trout, Nick headlined major music festivals in the country and toured extensively, releasing four albums, top single hits still played on the radio today. Although Nick has maintained a reputation for being an infectious singer-songwriter, his true talent lies in his innovative guitar style. Nick’s acoustic guitar playing is truly what makes him a musical genius and earns him the highest respect from his peers and worldwide audiences. Now based in New York City, USA, Nick collaborates with ex-Trout violinist and vocalist Mike Rennie in his band Mikanic formed in 2003. A modern-day Simon and Garfunkel, Mikanic’s energy and unpredictable collaborations and moments during live performances have captured a loyal following in the USA and abroad (touring Japan) and have quickly become one of New York City’s most sought after live acts. Mikanic recently finished a run of concerts in New York City with Zolani Mahola of Freshly Ground. Simon van Gend is a guitarist and singer-songwriter from Cape Town. In 2001, he released his first album, Unhinged, as self-produced, home recorded collection of 15 songs. His introspective lyrics and melancholic melodies found favour amongst a small but...
Apologies to all the winners for Ballentines ballsup @ Bassline
If you were a ‘winner’ and went to the Bassline on Saturday night only to find there was no list and your name was nowhere to be found, firstly, we’d like to apologise sincerely for this bad experience. Secondly, we’d like you to know that this had very little to do with Represent and everything to do with the venue, Bassline, and the organiser Andrew, who was managing our ticket giveaway. After generously piling on the free tickets for our readers, and us providing all info timeously, they had promised to have everyone’s names at the door on the list on time – a very simple thing to do – but it turns out they couldn’t be bothered. We are busy compiling a list of ‘winners’ experiences that night as well as finding out how they will compensate you, so please do get in touch on editor@represent.co.za, we have the list of everyone that won. It’s a sad day when people are treated so badly, without respect and we apologise once again, as you know, we do this all for the love and support of SA music, but we’re beginning to wonder if it’s worth it. Sharpile for your support as always. Editorista. We’ve got a bunch of tickets to give-away to this week’s Ballantines Finest Jazz “Leave an Impression” event – It’s happening live at the Bassline in Newtown on Saturday 2nd May 2009 and will feature the brilliant DON LAKA and the sultry SAMA winning SIMPHIWE DANA. If you’d like to win a pair, simply email Editorista on editor@represent.co.za with your name, your partners name, your cell numbers and the answer to this question: at which famous Johannesburg Jazz venue will the Ballentine’s Finest Jazz event take place this weekend? More details below or click on the flyer for more: Ballantine’s has been presenting some top South African jazz artist at various Newtown venues over the past year and is extremely proud to present two headline acts at arguably the home of South African Jazz on Saturday 02 May, when Don Laka and Simphiwe Dana play at the Ballantine’s Finest Jazz event at Bassline – this event is sure to LEAVE AN IMPRESSION and we are extremely proud to be the headline sponsors. The Ballantines Finest Jazz at the Bassline is a jazz event to look forward to reminiscent of the high quality jazz concerts from the Bassline Jazz Club in Melville days! Headline for the evening is the inimitable Don Laka performing his signature “Kwaai Jazz” with Jazz Diva supreme Simphiwe Dana taking on the support act slot. Don Laka after 35 years in the music...
Call to Action – Swaziland Bushfire Festival
Siyanemukela (welcome in siSwati) to the third Swaziland Bushfire Festival due to take place on the 31st July and 1st and 2nd of August this year in the beautiful mountainous kingdom of Swaziland. If you love a truly African rooted vibe, in a sublime setting (don’t forget we’ve been going on about House on Fire for years now – best venue in Africa) with the biggest party animals on earth (you know who you are) then make sure to pack up the kids and friends and get to the gentle Malkerns Valley. We believe they’re also looking for artists so get in touch and rock the valley of heaven. It’s only 3.5 hours drive from Jozi… GO GO GO. Join the Facebook group for more info, and watch the promo video below for a taste of last year’s super relaxed Afro vibes. (The funny thing is, Swaziland is like this...
Represent Review: Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Around Easter time, Cape Town has a certain air about it. It has nothing to do with Easter egg hunts, bunnies or anything of the sort. Birds seem to chirp, the wind whistles in tune, even the midday cannon ball seems to boom louder. Amidst all this, guitars are tuned, drums are propped up and pianos are reeled in, all in aid of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF). Gosh, you have to be in this city to feel the energy that the CTIJF carries with it (among the international artists that we all look forward to rubbing shoulders with). From the free concert that took place on Wednesday, April 1 – rather than the usual Thursday evenings – the line up was so exciting this year. They went all out for their 10th birthday to bring us a show to remember (and I most certainly do). CTIJF brought us the likes of Zap mama, Pete Philly & Perquisite, Mos Def, Diane Reeves, Freshlyground, Hugh Masekela, Incognito, The Robert Glasper Experiment, Zaki Ibrahim, 340ml, Maceo Parker – to name but a few. Now obviously I’d need to multiply myself to catch every artist or band but since that’s not humanly possible, I can only tell you about what I did manage to catch. On Friday, April 3 I got to see Pete Philly & Perquisite, safely my favourite dutch hip hop duo. This was their second performance at the CTIJF – and I got to see both. I remember falling in love with this band some 3 or 4 years ago. Their sound is so fresh and they are simply perfect together. The flow of Pete Philly’s voice dances on the beat in a way that radiates through your body. And this year, they weren’t any different. I listened to some Goldfish with their ever faithful Cape Tonian sound that never disappoints. But – and this is not to discredit any other artist – the highlight (possibly of the whole festival) was Zap Mama. The leading woman is absolutely beautiful with a voice that I could’ve grown up to and at the same time something my kids will grow up to – it’s timeless, soulful and elevating. Not only can she beat box with the best of them but she completely took us by surprise when she performed a Miriam Makeba song…in Zulu. It was magnificent. On Saturday I started the day early with usisi Abigail Kubheka. She was nostalgic as ever performing classics that I remember hearing when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. Zaki Ibrahim started right in the middle of usisi Abigail so I rushed...
Represent Competition: ‘Balkanology – The Resurrection’
We love the intro to the Balkanology bash (on the 9th of April in Cape Town – sorreee Jozi): ” It’s the biggest Balkan party in South Africa. It’s the only Balkan party in South Africa.” If that’s not convincing enough (they even have reductions for pensioners) then maybe the thought of grooving to Dj’s and musicians playing Gypsy, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Romanian melodies whilst not setting a foot out of the fairest Cape may do? Either way, we’ve hustled a pair of DOUBLE TICKETS (worth nearly 500 ROND) for a lucky someborry, but you’re gonna have to work for it! Here’s how: 1. Visit the Balkanology site and have a browse 2. Email us the name of ONE of the musicians in the Kolo Novo Movie Band 3. In your email – which must be sent to editor@represent.co.za, please include your name, age, ID number and your contact details (phone and email). Pensioners welcome. 4. Do this before the 2nd of April. We will announce the winner on the 3rd. AND NO discussions will be entered into, the winner will be chosen through a draw. One entry per wannabe winner please, don’t jam up our inbox. Here’s more info – GOOD LUCK! BALKANOLOGY LIVES AGAIN Date: Thursday, 9 April 2009 (just before the Easter long weekend and Second Seder, so we are featuring a full Seder Matzah and bitter stuff) Venue: Bloemendal Restaurant (follow the signs) Doors open: 19:00 Tickets: R220 for pre-sold, R240 at the door. Students and pensioners pay R200 Ticket bookings: Visit: www.balkanology.co.za for a comprehensive list of ticket outlets. The most talked about cult event of the season is just around the corner. Balkanology is back on Thursday, 9 April 2009 at Bloemendal. The Balkanology parties in South Africa were first launched in June 2006 by Event Director Ma’or Harris and a distinctive, highly talented group of collaborators. After five hit parties with numbers growing from 500 to 3 000, Balkanology has created a powerful brand synonymous with zest, energy and a theatrical music experience. Balkanology is styled in the way of traditional Eastern European gypsy camps. The party is an opportunity to lose your inhibitions for a night, enjoy the madness of DJ’s and musicians performing a remixed fusion of Gypsy, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Romanian melodies. As well as theatre performances and market. Lineup: · Kolo Novo Movie Band – founded by musical director, Grada Djeri specifically for Balkanology and featuring some of the biggest names in SA music · Top Balkan DJ, Robert Soko (of BalkanBeats) – the Croatian from Germany · DJ Toby2shoes – the ambassador for Balkan-gypsy-folk in...
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