Represent Review: H2O- More than just a jol
10:00 Am. And unusually quiet for what can only be described as a milestone event. Ten years of the biggest dance party in Africa. Yet this time around, strangely the people hadn’t camped outside waiting to be allowed in. This time, there was no queue extending down the street for people waiting to park nor an equal mass of people walking in and lining up, waiting to get in. What was going on? Upon entering the venue I felt the energy begin to heat up as the music had already started to fill the air. The crowd was small, but growing by the minute and you could feel the twinklings that today was going to be unforgettable. The sun was beating down on us as the African tempos started blaring out the speakers filling our bodies with the energy to make it through the next few hours. This was going to be insane. We milled around, checking out all the floors and getting a feel for each one. Each dancefloor provided it’s own unique flavour to the day – each perfectly located so as not to drown out one another in terms of sound and crowd. I grabbed myself a drink from one of the tents and relaxed to take in all of my surroundings. Before I knew it, the party had really begun. The crowd started getting their ankles wet and so began the cheers and whistles as the DJ began to drop some insane mixes. The next time I turned around to check out the scene, I saw thousands of people with their hands lifted jubilantly up in the air, accepting the music, letting the rhythms take control of their bodies. This was it, this is what we live for. United by music, united by one energy. This is who we are and this is our message. We are South Africans and we know how to party! One hour after the next, swaying the amassed sea of people, the music just kept coming. It didn’t let up, not even for a second. Even when the lines weren’t connected for Fresh to begin his set the crowd was entertained by a beatboxer who not only had the crowd jumping and screaming for more, he even had the one and only Vernon in the background doing his signature move. Only in South Africa can we make a party happen even when there is no sound. The rhythm is in our blood. Ironically, being a party called H2O, we were blessed by Mother Africa raining down on us. The crowds started to dwindle down which was disappointing as there was...
VIP Tickets!!! H2O celebrates 10 years of dance
TWO SETS OF VIP tickets to give away for SATURDAY the 7th March!! Email editor@represent.co.za and tell us on what day was H2O first launched 10 years ago… send yr name, cell number and ID number. See our review and photo’s from the last party here. It’s an impressive line-up and considering that summer is soon on it’s way into hibernation, if you’re an H2O fan, make sure you soak up the last rays of a 10 year summer of fun at H20’s 10th Anniversary event at Wild Waters. We’re not going to tell you about it as the press info below has the answers to all your questions, but we will mention that some of our superfavo DJ’s are playing like Ready D, Fresh, Brett Jackson, Shaun Duvet and of course the sublime CT mega band Goldfish will be performing live alongside some international djs. Read all about it below: H2O 10th ANNIVERSARY – SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2009 SMIRNOFF SPIN & COKE ZERO in association with THE POWER OF 5FM is proud to present.. H2O! A DECADE OF DANCE!! Saturday 7 March ’09 3 International Artists Over 60 Top SA Artists! 9 Dancefloors! 22 Hours of Party Mayhem!! H2O – A DECADE OF DANCE! Once upon a time on the 28th day of the 8th month in the year 1998, the H2O Dream was born. On this day, while driving to Mozambique, for reasons we still don’t quite understand, my brother Paul and I started exchanging thoughts on a daytime dance party at Wild Waters.. “Just imagine, a 24 hour party in a water park “ I said, my stomach twisting inside with excitement. “We can do this Paul, let’s throw this party, it’s going to be the best party ever!” Paul looked at me with the same excitement in his eyes, “Let’s do it!” he said. On Saturday 6 February 1999, the first H2O Party was held featuring International DJ Bob Sinclar.. A 20-hour party with a crowd of 13 000! Wow!! What a day! And what an awesome party it was! The dance floor is heaving as the coloured lights pass back and forth, bouncing off the crystal blue water of the main wave pool. A sea of scantily clad bodies sway knee deep in water to the undeniable hair raising sound of dance music.. This is the Dream.. This is H2O!!! REGISTER & WIN WITH H2O! Register on our website http://www.h2oparty.com before 28 February 2009 and stand a chance to win a fantastic party prize! *All 4 will be presented with V-VIP H2O TICKETS, 4 Cameroon Makeover Vouchers and 2 Super Hot Jetset watches for the winner and his/her...
FANTASTIC Free concert in Newtown – New Years
As part of improving the quality of lives of its citizens, and ensuring a safe and happy new year, the City of Johannesburg, annually hosts a carnival parade through the streets of the inner city. This parade culminates in a huge party on the Mary Fitzgerald Square. Once you’ve enjoyed the pulse of Joburg’s own Rio Carnival, join us for a world class African party. The celebrations begin at 6pm on New Year’s Eve and goes on until 2am on 1 January 2009. Experience the city at its best: the sounds of South Africa’s finest against the inspiring backdrop of our truly world African class city.2008 will end on a high note as Newtown, Johannesburg’s cultural hotspot, readies itself for the last big-bash concert of the year. Hosted by the City of Johannesburg and SABC 2, the “New Year’s in Newtown” concert at the Mary Fitzgerald Square continues the tradition of ringing in the year with a bang. More than 30 000 party goers are expected to attend the New Year’s party, which includes a massive stage for live performers. The concert is free of charge, courtesy of the City of Johannesburg and SABC 2. on December 31st. The evening will be an explosion of sights and sounds, as the City welcomes in 2009 to the beat of Joburg’s top performers and the skyline lights up with the sparkle of an electrifying fireworks display. The concert brings together some of the South African music industry’s greatest talents. Expect to see: Freshlyground, KB, Gang of Instrumentals, Wonderboom, MXO, Bleksem, Howza, Fikile Mlomo, DJ Zan D, and DJ Zee. If you are not able to actually be there you can experience the party in the comfort of your own home on the television. The event will be telecast live by SABC 2. Feel connected to your fellow South Africans and welcome in the new year as you watch the party and enjoy the sounds of really fine South African music. No alcohol or weapons will be allowed into the venue. However there will be a beer garden for those who’d like to welcome the New Year with a toast. The law enforcement agencies and Emergency Management Services will be present to maintain law and order, and attend to all emergencies on the night. For the artists too, this is a night of fun, a moment to relax and let the worries of the year wash away, and the excitement for a New Year bubble. Freshlyground shared their enthusiasm for the party by saying: “This is the first year we will start in JHB! We are super excited to do this concert,...
A Riot coming up in Jozi
It’s a sweet soulful summertime line up including our favourites UJU, 340ml, Tumi and Papercut and DJ Khenzero, but taking us even higher, you get to lap up DJ Questlove from the one and only The Roots… NICE! Make sure to join in the manifestation at Joburg Riot on the 12th December at Carfax. Represent! Click here or on the flyer for more info or read below. 7venlox in association with Nike AIR, Sportscene and Imago Entertainment CC bring to you a RIOT, with the Quest to spread as much Love this festive season as possible. With a line up filled with brilliantly capable musicians by the likes of the unmistakable member of the Legendary Roots Crew and Grammy award winning musician and Dj Questlove; Tumi and his Dj Papercut; the elemental sounds of those 4 Mozambiquen’s known as 340ML; South Western townships Pro formally known as Prokid; the great UJU; Kabomo the man; Richard the 3rd need I say more; Dj C-Live and of course our man Dj Kenny Kenzhero this is undeniably going to be one of the greatest shows to end the year of 2008 off with. And all of this will be taking place on the 12th of December 2008 at an enormously complimenting venue known as Carfax, residing at 39 Pim Street Newtown. Tickets will be sold at the door at a merry R120 and doors will open at 9:00pm. Presale tickets will be available at R100 each, for more information, contact Candace Allan at nonnaallan@gmail.com. Presale tickets will be closed on the 10th of December at 12:00 PM so make sure you book them in advance. For more information on the selected artists and hyperlinks to their websites check out: www.theriot.blogspot.com or...
Represent Review: MTV MAMA’s in Jozi
Sadly, we won’t make it all the way to Abuja, but we definitely made up for it at the pre-party in Johannesburg, with our man Reuben “the Matrix” Malema rocking up the VIP suite while shedding copious tears of joy at one of the most successful live HipHop events in South Africa to date. He loved it, and shares his night with us below – click here for Reuben’s partner in crime, Nkateko Siweya’s photostory of the bash…. It’s drizzling and my expectations are under strict check. The last American Hip-Hop “star” whose show I attended sucked big time, the crowd turn out was unimpressive and the songs performed were to a large extent very alien to us. This of cause was Keith Murray, but tonight I will be seeing The Game. Some Background The Game is as typical an American gangster as anybody can ever be: Fast cars, gold chains, a myriad of tattoos scattered all over the body, serial alcoholic, filthy rich negro and very generous philanthropist to the general public; a full on model Al Capone to the bitter end. As the story goes, it all started when Game was 12 years old; a poor Afro-American living in the notorious city of Compton on the west coast of the United States. On his way from school, Game and a couple of buddies came into contact with the godfather of the ogg-Pound, Snoop Dogg, riding around in a hydraulic jacked low ride American muscle vehicle with gin and weed clasped in both hands. The Dogg encourages Game to hold on to his dream of wanting to be a Hip-Hop super star and as they say…all else is history. The Event – All Roads lead to Jozi Upon approaching Ponte City it became apparent that The Game is indeed a much-loved Hip-Hop artist here in Jozi. The roads leading into the Standard Bank Arena were chocker blocked with scenes reminiscent of the motorway chaos in the movie Independence Day! We proceeded at a snail`s pace to the vip parking lot. The tempo rapidly rising, rain pouring down and our hearts violently beating against our rib cages; We have arrived. This one is the MAMA of all Hip-Hop gigs… The Who’s Who of Mzansi’s Hip-Hop scene came out in support of this inaugural concert leading to the first ever MTV Africa Music Awards (sponsored by ZAIN Telecom) to be held in Abuja Nigeria this November. South African nominees HHP, Cassette, The Parlotones and Jozi were the curtain raisers with Y-fm dj’s like Mc-G helping to pump up the mood with their house tunes. With no doubt my favourite performer...