If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by the range of musical artists and performances on at this year's National Arts Festival, here's a sneak preview guide to help you make sense of things.
If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by the range of musical artists and performances on at this year's National Arts Festival, here's a sneak preview guide to help you make sense of things.
And – stop press – if you've been bemoaning the fact that the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra (pictured) is sold out – good news.
They've put on an extra performance (see below).
The page numbers in brackets refer to the festival programme.
Oliver Mtukudzi, Thandiswa Mazwai, Ray Phiri and Don Laka will be in Grahamstown this Festival.
That’s quite a line-up – and it’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
The 2015 Jazz Festival programme is jam packed with top SA and international muzos (from page 55).
Joining them at the DSG Hall will be Kesivan Naidoo (fresh from Carnegie Hall), the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra (tickets really flying for this) and rising star on the piano, Thandi Ntuli.
Pops Mohamed and Dave Reynolds will also be in the house.
Saints Bistro, in High Street, will be the home of the Standard Bank Jazz and Blues Café and will host the Boulevard Blues Band, Bjaerv Encounters (sax madness), Auriol Hayes and Lindiwe Maxolo – plus nightly jazz jams with any number of musicians who happen to be in town.
Live music from 10pm nightly.
Catering to the younger generation, Beatenberg, Mi Casa and Shortstraw are fast selling out.
Be prepared for wildly enthusiastic teenagers at these concerts in the Guy Butler Theatre.
These bands perform only once in Grahamstown, so make sure you grab a ticket before its too late! (See pages 49, 51 & 60) For something a little quieter, the Evening of Acoustic Music will be something to remember.
Folk-Indie singer/songwriter, Majozi’s new singles, Someday and On Fire, have caught the imagination of the country – check out https://youtu.be/wMIsCo-9F2A – and catch this rising SA musician in action alongside up-and-coming bands Hatchetman and Umle on 9 July (page 48).
Carlos Fernando Balanta is Baterimba – a one-man percussionist extraordinaire.
This Colombian musician uses snares, kick drums, cymbals, bongos, cowbells, a marimba, gestures, voice and a variety of other objects to breathe life into his music – and he does this all by himself at one time! Crazy energy and a passion for music – don’t miss it (page 43).
Classical music lovers have not been cast aside – the Gala and Symphony concerts – both by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra are proving popular, and duos, ensembles and choirs are to be found throughout the Festival Programme (from page 27).
Plus our favourite conductor is back with his hysterical tales of life with a baton – Richard Cock’s Conduct Unbecoming III is not for the feint-hearted! (page 42) Musa Ngqungwana’s voice is magical – this home-grown Eastern Cape opera singer has done his province proud as winner of the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Music.
He spends most of his time singing overseas and it will be a treat to hear him perform in his solo concerts at Rhodes Chapel (page 27).
The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra (page 31) has been asked to perform a third concert in Grahamstown – their first two are completely sold out.
This Scottish orchestra made up of 18 – 25 year olds play waltzes, marches and ditties from ‘the auld country’ – their extra performance is on Saturday 12 July at 10:00.
The KwaZulu Natal Youth Orchestra provides a Classic Blast on the Fringe – conducted by Lyk Temmingh, Bach, Brahms, Mancini, Offenbach and others are on their menu (page 235).
Heroes and Villains is the KZNPO’s children’s concert for 2015 – Superman, James Bond, and the Pirates of the Caribbean will be on call to introduce the next generation to classical music in the Monument’s Fountain Foyer on 6 July (page 46).
The Fringe contemporary music programme offers a bit of everything: Afro pop from The Acatears, Monki-punk from Chris Chameleon with Boo!, folk-pop from Botswana band Chasing Jaykb, gospel from the Seshego Gospel Choir, and indie-folk from Shotgun Tori and the Hound (from page 236).
Ottoman Slap uses an artillery of instruments in their performance of ancient traditional music from Al-Andulas, Spain, and the Middle East – expect a bit of belly dancing in this tale of music through the ages (page 239).
The Monument Box Office is open Monday to Friday 08:30 to 18:00 and on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm.
Festival Programmes are available from Standard Bank, Makana Tourism and van Schaik’s in High Street, and Bargain Books in Pepper Grove Mall (page numbers in brackets refer to the pages in the Festival Programme that the production is advertised on).
Book your tickets online at www.nationalartsfstival.co.za or call us – 0860 002 004.
