Peak People: An inside look

The ROOTs Cause

2009-05-18T22:36:00.000+02:00

I pretty much use this blog as a reference site, as I recently started a fresh 'New Worldly Music' blog at The ROOTs Cause.

I will be updating there as often as I can, as I am unfortunately not able to sustain myself in the music industry alone, after we were forced to close down Peak Performances at the beginning of 2009 due to a whole stack of clients who didn't pay for the music after the fact. A sad state of affairs.

But the music continues, and so at The ROOTs Cause I will carry on the stories, giving the inside track to so many of our wonderfully talented musicians, and reminding you of some of our musical history.

The fat lady hasn't sung just yet!

Chris Chameleon's Flight of an Extraordinary Alien

2007-11-01T17:14:00.000+02:00

I am very excited! I have just received a copy of Chris Chameleon’s newest DVD – “Flight of an Extraordinary Alien” – released by Rhythm Records and distributed by Select Music Distribution… and it is awesome!

Chris Chameleon who has always been one of Peak’s favourite artists, appeared at Mercury lounge on Thursday the 11th of last month, and the Peak’ers went off to enjoy some of his SAMA winning tracks with about 120 other eager fans. That’s because we couldn’t make the show that was recorded for the DVD, that was filmed on the 2nd of March this year in Stellenbosch. There were over 1000 fans there for the recording, and apart from a really top-notch production, I can see that it was a highlight in Chris’ performing career. He was enjoying himself!

His show, in English, but also in his language of choice, Afrikaans, was frikken awesome, real cross-over stuff, with him even bringing out some of that old alien material that made Boo! such a big name with the reworked track OOAA! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

From the moment he steps on the dimly lit stage; I knew I was in the personal space of the man, Chris Chameleon. Yes, his band was in full swing too, with Warren Leicher on Bass with Kevin (not brothers) Leicher on lead and Duncan Shelwell on drums, but it is the changing colours of the man that holds us mesmerized.

He was at the centre of my stage, to take me on a journey through his songs, and his world.

He sashay’s and minces; he mimics all the expressions he feels inside; bare-chested and almost exposing his inner self, to us, out there in the darkness.

the trick is in the hips
in the licking of the lips
tricks that twist the wrists
wrists of my will to resist
surrender is bliss

(Paragraph four from the track Loving Fool, off the album Shine)

My girls tell me he’s sexy… honestly, their words. And, well, I suppose I have to admit that he is. Or to put it more professionally, he knows how work his audience well!

Even the eldest member of the audience at the Mercury Lounge, 85-year old (Ouma) Mrs Joyce Wait, who after the show walked all the way back up two flights of stairs to go and get a drukkie (that’s a hug to my foreign friends) and meet Chris Chameleon – thoroughly enjoyed the show! Her granddaughter, Monica, told us that it was her first ever Rock concert, and that she didn’t want to wash the stamp off her arm till she had shown her daughter!

The press release for the new DVD, “Flight of an Extraordinary Alien”, says, ”Chris performed tracks from his first solo English album “Shine”, tracks from his Ingrid Jonker album “Ek herhaal jou” and a special version of popular Boo! song OOAA. Fans of “Ek herhaal jou”, will be pleasantly surprised by the new rock versions of songs “Korreltjie Sand, Pop val Stukkend” and “Opdrag Dwaling.”

“Shine”, an album loaded with power and passion, produced various singles on national commercial radio stations and was nominated for a SAMA 2007 for ‘Best Alternative Album’.” - and live, I can only say its all good!

Chris is currently overseas to perform 25 shows in 6 weeks in the Benelux countries, as well as 3 shows in London. And they are lapping up his music; Mirjam Adriaans for the Folkforum Festival in the Netherlands said that Chris was the surprise of the festival when he appeared there in August – just him and his guitar on stage – I can imagine they were blown away.

Strangely, after his show, I don’t miss Boo! so much any more. The sound is still alive is his show, it’s just become more mature.

But I would say, go and get the DVD “Flight of an Extraordinary Alien” – this is a hot example of what South Africa can do, never mind the fact that it’s another Chris Chameleon classic!

17h10 UPDATE: I forgot... apologies - I have the press release for all the Chris Chameleon shows in November, including the three in London - so I think its best that I put it out as is - just so I dont get anything wrong!

Chris Chameleon will be touring the Benelux with popular Dutch band SPINVIS from 19 October to 28 November. Chris has been to the Netherlands often in the past few years to perform at selected venues and festivals. His phenomenal solo performances have gained him many fans in Europe and at a recent festival in Folkwoods, Eindhoven, a Dutch publication wrote that “Chris Chameleon was the surprise of the festival.”

There are also three shows scheduled in London from 19 to 21 November: Chris will perform two solo shows and one show with a band.

In August 2007 Chris signed a contract with Excelsior Recordings in the Netherlands for the distribution and marketing of his new Afrikaans album “EK VIR JOU”. The fact that Chris will have a physical presence on stages in the Benelux during the next 6 weeks, together with the infrastructure in place with regards to marketing and distribution, makes it certain that this upcoming tour has everything in place to maximise the potential for Chris`s success in Europe.

Executive Director Ferry Roseboom says that Excelsior Recordings is very happy with having signed Chris Chameleon. “ We recognize the immense talent of this man and we are proud to be able to bring his work to the audiences in the Lowlands.”

With Excelsior Recordings on his side, rave reviews and a growing fanbase in the Netherlands, Chris Chameleon is set to be a pioneering force for South African music in the Benelux countries.

01.11.2007 Het Varken – Edegem (Antwerpen) B Solo show

02.11.2007 Theater De Maaspoort - Venlo NL (Support Spinvis)

03.11.2007 Theater aan de Parade - Den Bosch NL (Support Spinvis)

04.11.2007 De Kleine Komedie – Amsterdam NL (Support Spinvis)

05.11.2007 De Kleine Komedie – Amsterdam NL (Support Spinvis)

07.11.2007 – Utrecht NL Solo show

08.11.2007 De Meenthe – Steenwijk NL (Support Spinvis)

09.11.2007 Schouwburg De Kring – Roosendaal NL (Support Spinvis)

11.11.2007 Frowijn – Nijmegen NL Solo show

14.11.2007 Theater Junushoff – Wageningen NL (Support Spinvis)

15.11.2007 Stadsgehoorzaal Vlaardingen – Vlaardingen NL (Support Spinvis)

17.11.2007 Philharmonie – Haarlem NL (Support Spinvis)

18.11.2007 De Kobbe – Mortsel B (10.30 uur) Solo show

18.11.2007 Effenaar – Eindhoven NL Solo show

19.11.2007 Aardvark – London, UK Solo show

20.11.2007 Aardvark – London, UK Solo show

21.11.2007 Halfmoon – Putney, London, UK BAND show (only one in Europe!!!)

23.11.2007 Agora – Lelystad NL (Support Spinvis)

24.11.2007 Theater in de Muze – Noordwijk NL (Support Spinvis)

25.11.2007 Musicon – Den Haag NL Solo show

27.11.2007 Theater de Mythe – Goes NL (Support Spinvis)

28.11.2007 Schouwburg Amstelveen – Amstelveen NL (Support Spinvis)

Rugby, renovations and the sound of music

2007-11-01T11:15:00.000+02:00

I couldn’t start my first blog in months without mentioning just how great it is to be a South African rugby fan at the moment. I felt it in my heart during the whole tournament, that this was the team to be able to do it for us, and damn, it’s so good to be right!

There has been such an energy pulsating on the streets of Cape Town, and you can feel the proud glow of everyone around you. I took my boys to Newlands on Monday to see the team, along with some 40 000 other people, and it was a real ‘frog-in-the-throat’ emotional high! Its good for this country.

The Peak girls have been very patient with me while I’ve been renovating the bathroom, as the Nice Toilet that was parked in our driveway for 6 weeks, has been collected. Being a male its quite fun to stand in a shady spot in the garden, closely inspecting the resident insect population going about their day-to-day business while ‘watering’ their tree; but I just couldn’t get the girls enthused to my level of bunny-hugging status…

We closed up our home for three weeks and camped in the garden, because when you start a little DIY in the home, more and more projects jump up to bite you, so our kitchen got a face-lift and the rest of the house new flooring; while we were at it.

It was fun. It was messy. It was very educational. But that’s it for me. The finger-nails have been manicure, the grout and plaster-paint has been washed out from under my cuticles, and the music has rid me of that incessant drill-induced ringing in my ears (right - more about Chris Chameleon's concert coming!). I’m also finding welcome relief in the costumes of our entertainers, as opposed to Mr. B’s builder’s crack that smiled at me daily during the whole project!

So here’s to summer, to music and laughter, and getting back to some real hard work again!

Mimicing KFC Popcorn

2007-07-17T17:14:00.000+02:00

Its Denise’s birthday today (Happy Happy D!), so last night the office went out for a bit of a night on the town. As a special treat for D, we arranged that Ferdinand Rabie, who we have been working with of late, to come and join us for a drink (or a few). And the character that everyone thinks he is, is pretty close to the character that he is – he had us all laughing within 2 minutes of arriving; apart from greeting everyone as if they were long lost friends, and all the ladies as if they were ex-girlfriends!

As an update, Ferdi arrived for lunch too today – getting all the girls into a tizz – of which we had to take a few shots to prove it! (Right - Ferdi was gryping Denise and Angie)

I was also sent a video clip yesterday of an ad I did a few years ago (by Fresh Water Films), in which I made KFC’s Popcorn so famous that they had to change the name!

The day of filming was such a cool one – I was at, what I regarded as my regular haunt, at the V&A Waterfront, and all I had to do was enjoy myself! Its not like the performing was foreign to me, or that the crowds that the film crew attracted made me nervous! We even had a rent-a-crowd; a set-full of extras to fill up the plaza, and for me to use as victims, which attracted more people, until it almost seemed like a normal day at the office. That is, except that on a normal day I don’t usually have a towel-slave, who would dab me down, fan me cool, and bring the straw in my Red Bull to my lips… But we all have dreams!

So here’s a copy of that ad – ahhh nostalgia for the past! Twas lots of fun!

Bergie birthday!

2007-07-12T17:37:00.000+02:00

Its my birthday. Hoot hoot, hooray hooray, and hip hip yippee! So all day I have been getting calls, Facebook messages, emails and all kinds of exciting wishes from friends, family and artists - wonderful stuff! (Right - I even got a cake!)

Its always nice getting pampered, and when you’re the only male in the office it is much more fun getting hugs and kisses from your co-workers! Eat your hearts out boys (and girls)!

I think that this is also a good time to introduce the newest member to the Peak Performances team, Miss Jamie Van der Walt. Jamie joined us at the beginning of July and has successfully survived the first 2 weeks of normal, every-day Peak office life – and that includes another of our team building/staff training days with Mark Berger at the Blue Peter Hotel, where we get down and dirty with the nitty-gritty of realizing the Peak dream.

Jamie is going to be the first point of contact on the phones, and we already have to set out a diary of appointments with all the people who have had contact that want to meet her! With a couple of City and Guilds Diplomas under her belt for Hotel management as well as a college course in Advertising, Jamie brings a number of skills to the Peak setup – apart from being the youngest chicken in the office.

So to all those who sent wishes – Ag dankie man – and hope everyone has a doppie tonight!

Watching rugby with Bill Flynn

2007-07-11T11:26:00.000+02:00

It is always a sad thing when a well known artist passes away, and Bill Flynn has been a big part of South Africa’s comedy scene for a long time, and so will be missed.

I met him a few times, but the first time was the most memorable. It was during the Tri-Nations, and the Bokke were playing the Aussies. I was sharing a house with a mate of Bill’s, Murray Stewart from Milestone Studios (who had MNet), and because I was performing until just before the game, it meant I'd have to watch the first half with the white face. Murray asked me to just arrive and sit down without saying anything.

The game had started when I came jogging up the stairs, made-up and looking swanky from my show. I just walked into the room and sat down to watch the game, without even looking at the guys.

Bill looked at Murray, questioning, his face asking, “Wat die jel?”, and Murray shrugged his shoulders as if he had no idea where I had come from… Bill had a good chuckle when I eventually introduced myself, and we settled into watching the game, shouting a the highs, vloeking at the lows; watching with possibly the biggest Springbok fan out there.

Thanks to Zoopy, here is a short farewell to the big man…

Update 70/07/18 - In case there is anybody who doesn't yet know. There is a Memorial Service for Bill Flynn, who died of a heart attack just last week, on Friday 20 July at the Plumstead Methodist Church at 10a.m. and the wake to follow at the
Baxter Theatre at 12.30p.m.

Zimbabwe crumbles, yet the music plays on

2007-07-10T11:36:00.000+02:00

I received the following article from my dear friend Steve Sparx in Zimbabwe last week, and with all the news that we've been hearing about how Zim is collapsing, he gives us scary insight into what life is like that at the moment!

Well blow me down with a feather duster…. I got back to Zimbabwe and there it was…the extra nought. Perhaps at this point to talk of survival is almost too abstract , the facts on the ground are alarming.

It has gone stir crazy - just last Friday the price of petrol went up 4 times in a day at one service station - at the end of the day it was 50% more expensive than the start. Prices are changing as I write so to give too many examples would be worthless as they will be out of date before you can say “so how does the ‘simply add a nought’ school of economics work?”

I bought some CD’s for stock last week because the price was going up 50% the next day, the same amount it went up the week before and the week before that too. But I was lucky, they went up a further 80% this week.

Bracing for increases is a daily thing, there needs to be a move towards paying everybody daily - money needs to be disposable, spending what you have has become the order of the day.

One does not have to be a rocket scientist to guess who is being seriously affected - the poorly paid artist of course but still, the show goes on.

All the talk locally is about the upcoming album from the king of Sungura music - Alick “Razor” Macheso.

This particular style of Zimbabwean music is the “working man’s music”. You will hear it at every bottle store, and shopping centre and in the minibuses and on the radios all day, all over Zimbabwe.

The style was adopted shortly after independence in the ‘80’s and the groove appears to have been imported from Congo and Malawi, although the lyrics are all in Shona (and mostly proverbs) - it was the new style of music for a new era in the post independent country and was rapidly popularized by the likes of the late Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu and Leonard Dembo.

With it’s constant bass drum beat, chattering hi-hats and snazzy rolls, and rapid fire guitars; the music is characterized by a 4-5 minute introduction where the lyrics are introduced with the riff going along; thereafter there is a further 6-10 minutes of guitar/bass/drum lead section - during which time the dancing happens.

The groups normally comprise 2 or 3 lead/rhythm guitars, bass guitar, drums, lead singer, 2 backing singers and perhaps 3 dancers who have there own particular style of dress and hairstyle (sometimes bleached and with ‘nicks’ in their eyebrows). They lead the audience with the dance routines. The most popular dances are the “Borrowdale” (named after the local horse racing track where they imitate a horse running) and an offshoot “Razor” dance (something to do with barbed wire) - both of these have been made popular by Alick Macheso and both involve some natty footwork and body movement.

So to the new album… when Alick releases it is expected to sell hundreds of thousands of units - with a large portion of sales being made up of cassettes -still popular in households throughout the country. Every member of a family would want to own an Alick album so all ears are tuned to the new release which, for the first time , he has had recorded in South Africa and will be accompanied by a DVD.

This guy appeals to a legion of fans and his shows are a real blast. There are 2 launch gigs set for the coming 2 weekends - I will let you know how they go.

That’s the word from the Zimbabwe music scene - until next time gotta go I feel another “nought’ coming

Sparx

The music keeps on playing...

2007-07-10T10:40:00.000+02:00

I’ve had a break from blogging for awhile, and it’s been great – taking time off in the mountains (right - the Stadsaal Caves, Cedarberg), along the coast and focusing on things other than the blog. Music carries on with or without what I write, I am pleased to say, and there have been some amazing moments for South African music as a whole over the last few weeks!

How about Arno Carstens and New Porn opening for the legendary Rolling stones in Spain a few weeks ago? Damn! Talk about a highlight in ones performance career! Can just imagine Arno parking off in years to come, his grandkids bouncing on his knee explaining how he’d opened for the grandfathers of rock!

New Porn was invited to fill-in for a last minute cancellation at the massive UK music festival Isle of Wight, in front of some 65 000 people. I have heard that it was the Stones manager that got them in there, and that when he registered how the audience rocked, he booked New Porn to be the main support act for The Rolling Stones on the June 23rd in San Sebastian, Spain at the Estadio De Anoeta. Frikken awesome!

South African actress, poet and television personality Lebo Mashile has won the 2006 Pan African book prize, the Noma Award, for her first published collection of poems, In A Ribbon Of Rhythm, published in 2005.

There was also some wrong info that went out about SAM Award winners Lark, and their suppose break-up… “Speculation suggests it’s because lead singer, Inge Beckmann, wants to do her own thing. Semi-official sources claim she's ‘Just going overseas for a month’”, but I am glad to be able to say from an official source that:

It’s rumours and lies…. The band is taking a break and that is all. Inge is going overseas for a while but she will be back. (Dominque Gawlowski - Lark's manager)

So there you have! No more lies!

On an international note, one of our sexiest groups, The Aerial Showgirls was invited, for the second year in a row, to choreograph and perform aerials with Carmen Electra and her dance group in Palm Springs – I will get some footage of this show soon!

We’ve also been invited to a couple of Coda shows in the last few weeks, and it’s always great to see how audiences are enjoying the group. Last night they appeared at Madam Zingara’s Mirror Tent on the foreshore to a packed house – and it was a pretty cool show.

And if the audience knew that half the group were as sick as hell, they would’ve been even more appreciative, because its damn hard to sing ‘ting wid a blocked dnose’ and to shake it all on stage when you haven’t been able to get out of bed for three days! Respect guys!

Coda was followed by the very funky Iridium Project, with sassy Lou Chase sex’ing up the front of stage, and DJ’s Nick Mathews & Craig da Sousa laying down a bed of orgasmic beats from the back.

If there is any group in Cape Town that brings all the passion of summer to an event, even on a chilly July night, then its Iridium Project.

They ooze sex appeal, getting their audience off their butts and onto the dance-floor, where they gyrate and bop right until the end of the set.

You cannot sit still.

And you cannot claim to have kept full control of your feet during the show. Every part of you wants to move; get down and funky; and in my case, my body starts to think I am as cool as John Travolta in the Pulp Fiction scene at Jack Rabbit Slim’s…

I hope everyones week is going to be as great as I am sure mine is going to be!

Brother Number gets a rave review!

2007-06-05T16:11:00.000+02:00

I thought I would just bring to your attention the following review of Brother Number, written by Zane Henry for the Cape Argus Tonight and published today, June 5 2007:

Brother Number is a comedy set in the world of Home Affairs. Doesn't sound like much on paper, but, oh boy - in execution it is a brilliant surrealist allegory set in an epic story world. Rob van Vuuren and James Cairns play Stan and Harvey, two brothers who were kidnapped and sent to work in the bowels of the Department of Home Affairs.

For 16 years, they have been sitting in a little windowless room making ID books. They are the only two people in the world who know how to knock up those nifty green documents. When an explosion blows their tiny world wide open, Stan and Harvey must try and find their way out of the labyrinthine Department of Home Affairs. It's hard to convey the immense scope of the plot without giving away essential details.

The play addresses the nature of freedom and identity framed in rich allegory. The story is thoroughly absorbing with nuanced characterisation, limber dialogue and intricate narrative arches. All the characters are wreathed in archetypal familiarity a la Vladimir Propp. Brother Number moves like a Grimm fairytale, jocular on the surface but undercut by a sinister edge. if the story was ever to be adapted for the big screen, only Terry Gilliam would be able to negotiate its delicate balance between light and dark.

The performances are uniformly excellent. Van Vuuren and Cairns totally inhabit the host of characters populating the play. They manage the disparate accents and mannerisms with verve. They have excellent chemistry and their alacrity smacks of intense rehearsal. The occasionally wordy script is enlivened by their superb physical theatre and facial gurning.

Brother Number is throughly satisfying, both emotionally and intellectually.

Cool hey?

Zimbabwe: if in doubt add a nought

2007-06-04T14:44:00.001+02:00

Steve Sparx here continuing the dialogue on “surviving an economic meltdown” - it’s been 3 weeks the only thing that changed was the extra zero on the cost of everything.

The phenomenon known as hyperinflation has led to the introduction of the “simply add a nought” school of economics with the main rule being… “if in doubt add a nought“.

Predictions are that inflation will rise even more and pretty soon we gonna run out of “noughts” on the computer again… suppose we will have to start again from “nought”.

I said it before but the hour before dawn is the darkest and it is at these times that we closest approximate the truth - as the veils fall away the truth is revealed. Expression prevails and creativity emanates. The survival instinct is paramount in us all.

So despite the challenges of everyday survival it is our duty to look to the outcome we desire the most - recognition, success and bringing joy through entertainment.

I have been in England now for a couple of weeks, further promoting our musical cause - sending out promotional literature, talking to promoters and getting our music out to all the contacts made over the past years.

Hopefully this will translate to a tour here later in the year and we are hoping to make it something of a special one too. One of the strengths we developed in Zimbabwe was in utilizing our artists more practically so that by small changes in the backline we could showcase individual artists at the same show without having to move around with complete bands for each showcase act. A good example of this has been that Busi Ncube effectively uses the same backing band as Willom Tight and Dino Mudondo, whilst the same backing group (with a couple of extras) forms the backline for The Collaboration (left). We have made shows where we have showcased 5 different acts each with 5-8 artists using only around 20 performers.

Our plan then is to put together a tour of Scandinavia for Busi and Band Rain in Oct/November and then to come to UK for a series of shows, at which time we will fly in Willom and Dino and then do “double headers” with a focus on the Zimbabweans living in the so-called ‘diaspora’ who would really enjoy that combination. Whilst for those ‘non-Zimbabweans’ in the house they get the chance to enjoy a wider spectrum of Zimbabwean music styles as portrayed by each act.

There are an estimated million Zimbabweans living in UK believe it or not, and they have been sustained on a diet on Oliver Mtukudzi (right) and Alick Macheso - the 2 existing “superstars” of the Zim music scene - they travel here 2 or 3 times each a year. There is definitely a demand for something fresh and that’s the gap we want to fill. But that's not to say we only want Zimbabweans - we hope our music will hold some wider appeal too.

So that’s where we are up to so far - I return to Zimbabwe next week - expecting to be shocked by the changes - a month in one’s life here can truly be defining. Until next time

Sparx

The Mt Everest team at CTIA

2007-06-02T13:59:00.000+02:00

John Brand, Mike Patterson & Ronnie Muhl
EverestSA2007

Last night saw a very thin looking, but happy, South African team arrive safely in Cape Town, after their unforgettable experiences on Chomolungma, or Mount Everest. We were part of a relieved group of families, and I am sure that everyones first thought was to get the guys home to fatten them up!

Cape Storm, who sponsored some of the teams gear, was also there in force and even had a poor guy standing there in a full high altitude down suit...

They are going to be chilling this week, but I understand that there will be a press conference at KFM on Wednesday morning.

I have no desire to ever attempt climbing a mountain such as Mount Everst, but is searching for information about guys has really given me a lot of respect for everyone who goes up to challenge her slopes. Every person who does, I believe, is a hero; but we will never really understand or be a part of what they have gone through, because every journey is a personal one. We can just admire them, and understand that life will never be the same for each.

Eat or be eaten - life in Kruger

2007-06-01T16:06:00.000+02:00

Yesterday our designer Gregg Coppen from iaminawe sent me this amazing YouTube clip taken at the Kruger National Park. It has got nothing to do with music, I know, but then it’s a Friday and just another absolutely stunning day in Cape Town! And a change is almost as good as a holiday!

This 8:23 min clip is a celebration of life! This poor buffalo calf gets to discover 1st hand the dangers of being a little guy in the bush, when he has to deal with hungry lions, crocs and their inability to agree on who is actually going to get to eat him. But then, as with most fairytales, this one too has a great ending!

Really worth the stream-wait. Have a wonderful weekend folks!

(Grrrr - for some reason I couldn't embed the YouTube clip - so here is the link!

EverestSA2007 Final Update - Coming Home

2007-05-31T18:57:00.000+02:00

The Everest SA 2007 team of my uncle John Brand, my 2nd cousin Michael Patteron, and team leader Ronnie Muhl will finally be arriving at Cape Town International Airport at 19h35 tomorrow.

There hadn’t been much news of late after Mike & Ronnie had successfully summitted on the 23rd of May. John obviously didn’t have any way of communicating with home after he had gone down to Base Camp from about 7 800 meters, and from there to Kathmandu, and only after Mike & Ronnie were on their way down did updates come in.

The trio was reunited on Sunday the 27th, and have been spending this week relaxing and getting their energy back.

We’re incredibly proud of all 4 of the team; Ronnie, Mike and Andy van der Velde for reaching the summit, and John for going almost a 1000 meters higher than he had been before. If John (58) had reached the top he would have been the oldest South African to summit, but this time the honour had to passed on to someone else, and younger in the family with Mike (55) now holding the record.

Amazing stuff!

94.7 Raw Rock Concert With Rapport

2007-05-31T04:03:00.000+02:00

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about this concert, but got blixem'ed (in all my excitement) because it went out before the official press release and so I was asked to remove it. But I did keep it, and now that the official release is out, I can let it all hang out again!

Here’s the scoop! We have finalized the line-up for the 94.7 Highveld Stereo Afrikaans concert, in association with Rapport newspaper, to be held at the Sun City Superbowl on 23 June 2007! They have united some of the hottest names in the Afrikaans music industry to bring listeners a rock concert they'll never forget.

The artists that we are pleased to confirm, that have been booked through Peak, are ddisselblom, Nadine (below right), Amore Vitone (left) and one of our most successful Afrikaans artists, Kurt Darren while it has also been confirmed that Karen Zoid, Klopjag, and Joe F will be performing at this RAW Rocks Rude Awakening music initiative!

Afrikaans music has literally exploded in the last decade with hundreds of extremely talented musicians emerging every year. 94.7 Highveld Stereo commands a huge following among Afrikaans-speaking listeners - almost a third of its audience speak Afrikaans as their first language.

"We love our Afrikaans listeners and we thought this would be a great way to give them what they want," said RAW presenter, Jeremy Mansfield. "This is the first time 94.7 Highveld Stereo will be hosting an Afrikaans music concert. The talent that is going to be showcased is truly amazing and the team is very excited to be hosting this event!"

94.7 Highveld Stereo station manager, Ravi Naidoo, added that while the main objective of the concert will be to have fun, a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Tapologo Aids Hospice in the North West Province and Abraham Kriel Kinderhuis in Johannesburg.

Nearly 40% of Rapport's Gauteng readers choosing to listen to 94.7 Highveld Stereo. Over the past two years Rapport has become more involved with the Afrikaans music scene, with more than 250 000 copies of its four 'Sing Jou Taal' CDs and two DVDs already sold. Therefore a partnership on RAW Rocks was a logical move for Rapport.

"We are very excited and are looking forward to being a part of one of the most memorable music events of the year," said Lani van Staden, Rapport Brand manager. "Rapport is currently experiencing growth in readership, and we would like to give something back to our readers. They are passionate about their Afrikaans music and the rock angle will also be popular among younger readers."

Denise has been working on this project for a few months now, and we are lucky to have been able to secure these performers. An artist like Kurt (left) is booked up months in advance, but this was an opportunity they couldn’t miss.

Kurt’s latest album Lekker Lekker, recently nominated for a SAMA, was put together by Kurt working closely with the hit-making duo of Marc Brendon & Don Kelly– they’ve had more than a fair share of success over the last few years, building Kurt’s brand into a very powerful profile.

So to get you all lekker lekker for a week full of music, here is Kurt’s Meisie Meisie (Girlie Girlie…)! I will be posting lots more info about the concert as the time comes closer!

Just Jinjer’s June Jol’s

2007-05-31T02:22:00.000+02:00

Its always exciting hearing about South African groups kicking some ass on the international music scene, and Just Jinjer is one of the hottest exports at the moment. Based in the USA for most of the year, the guys are doing gigs at some of the top clubs and music festivals, there.

They will be coming back to our shores later this year, and as we have said, they’ll be available for gigs in SA during November and December. (And we’re going to have some exciting news about this a little later, once all the contracts have been signed, and the deposits paid… suspense!)

In the meantime, if you aren’t lucky enough to be on this wonderful continent and the word ‘BUSH’ makes you want to be Canadian, as opposed to thoughts of Deurmekaarbos, Dwerg-blinkblaar-wag-'n-bietjie bos and Kameeldoring boom, then you can get excited about some of the gigs listed below:

JUST JINJER kick off June at LA's legendary Viper Room this Friday night (June 1st) at 11pm. This month, JUST JINJER will also be hitting up Toronto (for the NXNE music festival), Buffalo, and New York City's famous Mercury Lounge.

JUST JINJER @ The Viper Room
Friday - June 1 - 11:00pm
The Viper Room
[West Hollywood, CA]

JUST JINJER @ Thursdays At The Square in Buffalo NY
Thursday - June 7 - 5:30pm
[Buffalo, NY] Free show!

JUST JINJER @ The North by Northeast Music Festival
Saturday - June 9 - 1:00am
[Toronto, ON, Canada]

JUST JINJER @ NYC's Mercury Lounge
Tuesday - June 12 - 10:00pm
Mercury Lounge
[New York, NY]

Here is a recent clip that was featured on CNN:

But back at home, hierso innie bos, don’t forget that you can vote for JUST JINJER's "Till I'm Done" on 5FM: Text your vote as many times as you like and watch JUST JINJER's latest single "Till I'm Done" conquer the charts!

SA residents text: Hi5justjinjertillimdone to 33345

US residents text: Hi5justjinjertillimdone to +27 33345

The secrets of Home Affairs revealed!

2007-05-30T12:14:00.000+02:00

Here’s something to keep the chilly weather at bay! A new comedy called Brother Number is opening at the Kalk Bay Theatre tonight, and running during the latter part of every week (that’s from Wednesday to Saturday…) until June 23.

Featuring Rob van Vuuren (from the wonderfully nice T*M*A*S), James Cairns and Jaco Bouwer, Brother Number explains for the first time why it takes so long to get an ID document – and it took a lot of convincing to get them to divulge this nationally sensitive information.

No matter how much Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, or her deputy, Mr Malusi KNOWLEDGE Nkanyezi Gigaba, protest, the time has come to let the world know as to why these talented brothers will probably never be allowed to leave the Home Affairs building.

If they did, we would probably end up with a dual presidency – Brothers in Arms!

So – just to make life easy for you, and because we do enjoy sharing this most wonderful and nice information, I would suggest getting to the Kalk Bay Theatre! At least before the Scorpions arrive to drag these prodigies back to the room from where they came.

VENUE: Kalk Bay Theatre, Kalk Bay
DATES/TIMES: Wednesday to Saturday nights May 30 – June 23 at 20h30. Doors open 18h45.
TICKET PRICE: R90 to R200 depending on meal ordered.
BOOKING: 073 220 5430 / www.kbt.co.za / 021 788 4936

Don’t forget, this piece was directed by Jaco Bouwer, winner of the prestigious Fleur Du Cap award for Best Director, and one Wilhlem Snyman once said him to be “one of the most exciting and innovative talents in the country”. Not bad. Then, of course, it is best that I quote the Cape Times, who said that “In his presence, one’s senses aren’t quite one’s own anymore”, and they could have only been talking about Rob van Vuuren, while capetowntoday.co.za said that James Cairns “flawless interpretation of his characters is astounding”.

So has your ID document been ‘lost in the post’, have the queues lengthened since you were last at Home Affairs? The answers to all those questions that have puzzled you in the past will be provided at this show, and more – you can even have a meal!

PS – Home Affairs is in abit of a tizz since the brothers have taken this project on, and so have set up a website where you can check your ID, Passport AND marital status… I kid you not!

So please go and see the show so that the brothers can be safely delivered back to their department – it’s for the better of our country, and all those people who don’t know if they are married or not! And of course, it's the right thing to do!

Fokofpolisiekar and the dancing fat lady

2007-05-29T17:40:00.000+02:00

I had mentioned earlier that I thought that the Fokokpolisiekar’s were going to be calling it quits, and following their own directions, and that after what was probably their most successful year.

Today Denise sent through this article from 24.com, in which they not only touch on some of the local and international skinder, but also had this to say:

Contrary to popular belief, (and recent press statements) premier SA Afrikaans Rock act Fokofpolisiekar are set to play a few more shows before going their separate ways.

Lead singer Francois van Coke has already been performing extensively as a solo act, gently numbing the pain of grief-stricken fans throughout SA.

Be sure to catch them at these shows:

9 Aug 2007 - Oppikoppi (Northam)
10 Aug 2007 - Coca-Cola Dome (Johannesburg)
11 Aug 2007 - Velodrome (Bellville)
29 Sep 2007 - OppiAarde (Potchefstroom)

Our only question is this: are they going the way of the Nude Girls? Who released an album called The Fat Lady Sings, but didn't actually disappear. It turned out the Fat Lady would sing anytime the price was right.

Some groups are better left un-together, but I didn't hear anyone complaining that the Police got on stage with each other earlier this year?

So if the fans still love the Nudies, and if Fokokpolisiekar want to get together again in 5 years time to play Die Dik Dame Dans, so be it then! Arno is doing very well with New Porn, and I am sure that if Boo ever had to get back together again, Chris Chameleon's solo success would certainly help sell tickets and albums!

Promoting South Africa internationally

2007-05-29T15:49:00.001+02:00

Over that last few months Lenny has been making the most awesome contacts, and last week one of these people, Andrew Cerino pictured right, came and spent a night with us to talk about some exciting projects that he is involved in.

Andrew, who is Head of Production of the film company Panthera Productions in Dallas Texas, oversees a library of 12 awards winning wildlife films, thousands of images and stock footage (here are some samples). Since he and a partner started this venture in 1994, his passion for South Africa has developed to a point where he wants to make a difference here by creating projects that’ll promote S.A.’s talents to the rest of the world.

Andrew has been making films in South Africa for nearly fifteen years and have developed a real passion for this country, its people, and its music. He says that African music as a whole is not well known in the States, despite the popularity of dated album's like Paul Simon's "Graceland" featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and groups such as Johnny Clegg & Jaluka, and so he wants to change this.

Andrew is producing a feature-length documentary on South African music, as it’s his desire to have an international audience fall in love with South Africa and its musicians, and so we will be helping him find the right combination of artists and music to make this happen. He intends to bring the artists featured in the film to a new and broader audience worldwide, first through a theatrical release and then television – which we think will be awesome!

We are discussing a potential soundtrack album spun off from the film which would undoubtedly do very well, as was the case of the "Buena Vista Social Club", and with some of the contacts he has, such as with Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, and Bill Clinton among others; he really wants this to go far.

Just after he arrived at our offices (left - the girls working on a standard international greeting...), he wrote the following:

“I just arrived in Cape Town and am at the house of some fun, kooky people. This a couple that I met over the internet, having contacted them about a musician I was trying to reach. I started talking with this guy named Lenny who was very nice and very helpful. When I told him I was coming to South Africa, he insisted that I come and stay with him and his husband. Yes, his husband... and no, they are not gay. Lenny, it turns out, is a woman! hehe. Anyway, they run a record / performance company, and I am sitting in their house / office right now and it is a hoot... utter chaos. Two dogs, five cats, employees, and as near as I can tell- some sort of circus performer. Good times!”

Shannon Mowday on tour!

2007-05-26T14:19:00.000+02:00

We haven’t seen Shannon Mowday since the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, where she gave an amazing performance on the Basil “Mannenberg” Coetzee stage with an international backing of Karin Hammar on trombone, and Hildegunn Øiseth (both from Sweden) on trumpet.

But the wonder that email is, delivered this little note to us this week:

Hope you are well. Am in Australia at the moment-back on Thursday and then all heel breaks loose. My festival dates are as follows:

26 June 04 July - Grahamstown Jazz Festival (Am playing with that Dutch pianist, Jeroen van Vliet)
08-12 August - Silde Jazz Festival Norway
20-25 August - Joy of Jazz festival - Joeys (workshops and performance)
06 October - Leipzig Jazz Days Festival Germany
22-30 October - Washington/New York standard bank conference in Washington but staying on a week to check New York.

Have got a horde of material from here to give to Rouvanne, so would be great to hook up when I get back

More info as we get it!

South African Blog Roundup

2007-05-26T13:03:00.000+02:00

“Big Blog Directory and SA Rocks are co-hosting a South African Blog Roundup and I am participating…”

1. Why does South Africa “rock”?

South Africa rocks because this country is in the first phase of a new period of history.

No learning curve is without accident, speed-wobble or hot-headedness; the point being that it is a learning curve, and we have to deal with issues that have always been avoided in the past, in new and creative ways. But the lessons we have learnt, and those still to learn, will make us stronger of character, determination, and hopefully give us a more focused will to ensure that we create our own destinies.

SA rocks in that within one generation people have the ability of rising out of poverty and creating wealth through entrepreneurship & ingenuity; where the child of a domestic worker can go to university, where a goat-herd can become president…

I want to be a part of a rocking South Africa because my heart lies beneath the vast expanse of this blue sky; it travels fondly over the dusty roads that lead to nowhere and back; it beats to the ever-increasing urban-groove that is waking a giant of the future; it soars over the peak’s and ridges, swooping through the lush valleys and smokey townships where mass-action spurs the grand-mothers, the social workers, the street-side sellers, the neighbours and families to reach out their hands in ubuntu; where children smile together because they have hope; hope that we will all follow our hearts, to make this the place where we all want to be.

South Africa rocks, and I am going to carry on rocking with it!

2. Why do you blog?

I blog because I am passionate about being part of an age where information can get to the furthest reaches of humanity in moments. I am able to give voice to thoughts, opinions & make suggestions for change; to provide a platform on the world stage to those who do not have the means; and to become part of a broader international community that shares for the good of that community.

I blog because I want to make a difference.

3. What are two of your favourite posts?

Is SA Rocks bullshit - A Post By Ian Gilfillan
This post sums up so much of what I want to say, but often can’t, because my arguments don’t want to stand tallest-to-shortest!

Mavis is clearly on drugs
I think Mavis must be a favourite local comedian – telling her buddies of how she mind-f**ked her boss for the day – and that she will ultimately release a book titled “How I got Seth committed”.

Africa Day: Take the first step

2007-05-25T15:05:00.000+02:00

Happy Africa Day! And it’s a stunning start to the weekend in Cape Town! We have got the most incredible blue skies and quite a pleasant temperature, which really opens your eyes as to why we are so lucky to be living down at the 'bottom' of the stunning continent!

We have much to be thankful for.

I was in Camps Bay this morning, taking part in my old high school’s Founding Day assembly, with a number of ‘old’ boys & girls who had been invited to celebrate the schools history, and its future. I got to chat to Andrew Ingram, Chief Photographer of the Cape Times and Andrew Mac from Flat Stanley (keep an eye out for some vid coming soon!) and a few others, before we sat on-stage; staring at the future, staring at us.

We were played some Jazz by the school orchestra, an amazing violin piece by a Grade 9 pupil, Anele Mhlapo, and listened to a talk by Nature Conservations old-boy Dalton Gibbs, and then ended off with our old school song,

”Song of the wind in the pine tree’s,
high on the mountain crest
Song of the waves of the western sea
Where the sun sinks down to rest…”

It brought back many memories.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to share the positive memories that I have, but good or bad, being able to look back to where you have come from should give you the confidence to know where you are going! Nothing has to be the same as it was, if we choose to make it different. And as I always say, you can't go forward if you don't take the first step.

So – to celebrate Africa Day – I hope we all think about how we can make a difference; starting with ourselves, our neighbours, our communities, spreading outwards until a wave of change ripples over the entire continent.

This is Africa's century.

EverestSA2007 Update 12

2007-05-24T16:08:00.000+02:00

Mike Patterson (my cousin) & Everest team-leader Ronnie Muhl summitted Mount Everest at around 02h30 yesterday! I’ve been in bed with flu, and so this announcement might be a little late – having been on the front page of the Cape Argus yesterday afternoon, but it is still an achievement that needs to be celebrated!

We received the following sms from Mike's wife Chez:

Mike called @ 02.45 from THE TOP OF THE WORLD – he sounded Gr8+laughed wif his SHERPA when I said hug him frm your FAM+a thumbs up frm SA+he gave a good chuckle when I said he is SA’s new no 12+OLDEST @ a record age of 55yrs-wind died down+Ron did his summit about 10 mins ealier, MAGIC MORN

Then on the EverestSA2007 site there is the following:

Report from Glenda Muhl

Ronnie, Mike and sherpas (Lhakpa Randu and I don’t have the other wonderful man's name) summited at 2:30am our time today. We had a sleepless night waiting for the call. I am so proud of their achievement - the 11th and 12th South Africans to stand on top of the world and Mike at 56 years, the oldest South African to be there. Ronnie could not speak for long but I detected a lot of emotion in his voice.

The conversation went something like this: "It's been a long haul, but here I am - it's incredible Glen - tell the children... here comes Mike - I haven't seen him since the 2nd step - he will be with me in about 10 minutes - I have to go - need to put my oxygen mask back on again....."

Mike called his wife a few minutes later saying, "I am top of the world" with the voice of Lhakpa Randu cheering in the background.

We are still waiting to hear of their safe decent; including more information from my unc John, who should be waiting from the team down at Base Camp.

Coming down is considered to be almost more dangerous, than the going up – I suppose the elation of pushing towards a goal is very energy sapping, while the downward trip is a battle of strength and will. So we are looking forward to news.

Louis Mhlanga to the USA

2007-05-21T21:08:00.000+02:00

One of South Africa’s favorite musicians, Zimbabwean born Louis Mhlanga, has announced dates for his North American tour:

July 5&6: London Fest, Ontario
July 7: Montreal Jazz Festival, QC
July 13-15: Halifax Jazz East, NS
July 19: Santa Monica Pier, CA
July 20: The Mint, CA
July 21: Hothouse, IL
July 22: Evanston, IL

Louis' music has been described as breezy, but in the heat of Africa, its meaning is closer to the sensation of cool relief, and happiness that you feel, than just a waft of air that invades your space. Louis is a master! And the better his company, the more masterful he becomes!

Some of the names he has worked with include Orchestra Baobab, Oliver Mtukudzi, Hugh Masekela, King Sunny Ade, Busi Mhlongo, Stef Bos, Thandi Klaasen and Andy Narell - which is quite a variety of musical styles too. But that's because he doesn't like to fit into just one little musical box. He loves fusion - which is why we love him!

Here is the track Mari Hakuna off the album World Traveller.

EverestSA2007 Update 11

2007-05-21T17:56:00.000+02:00

In what looks to be a record year for most Mount Everest summits (there have been about 362 so far and the record is 486) we haven’t heard much from the South Africa team last few days. The team, excluding Andy van der Velde who summitted early on the 16th, were preparing their assault and had had computer problems last week, so no email.

This morning Ronnie had contact with KFM from their camp at 7,800 m, and said that my unc, John Brand (right), had gone a little moggy due to suffering from altitude sickness, and had been escorted by a Sherpa to a lower altitude. I think that this is it for John, and that his quest to summit will have to be put on ice for awhile.

We are very proud of him, for having gotten so far, but would prefer it if he just got his ass down to where there is an abundance of thick wonderful air.

I have been following a number of expeditions up the hill, and heard very similar stories that do strengthen the worry. The Discovery Team wrote about Gavin Bate, and how just a few hours of oxygen at Advanced Base Camp (and a cuppa tea) transformed a man from a wreck near the brink of death, to a very grateful rosy-cheeked mountaineer.

Cousin Mike & Ronnie still feel positive about their own summit plans, and I am sure we will hear more as it happens. Today was the day they had hoped to reach the top of the world, as there has been a pretty good weather period, and this has allowed a number of groups to achieve their aim.

Our thoughts go to the families of those who won’t be going home this year. Already there have been a number of deaths (5) – not that this is a deterrent – on what is quite a busy season on Mount Everest.

Big music festival for 2008

2007-05-17T15:49:00.001+02:00

I received my regular Bizcommunity newsletter this morning, and was pleased to read about a big music festival being planned for the beginning of 2008, The Zandrivier Music Festival. Here is the press release:

Zoom Advertising has been appointed official marketing partner for what is already being dubbed ‘THE event'. A massive music festival, the first of its kind in South Africa is set to rock the country in February 2008 and MTV Europe Foundation has signed up as one of the festival's global media partners.

Featuring more than 200 bands over two days on seven different stages, the festival takes place on a beautiful farm at the highest point in the Western Cape. Twelve major international headline acts, a line up of international DJs and a huge number of local artists are appearing at the Zandrivier Music Festival. MTV will broadcast a documentary about the Festival as well as cover the event live as it happens.

“The Zandrivier Music Festival presents a new and exciting platform for sponsors to reach discerning and affluent audiences who prefer to discover a brand rather than have it sold to them.”

Around fifty thousand tickets will be sold to the event, which has widespread appeal because it offers so much including an enormous range of music genres, food, drink and retail villages and so on. With more areas of entertainment still being finalised, the seven stages confirmed so far are:

• The main MTV stage – international headliners
• Dance Arena
• Jazz/Folk
• Latino
• Future Shock
• Reggae
• New Bands Metal/Rock

The Festival is being organised by Lily UK, which has been involved with the Glastonbury Music Festival in the UK, Exit in Serbia as well as MTV's road shows and other mainstream music events around the world.

Twenty per cent of the festival's profit will be ploughed into projects to assist rural communities and provide sorely needed education and life skills, especially among young people. The Zandrivier Trust has been established, the trustees of which are political, entertainment and industry VIPs.

Let's hope they are able to build it into a successful annual event, because we just have far too few quality music festivals in South Africa, and I have seen far too many good idea's hit a speed-wobble before the race has even started!

Urban Zulu queen fights alone

2007-05-16T16:41:00.001+02:00

Busi Mhlongo is ill. And very few people seem to care about it. Suffering and recovering from her second bout with cancer, it was reported in this weekends City Press that she has just had her right breast removed, but remains positive about her recovery.

Busi is an artist that deserves love and respect. Her life has been dedicated to making music from the soul of South African people, and every time one of her tracks is played around the world, listeners are touched by very powerful emotions.

She has had a tough life, having to make choices during her time that sacrificed spending time with her daughter, Mphumi, not being with her husband Early’s (a drummer for Dollar Brand), and being everywhere in the world, except in the one place she could home. Home.

I have said before of how Busi is the one artist in the world who has truly moved me when I stood transfixed at one of her sound-checks. There is very little music out there that has the power, the space-filling ability, and most of all, the ability to move audiences, than Busi’s contribution to our collective culture.

Urban Zulu is still one of my favourite CD’s, and even though I feel that her album Freedom sounded like it had been recorded in a tin-can, you still know that this lady is a gem.

Busi is ill, and the music industry needs to help her. Pitso Molemane, spokesman for her label Chisa Records said, “Honestly, we are not aware of her problems. It is news to me. If that is the case, then as the company we will get involved to ensure that she gets well. She is our artist and we love her and wish her a speedy recovery.” Yes. We all wish her well, but I wonder what the label will do to “ensure” she gets well.

Ukhozi FM manager Welcome “Bhodloza” Nzimande said in the article that the station had under-taken to raise funds to pay for the escalating medical bill that has already reached R500 000, and Busi is surviving on hand-outs.

She is being treated on a radiotherapy machine on a daily basis; she’s lost lots of weight; is losing her hair and battles to breathe… but Busi says that she isn’t going to die yet, she just needs to get through the problems that her treatment is causing.

Busi Mhlongo needs our love (and money!).

I have featured this vid before - Uganga Nge Ngane (You're playing around with this child) from Urban Zulu BW2118SA - but you can never get enough!

EverestSA2007 - 1st Summit!

2007-05-16T11:16:00.000+02:00

Andy summits Everest!

We received an sms early this morning stating that Andy van der Velde summitted Everest during the night, and that he arrived safely at Camp 4 @ 5am this morning!

We are very happy to hear that he got there and back safely, and that he is the first South African in 2007 to stand on top of the world!

More as we get it!

SA is alive with music!

2007-05-15T18:02:00.001+02:00

One of the things that I have always told people I meet, and especially foreigners who enquire about the state of South Africa, is that we have so many possibilities here that no dream is too big and small (right - like the San appearing in clubs)

We haven’t got all the answers, and there are still so many solutions to be worked towards, but that doesn’t mean that South Africans will give up. We have a big job to do in this country; so I feel that we might as well enjoy doing it!

I wanted to present a little clip given to me by Pops Mohamed, who is currently performing in Oslo, Norway, for which he created the music. It is from the S.A. Alive with possibilities ad campaign, where Pops created the soundtrack using all the day to day sounds that fill the air on our streets. I really felt uplifted after watching it!

Hopefully you’ll feel the same!

EverestSA2007 Update 9

2007-05-15T13:17:00.001+02:00

The big push is on! The South African team, which includes my uncle and cousin, are making their big push for the summit in the next week, after having rested and finished their acclimatization lower down the mountain. Now its a case of watching the weather, and waiting!

John got to Base Camp on the 10th, reuniting the team after their break at Shigar, and the team set off immediately with a whole team of porters to carry all their personal gear, and they covered the 11km’s to Intermediate Base Camp in 4 hours.

From IBC, they got caught in a big snow storm that lasted through the night, but didn’t stop them from reaching Advanced Base Camp after another trek of just under 5 hours.

We got an sms from Mike to say that their computer had crashed, so they have been having to get their weather reports from other camps, but that they were all feeling great, and that they are looking forward to just the right weather window to start their summit push.

On Sunday the 13th, after much debate, Andy decided that he would make a summit push with Lima Sherpa, who has 6 summits behind him, but that he would go without the rest of the team.

Ronnie, Mike and John must have felt that there wasn’t enough of a weather window, which is why they have decided to stick it out a bit longer – I suppose that they aren’t as young as Andy, so either experience has held them back, or they feared that they might hold him back – either way, Andy has joined about 150 other climbers that are going for it.

So – our thoughts are with him. The last I had heard (07.05.10) some 26 climbers had reached the summit, so things must be getting very busy on the mountain!

If Andy has separated from the rest of the group, I don’t know where the SA record stands – they were going for the most South Africans on the summit at once, and the oldest SA member (yip – that’s my unc John who’d have that honour at 58) – but at this stage, the most important, is to make sure they all get down!

SA Music shouldn't be 2nd best!

2007-05-10T17:56:00.001+02:00

What happens when you are passionate about putting projects out into the public; have willing and able artists to create an awesome event; but can’t get sponsorship, because you’re not headlining an international act?

Some years ago we hosted a music event called Ubuntu Nights; an evening of music, colours and passion; hosted in an intimate setting, we wanted to bring the artist off the stage and into your life. To create an atmosphere where we would be able to instigate and propagate inter-racial collaborations, not only on the stage, but out in the audience too – where Cape Town society still needs it so badly.

We featured Amampondo & Freshlyground (left), a DJ/VJ keeping the groove alive before, during and after, and a pretty mixed jar of M&M’s in the audience – for our first event. It was an awesome success, leaving us glowing for days afterward.

It just the kind of event we were hoping for, with great feedback and lots of business cards, but after all the costs had been taken care of Len & I went home poorer. Hell, we did it, we loved it – and loved the great music that was made!

We’ve grown up a lot since then, and now we make sure that things happen! We’re passionate about getting artists like Amampondo (right - Mz, Brian May & Len @ 46664), Busi Mhlongo, Dozi who is like an Afrikaans Zulu, our wonderful friend Pops Mohamed, Shannon Mowday, Arno and both his groups SNG & New Porn, Chris Chameleon who has given us Monkey Punk and adult contemporay pop in English & Afrikaans, Gloria Bosman, and all the other awesome musicians that make our cultures so exciting, out into the market of other cultures.

That’s what it is – it’s a new integration, through the beats and sounds that make this country rock.

Fuse it together and life gets exciting; put a single stringed Uhade slap bang in the middle of an electric duo of modern strings; have north Africans sounds dancing to Zulu rhythms; the San performing the most ancient trance dance today; – isn’t that what life’s should be about? Mixing more, learning more, feeling more?

Last weekend, at a local in the area, we sighed into our seats for a nightcap and were astounded to be surrounded by people dancing to music that my mother danced to at that age (she’s still young and gorgeous! Love you mom!). I’m just worried we’re preconditioning another generation into thinking that American & British music is still the only belle of the ball, while there is so much funky stuff right at our fingertips now! (Amampondo left @ Green Point - 46664)

So, where we need to be now in the wonderful country of ours is to support our artists - they deserve it for making our lives here more understandable. South African musicians are representatives of who we are as a people.

At the end of it all - we are just a jar full of M&M's.

EverestSA2007 Update 8

2007-05-09T23:46:00.001+02:00

There was an article in today's Cape Times, quoting from the newsletter that was sent out by the South African team that are preparing to tackle Mount Everest on or around 21 May - depending on the weather of course!

I won't repeat all that was printed, or in the newsletter, except a few highlights, such as:

07/05/05 Just before we left Advanced Base Camp we met Greg Child, the famous Australian climber and then on Saturday we met Conrad Anker, who was the climber responsible for finding the body of George Mallory on the slopes of the North face in 1999.

In Greg's latest piece he mentions Wim Hof - the Hollander who is attempting to summit Mount Everest in a pair of shorts... Kaaskoppe...die zijn gek! But good luck to him anyway!

07/05/06 John arrived in Shigar this afternoon from Base Camp and he is well and happy that he has completed his acclimatisation process. It is fantastic that he is back on track.

07/05/07 Ronnie, Mike and Andy drove back to Base Camp, while John stayed on in Shigar for a few extra days’ rest. Ronnie’s back is perfectly healed and everyone is well-rested and ready to tackle the next two weeks - the final push to the summit of the ‘Mother Goddess of the Universe’ Junko Tabei the first woman to climb Everest had this to say, “Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top. It is the willpower that is most important. This willpower cannot be bought with money or be given by others, it rises from the heart.”

We are all critically aware that getting to the summit is optional but getting down is mandatory.

Marcus Aurelius once said, “What a small portion of infinite and immeasurable time is allotted to each of us. It is so quickly swallowed up by eternity. How small is a clod of earth on which we crawl about. Remember all these things and consider nothing great but this do what nature bids you and suffer what life brings.” Warmest regards to each and every one of you.

Yesterday I was forwarded an sms that said the following:

The team met with their Sherpa's this afternoon to discuss the summit plan. It went well and everyone is very excited. Tomorrow is the last day at Base Camp, the team will do final weather updates in the morning but there are some big storms heading toward the mountain within the next few days/weeks. The plan is to get to ABC and wait for good weather.

The sms came to me via my mother, who received it from Shez, wife of cousin Mike Patterson... so I can only presume it was him. As mentioned before - John isn't that great with technology!

Its getting tense on the home-front as we listen and wait, from afar.

Bullard's bollocks!

2007-05-08T11:18:00.000+02:00

In the Sunday Times yesterday, David Bullard has a stab at the South African blog community, and tells all about how he used to play the air guitar, but has now moved on to the more complex air tenor saxophone... I personally feel that he is moving up to the great finale in which he will entertain us all with his air keyboard! Music to my ears!

But then, I know bollocks!

Here are some of the links:

http://vincentmaher.com/mit/?p=347#comment-28411
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2445995529
http://www.unodewaal.com/2007/05/06/david-bullard-plays-air-opinion/
http://www.henriska.com/blog/?p=162
http://wiredgecko.net/2007/05/ill-just-write-some-drivel-then-bullard/
http://justinhartman.com/2007/05/07/is-david-bullard-an-utter-wanker/
http://www.greenman.co.za
http://www.mikestopforth.com/2007/05/07/dont-prove-david-bullard-right/
http://www.sharepointexpert.co.za/?p=17

UPDATE 20h15: Hmmmm - so the bulldog has hit his air keyboard sooner than I expected... welcome to the blogsphere Mr Bullard!

The Collaboration's Urombo - Zimbabwe

2007-05-07T18:31:00.001+02:00

It is my pleasure to be able to provide another installment from Stevie Sparx, our Zimbabwean music man, regarding a group that I touched briefly on before, The Collaboration. But I will let Steve explain more:

It was nearly 3 years ago that, with a rapidly deteriorating economy in Zimbabwe, and the flight of performing artists out of the country, we decided to bring together what might be called “the best of the rest” and look for new ways to enhance the music biz in Zim and find ways to promote our music to as close to an international level as possible.

Our first year was spent preparing material for a project under the banner “The Collaboration” - each member of the group is basically aligned to their own band and we encouraged the artists to pursue their own career as well as to participate in the project - what we ended up with was the album “Hupenyu Kumusha/Life at Home/Impilo eKhaya” which is an amalgamation of ideas from the contributors and features a variety of styles and grooves from Afropop to Zimjazz.

The album was launched in 2006 and a string of live performances followed, culminating in an appearance on the main stage during the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA - 2007 has just finished!).

The track Urombo - a traditional song (done earlier by Thomas Mapfumo) that we have revamped was released in Nov 06 on the Revolution album 4 U - done by the Mothiba twins, the album was nominated for a SAMA. The track talks of the poverty of life alone and the need to continue to strive and to work together.

Rather poignantly, track 2 on the album “Illusions” was inspired by the governments slum clean up operation in 2005 - 2 of our artists were personally affected - the bass player had his bedroom removed from the house as an “illegal extension” while the mbira player’s house was surrounded by rubble from structures torn down all around his home and he lost the income from a few “lodgers” too.

We continue to promote the grouping and our most recent performances have been at Sauti za Busara in Zanzibar and at Chimanimani Festival here in Zim.

The spin off of this album has been the recording and promotion of other groups of whom members of The Collaboration are party to.

Our latest release “Malaisha” from Busi Ncube and band Rain is starting to gain interest - I was in Norway recently to promote a tour for the group later in the year - this follows their appearance at Mela Festival in Oslo in 2006.

Busi is a founder member of legendary Zim band Ilanga - featuring Andy Brown, the late Don Gumbo, Busi and Keith Farquharson the group were leaders in the Afro fusion genre and produced a string of local hits.

Busi sings in 6 languages and her distinctive style has made her a firm favourite in Zimbabwe - she also plays mbira and percussion. We have also recorded material for Zimjazz trio Too Open, and have a couple of other projects at various stages of recording.

Stevie Sparx
Harare Zimbabwe

So here is a video of the track Urombo, from the album Hupenyu Kumusha/Life at Home/Impilo eKhaya - neighbour, I hear you in Zimbabwe!

EverestSA2007 Update 7

2007-05-06T10:50:00.001+02:00

After yesterdays sms from Andy regarding John’s progress, here are some further updates as to what is happening to the SA team on the slopes of Chomolungma, the beautiful Tibetan name for Mt. Everest.

The group has been split, because John was suffering from altitude sickness and had to move down from Advances Base Camp to Base Camp to recuperate, so now it means that while one part of the group is up, the other part is down. (Right - The cousins have been split - John & Mike)

On the 28th of April Ronnie, Mike, Andy and their Sidar Lhakpa Randu decided to climb the icy head wall of East Rongbuk Glacier to the North Col (or saddle – Col is a Welsh word). It’s a hell of a trip, making use of crampons and fixed ropes up the final stages of the North Col, to camp at 7050m…

John had reached Base Camp at this stage, but was exhausted, suffering from a tummy bug we've heard, and he needed medical attention as well as rest. And good ol' thick air!

The North Col is the low point of one the three big ridges that emanate from the summit of Mount Everest, and after some accounts I have read I know it is an achievement in itself! They descended to Advanced Base Camp the following morning. (pic show camps of the Bate 2002 expedition)

On the 30th of April the group heard that two climbers from Kazakhstan, Max and Musili (right - "no water for 48hrs during summit"), had summited without oxygen. They were the first climbers of the season to summit, but not without drama.

The climbers from Kazakhstan were in trouble on the descent and that they called for help at 4am in the morning. Sirdar Lhakpa Randu (left), from Arun Trekking and a very experience mountaineer, dashed up the slope with oxygen, rounding up additional Sherpa’s along the way, to the rescue (which took 16 hours). But as the Discovery Channel team tell in their blog, it was successful! The S.A. team had the Discovery TV crew interviewing and filming them during the day, which my unc manages to evade, not too fond, I think, of those "media opportunities"!

Ronnie, Mike and Andy packed up their gear on 02 May and walked down to Base Camp, through a snow-storm, to rest. Along the way they met John, on his way back up to Advanced Base Camp, and said he was in high spirits, looking forward to his climb up to 7 000m – so the Base Camp MD sorted him out!

On 03 May John climbed up to the North Col, which is something we’re very proud of, because this is higher than Aconcagua (6,962m / 22,841feet), which he had previously not been able to summit, and we're looking forward to hearing more… Ronnie, Mike and Andy left Base Camp for Shigar (4 300m), where they are spending 4 nights, resting, recuperating and preparing for their final push when they return to the mountain. (right by Sergio Schmiegelow in 2005)

Our Cousin Mike’s sister, (cousin) Carol joined the group in Shigar, from China and having hiked via Base Camp, where she has been working for the last year. I can imagine it must have been an awesome surprise! My mother was told that the group enjoyed their first shower in over 2 weeks – but they had to boil the water to get it hot!

Because John is acclimatizing by himself, we will only get more information when he is back from his climb.

There were a few American climbers arrested by Chinese authorities at Base Camp on the 25th of April, for protesting against China’s rule over Tibet.

I found a short clip that explains more, but the reason is that a Chinese group is taking the Olympic flame up the mountain for the Beijing Games, and Tibetans are angry about this - "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet 2008" said the banner, playing on Beijing's Olympic logo of "One World, One Dream". Drama at altitude!

The more I read about this expedition, the more I want to know about the mountain. It has a strange appeal – but it's certainly no walk in the park, and it is still early days for the team to become the first South Africans to summit from the North East. More, as we hear it.

UPDATE 17h15: As fate works, John called us earlier this afternoon from Shagir (about 140km from BC @ 4300m), where he is resting after his first trip over 7000m. Although tired, he sounded chuffed with the way things are going. He'll be resting a few days, and then he is hoping to be back at ABC by the 12th. He also told us that contact was going to be more difficult from now (so don't stress mom!), but that we should listen out for the Monday morning broadcast on KFM for more details.

See... told you I'd give you more AS I heard it!

Twakkie saved Corne!

2007-05-04T15:26:00.000+02:00

Dear all of everyone out there who still gives a bladdy damn at all.

It's me Twakkie and i have the coolest news I have ever have! Corne is back!! That's right yesterday i saved him from the Cornites compound in the Maluti's.

It was hell on cheese I can tell you that for free, but we made it, and we're coming back. We are going to drive through the night, hell for heather, to be at the Kalk Bay Theatre tomorrow for our uncredible morning show, Breakfast Bonanza, which starts at 10:30 in the a.m.

We will be there on Saturday and Sunday morning for the rest of the month. Tickets are flying so booking is essential. The number is 0732205430 and if you have any problems you can phone Asa at 021 788 4936, he will moer someone. Love it!

Twakkie.

(I cannot be held responsible for any of the above information... including the boerewors that Corne seems to have stolen from that caravan... Rouvanne)

EverestSA2007 Update 6

2007-05-04T11:06:00.000+02:00

I received a message this morning from Andy van der Velde, via my mother who has been pretty stressed at not hearing anything new from the slopes of Everest. It can freak you out just not hearing anything, and one tends to fear the worst! (My dad & unc in December right)

Andy's sms said:

Hi, this is Andy. John got quite sick, mostly due to a tummy bug and lack of sleep. He went down to Base Camp where a doctor fixed him up. He’s looking fit and strong now. He’s running a few days behind us, we are down at 4200m and John is up at 7050m. We will all be back on schedule together in a few days. I will pass on your wishes. Don’t worry, as I saw him 2 days ago and he really is better. Andy

So – that’s as much news as we’ve had. Everest is a hell of a thing. If you don’t know anything about it, check out the program that has been showing on Discovery Channel ‘Beyond the limit’ – its very sobering!

Monkeybiz on The Today Show

2007-05-03T22:03:00.001+02:00

Tomorrow one of Cape Town’s most well known social projects, Monkeybiz, will be appearing on NBC’s The Today Show, tomorrow.

Monkeybiz is a non-profit, income-generating art and health project started by ceramic artists Barbara Jackson and Shirley Fintz in 2000. These passionate collectors of African beadwork and art have facilitated a revival of an ancient beading tradition in Southern Africa, together with Mathapelo Ngaka and the 450 beading ladies.

Monkeybiz’s showroom is located at 65 Rose St. in Bo-Kaap, sharing the same building as Carrol Boyes. The ladies who make all the stunning beadwork, do so form home, and are paid per piece that they deliver.

If you can, try and catch The Today Show, otherwise just go to the showroom and be blown away! Remember, Mothers Day is just around the corner!

Strings 'an Skins from Africa

2007-05-03T18:33:00.000+02:00

Greg Georgiades & Ashish Joshi have a group called Strings ‘an Skins, and when they teamed up with Madala Kunene & Bernard Mdaweni, you were guaranteed that some amazing music was made!

Strings ‘an Skins play rhythmical interpretations of North African and South African improvisational styles. Their Afro-Asian hybrid beats are played on traditional instruments, such as the Indian percussive drums (Tabla & Dhol), Egyptian (Darbukah) and African (Djembe), played by Ashish, and the North African fretless lute (Oud), Bouzouki and nylon string Flamenco guitar, played by Greg.

Their CD “Strings ‘an Skins”, was voted ‘Best CD of the year’ by Pretoria News readers. They have played extensively around South Africa from Swartruggens to Rustlers Valley, Splashy Fenn and Oppikoppi, where audiences have been thrilled by their driving rhythms and catchy melodies.

Their collaborations have included shows with metal-rap group Not My Dog, the Tony Cox band, Madala (pictured left) and DJ’s Not My Dog and Hyser, as well as the acclaimed Aquarian Quartet show “The World in a Guitar”.

Here is a track that was recorded at Tings & Times, and given to me recently by Robert from MELT (don’t be jealous – I always share with you!), and then this morning Ashish sent me a couple of extra pics. So all I can really say is… enjoy!

Neighbour, I see you in Zimbabwe

2007-04-30T02:08:00.000+02:00

I am proudly South African. I tell people this freely and easily, and pretty much with chest-beating pride! But here I sit, way down at the bottom of Africa, not really knowing if I am proudly African.

How can I be trying to make my own country a better place; spread a level of understanding about our different cultures, and encourage a spirit of ubuntu, when right next door in Zimbabwe, the people are suffering. Almost everyone is suffering. But can you imagine trying to be a musician? (right - old history, Zim ruins by Garth Meyer)

I am no great fundi on music from Zimbabwe, and am pleased to learn more, apart from the hot names that have made an international impact, like Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi & PaxAfro…. Ok – they were abit like the Pop Idols of Zim, being a creation of Professor Jonathan Moyo – then Propaganda Minister of Zim – so they’re more infamous!

I was introduced to a group of musicians last year, through an amazing project under the banner The Collaboration featuring Chiwoniso Maraire & Busi Ncube (left). They have taken artists, who all have their own bands, to participate in this project, and ended up with the album Hupenyu Kumusha/Life at Home/Impilo eKhaya. It’s an amalgamation of ideas from the contributors and features a variety of styles and grooves from Afropop to Zimjazz.

I am first keen to introduce you to a future contributor to Peak People, Steve Sparx from Thulani Promotions from Zimbabwe, who will be giving us more details about the situation there. I asked him to start with a brief summary of a musician’s life in Zimbabwe in these times

So how does a musician survive an economic meltdown?

The artists in Zimbabwe have effectively been marginalized in most cases - it is almost impossible to fix performance fees and to budget for expenses related to either live shows or recording - everything from CD repro, to printing cost, to fuel, to food changes on an almost daily basis. What appears enough today is insufficient tomorrow.

We as Thulani Promotions have subsidized where we can but the emphasis must be on self sufficiency; we take our catalogue with us wherever we perform so we have more than one CD to offer, we try and US Dollarize our prices when offering performances and we look for new channels to promote our music wherever possible.

I have attended Womex and visited Scandinavia to promote tours; we send the album to World Music review sites, promote to festival organizers and make contacts with similar minded people whom we might collaborate with.

The artists are patient and behind it, they all have a share in Thulani and believe we have a formula to pull through and to expand our horizons - I believe that “the darkest moment begets the brightest creativity” and we continue to spread our vibe wherever, and whenever we get the chance.

Just this past weekend we provided 5 bands, and a clown, to the Chimanimani Festival - here in Zimbabwe. This is a rural festival aimed at agro-industry workers, their families and other people in the area. It was last held in 2003, when it was real popular with tourists (yes we remember them too) and Harare folk, but it came unstuck through the prevailing situation - we helped to revive it with a memorable show and expect that it will now be back on the Zimbabwean festival circuit (OK so now there are 2) on an annual basis PLUS the festival trust will be reviving their rural artist development outreach program once they reestablish ties with interested donors.

So there is light and we will continue to be drawn to it, and yes, the darkest time is just before the dawn.

Would be great to get more regional shows and also to increase our productivity to bring in some new talents from this part of the world into the fold, we also want to get some more collaborative work that brings together different parts of Africa and explore our brand of fusion to see how far it goes.

Of course the new technologies for distribution (downloads/ringtones/etc) have not had much impact on the Zimbabwean music scene yet but we want to be part of it when it happens and for this to benefit the artists too.

We wanna tour the world and bring our groove with us - so that’s how you survive a meltdown - Optimism and Intention.

Watch this space

Stevie Sparx

Its difficult to keep quiet – I am passionate – and I see cultures dying because the battle to survive, to put food on the table, must prevent elders the freedom to sit and teach the youth the sounds of old. Young adults must be starving for musical education, and positive influence. And established musicians – well – I am sure they just leave.

Here is a podcast by Pambazuka News Featuring the music of Busi Ncube (Ilanga & Blue Rain) who I will be posting about later this week – it’s a little old (last month), but it gives you the message, with Busi's music!

I am not a politician. I am not a freedom fighter, and my voice is soft in a world of screams, but I believe in ubuntu; as a philosophy and a way of life; as a solution. Africa’s own solution.

I want to be a proud African; I want my neighbours to be safe, and secure, prospering in this wonderful age; for then I will sleep better at night.

What are you going to do for your neighbour this week?

Breakfast with Corne & Twakkie

2007-04-30T01:11:00.000+02:00

I received a reminder message this morning, from the comedy duo of T*M*A*S (The Most Amazing Show), the most magnificent Corne & and most lovely Twakkie, who have a show starting now at the beginning of May.

Lenny & I have bumped into Twakkie twice in the last few weeks; the first time when he was trying to get in the backstage entrance at the Springbok Nude Girls Peace Breaker launch at the Tafelberg Tavern (we eventually got him VIP tickets so he wouldn’t cause a scene!); and then last week when we were in a meeting with our design team at iaminawe shouting something about breakfast (it was lunch-time by then) and so we told him to just mail us!

"Like your lady bringing you breakfast in bed on the morning of which you of forgotten her birthday, here we are - Me, Corne, and my little friend Twaks, as a gentle reminder.

Our show, which is called 'Breakfast Bonanza' is on Saturday and Sunday mornings at the Kalk Bay Theatre. The time which it will be is 1030 am, every Saturday and Sunday from May 05 till June 24th. Pre-booked tickets cost R65, and are combined with, included kind of a thing... the loveliest free coffee...Could you believe it?"

You can telephone the Kalk Bay Theatre on 073 220 5430 to book yourself a place for the greatest show in the world.

PLEASE NOTE: Breakfast is NOT included.

So here is a little piece that iaminawe put together for T*M*A*S Very Late Show, when they hosted the Smirnoff International Comedy Awards… it’s the very late show, so you can get to the Kalk Bay Theatre nice and hungry for breakfast!

Have a great day folks!

EverestSA2007 – Update 5

2007-04-29T13:48:00.001+02:00

We’re pretty worried about my ‘unc’ John Brand, as it was reported on Thursday that he had been sent back to Base Camp from Advanced Base Camp to rest for a few days, because he was/is suffering from altitude-related illnesses, and we haven’t heard any more. (right - ABC taken from Camp 4)

My mother, who is the early bird, said that there was no mention about it on KFM’s morning cross-over to Ronnie on Friday morning, but then we have noticed that the station is more interested in getting their ‘breakfast show mug' to the top, than what is actually happening on this expedition… Marketing and advertising at all costs!

John has suffered in the past from altitude related illness, and has had to turn around on Aconcagua without being able to summit because of this. There are various forms of altitude illness, but it is basically explained that acclimatization is a major cause of it:

“Acclimatization is an adaptive process that allows human beings to tolerate high altitude. It is a great example of how the human body can adapt and respond to a hostile environment. The process of acclimatization begins immediately but requires several days to be notable and requires weeks to be near complete.”

“High altitude illness describes several syndromes that can occur in un-acclimatized individuals shortly after ascent to high altitude. These illnesses usually occur at altitudes of greater than 2,500 meters (8,200 feet)…”

So we are just hoping that the rest will get his system back to normal before he attempts any further climbs! These mountaineers are pretty tough characters!

o further news from the mountain was that on 19 April Mike, John and Andy spent the day at Intermediate Base Camp, while Ronnie stayed in Base Camp resting his back. The higher up the mountain you are, the less conducive it is to recovery from illness or injury, so it is best to stay as low as possible when dealing with any unfortunate mishaps.

Over one ton of equipment, food and oxygen left Base Camp on the 19^th on the backs of 29 yaks.

There were some technical problems, so Ronnie wasn’t able to communicate with the guys up at Advanced Base Camp.

I found this very interesting little BBC doccie on a team of Doctors who set up a tent-clinic at Base Camp, which I thought very interesting. It’s a relief knowing that medical care is available in the event of it being needed, and it is amazing that it is pure passion that drives people to risk their own lives to ensure the safety of others.

Ronnie left Base Camp on the 21^st, and reached the rest of the team the following day – but not before getting stuck in a snowstorm! (And you thought Cape Town is cold at the moment!)

On the 24^th Mike, John and Andy prepared their climbing gear and proceeded up to the base of the Fixed Lines beneath the North Col. Andy climbed to 6 900m, while Mike and John climbed to 6 750m and 6 650m respectively, leaving Ronnie to relax at A.B.C. – this is the whole acclimatization process.

We haven’t had any replies to our emails – they did say they were having problems setting it up – but I will post the replies when and if I get them.

Juno Reactor DVD July 2007

2007-04-28T19:12:00.001+02:00

Juno Reactor will be releasing a new DVD in July 2007, and it looks like there is a tour coming up, as I had a message today regarding Mabi Thobejane – more information on that when Ben answers his Skype messages!

But in the meantime, here is a short trailer for that soon-to-be-released DVD…

Juno Reactor was initially formed in 1990 by musicians Ben Watkins & Stephen Holweck as an experimental ambient project to record a soundtrack as part of a sculptural art installation & performance project by sculpture artist (and Watkins' girlfriend) Norma Fletcher. And one of their exciting projects was The Missile Project.

The got hold of a decommissioned missile from the English Ministry of Defence, loaded it on the back of a flatbed-truck and toured it through central London – right past Whitehall & Parliament. It was a statement in protest against the First Gulf War, and I think very cool!

Can you imagine people’s faces as a missile drove by?

Hope you’re having a good weekend!

13 & still going strong!

2007-04-28T17:00:00.001+02:00

It’s the first day of our 13th year of freedom; 13 years of new hope; 13 years young and still going strong!

Long live South Africa!

Yesterday brought back the very powerful memories I have of standing in that long-snaking queue, the chill and cloudy weather daring us to flee for shelter and warmth of a secure home; half the whities trembling anxiously – would the rumours that had been whispered quietly around dinner tables, in car-parks and during business meetings actually happen? Would they be swept into the sea, followed by the coloureds, the Indians and the Asians? Would the swart-gevaar finally become a reality?

Thirteen years later, I think that the only danger we have had is in our own fears and inaction. It has been our lack of understanding, a hesitancy to go out and break down barriers, to forge new relationships and find acceptance of our vast diversity, that has held us back. I am talking about the man on the street, the people who share this wonderful country, together, regardless of who is in power, or what our past has been – it is the us on the street who makes this country what it is.

Our country has a long history; a history that includes many cultures, much hardship & suffering, and unfortunately we can’t say that that is all in the past, because there are still tough times ahead – but I am excited to be a part of this re-growth. I look ahead, and try to enthuse others to feel the same excitement; of building a future together, and being proud of our place in the international community. (Jasper & his buddy Chantal)

These are exciting times.

Last night I went to dinner with some of the brilliant young minds of Cape Town, enjoying a great meal at the Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant, who played host to the April get-together known as the 27 Dinner. Techies, internet fundi’s and some pretty awe-inspiring bloggers met to talk about innovation on the net; projects that they are working on; enthusing these passionate people who are part of South Africa’s new media. They are making a difference, though I feel it is still only the beginning!

Hosted by the infectiously energetic Dave Duarte, I was chuffed to meet and listen to the words of people like Graham Knox of Stormhoek Wine, Uno de Waal, Tania (who knows just everybody), cartoonist Mike Scott, Rowan from MyVideo, the whole team from Zoopy.com, the Hunter of Genius Maximillian Kaisen , and Glen from The ZA Show…

I felt inspired, and am looking forward to helping bring South Africa towards that place it rightly deserves to be. A place we can safely leave to our children.

Viva South Africa Viva!

Remix Peter Gabriel for Real!

2007-04-25T17:29:00.000+02:00

Fancy yourself to be a DJ – a real DJ? How about remixing some tracks by Angelique Kidjo, or Peter Gabriel? Do you want the big man himself to hear your creation? Well, Real World Studios is letting you do just that!

All you have to do is register at their site RealWorldRemixed.com, choose a remix kit of one of the artists listed to download, get advice about which software to use, and gooi-malloy! Very, very cool.

The first artist featured on the site is Angelique Kidjo, & her track Salala featuring Peter Gabriel. They explain about the track on the site:

"The key was to build DJIN DJIN on a Beninese foundation. The heartbeat, then, comes from percussionists Crespin Kpitiki and Benoit Avihoue, both members of Benin's Gangb'e Brass Band. Details of their country's rhythmic heritage, specific in some cases to individual villages, feed the rhythms they lay down throughout the album.

The contributions of stellar guest artists illuminate Kidjo's concept. By finding a place for their distinctive talents within the marriage of African and Western influences, DJIN DJIN celebrates the beauty of diversity as well as the unity of cultures that Kidjo achieves through her music."
And how about this – to all you oldies out there – Peter Gabriel’s Shock The Monkey!

Wouldn’t you like Peter to hear your version of this classic?

"Peter Gabriel's Shock the Monkey is probably one of the most recognized tracks from his fourth solo album recorded between spring 1981 and summer 1982. This was one of the first tracks to use sampling technology utilizing the ground breaking Fairlight CMI and and other classic machines such as the Linn Drum and the Prophet 5 synth. You can hear these sounds throughout the sample pack. "

"...people saw that as a sort of animal rights song, but it wasn't actually it was a song about jealousy."

This is really a way of embracing the power of the internet as a musician. People are always going to find ways of downloading tracks illegally, and so instead of just jumping up and down in frustration, Peter Gabriel is embracing his fans, and including their thoughts in tracks recorded at Real World. Awesome.

So get over there, download some music, play around with it, and give it back – sounds like a lot of fun - after all there has been a warning about cold weather coming this weekend!

Here is a video of Peter Gabriel and Youssou N'Dour performing 'Biko', in memory of a great man.

SNG in Port Elizabeth!

2007-04-25T11:57:00.000+02:00

The Springbok Nude Girls will be hitting Port Elizabeth is tomorrow night, at Tapas Al Sol, launching their newest album Peace Breaker, at The Union! I am jealous, I must admit! Cape Town was such a cool party, and I’ve heard that Durban was also a hit, so prepare yourself!

I am sure that the windy city will need Freedom Day to recover from the hurricane that is about to hit them!

I have been playing Peace Breaker in the car when I fetch my boys from school, and am proud to say that Jasper (six-and-a-half) has full understanding of Rock ‘n Roll now.

It’s quite something when one considers all the traditional music he has been soaking in since birth - I was quite surprised when he said,

"So Papa, rock is like ‘Weee will, weee will, Rock you’!"

'Yes boykie – that’s Rock n Roll!"

The wisdom of babe.

So folks – get out there tomorrow night, and have a rocking good time!

16h45 UPDATE: I'm sorry people... I wasn't aware that Grahmastown was cancelled. But we have just found out - Arno's mom-in-law, Arlene just confirmed it for me... Sorry about that!

Unique slide-guitar with a spoon - Hannes Coetzee to the USA

2007-04-24T16:22:00.001+02:00

I was very pleased to find a little interesting article this morning(very early due to the lightening - right was taken at 04h51), about an artist who will be traveling overseas for the first time in his life, & then to perform at an international music festival. Hannes Coetzee, an old spoon-sliding guitarist who burst onto the music scene in 2003 as part of the Karoo Kitaar Blues project with South Africa’s David Kramer, comes from the small Karoo town of Herberstdale – and so one can imagine, would not have had many opportunities in the past, like this one!

The film Karoo Kitaar Blues, that has lead to this appearance, is about David & Hannes’ journey into the harsh & arid landscape of Namaqualand and the Great Karoo in 2001, in search of a disappearing musical style. The DVD shows not only musical performances by the artists, but in-depth interviews with violinists, guitarists, piano accordionists and mouth organ players who play what Kramer describes as Karoo Blues.

The guitarists and singers that David invited to perform are all self taught musicians, from the unforgiving and harsh Northern Cape, Namaqualand & the Karoo. These guys started out as piekies by making themselves guitars from empty oil can, hand carved wood and gut, and then learnt to play just by watching and listening to the performers from their families and close communities. I can just see the kids cuddled up to their parents as Ou Oom So-And-So would pull the guitar out while sitting at the spark-spitting fire, under the massive weight of the blanket of African stars…

The rural people from these remote areas are probably the last descendants of the Khoisan, the original indigenous people of Southern Africa who have been pretty much wiped out by our civilization, and so once again generations of emotion can be felt in this music.

Hannes Coetzee, who is in his mid-seventies now, works out in the veld tapping the aloes that grow around his Karoo hometown of Herberstdale for their medicinal juice. He composes his own songs and learnt to play the guitar just for himself (and the aloes I suppose). David says that he is only known practitioner of the ‘optel and knyp’ style(pick-up & pinch), playing slide guitar with a teaspoon in his mouth, which I think makes him unique!

So Hannes will be appearing just outside Seattle, at the Port Townsend Slide & Steel Festival, in the US of A, and I am sure is worried as hell about flying for the first time!

He is performing on June 28 at the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater, and again on June 30 in a show at McCurdy Pavilion. And then he has to fly back… Poor guy. I can imagine how he feels, knowing artists who were scared of getting into the belly of the big bird from the sky.

I think it’s awesome that he’s going – a simple bit of rural life will mean so much too so many!

Here is a short vid showing Herman performing his most unusual style, otherwise I can highly recommend getting the DVD Karoo Kitaar Blues, winner of the Golden Reel Award, Best Musical Documentary, and the 2006 Tiburon International Film Festival (USA). Enjoy!

Private Stash - an Indian mix

2007-04-24T07:04:00.000+02:00

Private Stash is a truly classical Indian collaboration from South Africa (take that Bollywood!). No, no, I didn't mean a hashish mix either - its music. Music for the soul!

Private Stash was founded in 2006 by tabla player Ashish Joshi who gathered a group of young South African born Indian musicians together to create a unique group. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of another group that represents the Indian culture in South Africa as this one does.

So Ashish got together with Ravi Lalloo, Bharat Gordhan, Premal Bhana and Dillen Ramjee plus guests Greg Georgiades and Maynard van der Walt, and they were recorded at The Studio With No Name, the MELT farm just outside Cullinan; a feast of sound and colour.

The whole session will be coming out soon on DVD, and I think that anyone can feel part of the relaxed ambiance of the MELT farm, & this amazing group of musicians that recorded there.

Recorded by well-known sound engineer Chris Lewis, who has been an integral part of most of MELT’s vast catalogue of South African & international collaborations.

The filming was done by Lianne Cox, who was recently nominated for a SAMA for Best Music Video for her work on the late Lebo Mathosa’s video Brand New Day.

(Ok, it's not the smallest of files, but I didn't want you to listen to kak sound... so its worth it!)

UPDATE 07/05/03: Ashish sent me the names of all the artists in the above clip - so you know who they are - and can say you saw them here first! So here is the group that collborates on the project known as Sur Banditz:

Premal Bhana – Sitar
Greg Georgiades – Sarod, Oud
Ashish Joshi – Santoor, Tabla
Bharat Gordhon – Vocals, Harmonium
Dillen Ramjee – Mridungum
Wynand van der Walt – Drums, Percussion
Ravi Lalloo – Tabla, Manjira

Enjoy it again! Because you can!

World music in Langa

2007-04-24T01:48:00.001+02:00

I have spoken many times about one of Cape Town’s most interesting son’s, Dizu Plaatjies, African music lecturer & traditional instrument specialist at U.C.T., composer, story-teller & musician. But I can never say enough!

I am fortunate to work closely with Dizu, and so asked him if he would like to present a number of short clips, in the next few weeks, in which he plays some of the instruments that he specializes in.

In this first piece, Dizu chose to play the Nyungwe, a member of the Mbira or thumb-piano family from Mozambique, but most well known from Zimbabwe.

Dizu’s career started with Amampondo, right in the early days of the group’s formation, where he was the charismatic leader and front-man on stage. Dizu’s persona is regal, and one flash of his smile warms the hearts of his audience – until he starts performing that is, when one feels flashes of ancient history wash over you with his masterful domination of your senses.

He has been hugely successful since he and the group parted ways some years ago, but his teaching projects in Langa, where he mentors the community’s youth, have provided him with an array of talented musicians to form part of his group titled Ibuyambo. If you are into rhythmical traditional music, I can highly recommend MELT 2000’s Dizu Plaatjies & Mzwandile Qotoyi Ethno Trance Live (BNETCD002) – makes me want to get all Johnny Clegg, but I’m afraid I’d pull a hamstring! (Dizu & daughter @ my place)

Dizu has a firm grip on his roots, and by keeping the knowledge of this continents musical history alive, I feel he is a national treasure that needs to be nurtured and respected.

Apart from all the above – he’s a hell of a nice guy too!

Just Jinjer, the Rudimentals & Lark updates

2007-04-20T17:16:00.000+02:00

Just to fill you in on some info before the weekend starts, below you’ll find some info on the Rudimentals, Lark & Just Jinjer. The South African music business is a hive of activity, and looking as healthy as a spring chicken!

The Rudiementals have taken most of April off, after their highly successful CTIJF appearance, to try and give themselves some breathing space to do some of the following things:

1. Breathe.
2. Begin editing the live DVD of Kirstenbosch, shot on 18 March 2007.
3. Breathe again.
4. Start mixing the live album recorded on the same date as above.
5. Start working on new songs.
6. Preparing for a full tilt charge until the end of the year.

Upcoming gigs to look out for are Zula Sound Bar on 27 April and the much awaited Mad Caddies gig at Tafelberg Tavern on Thursday 3 May. They will be sharing the opening slots with Half Price and Hog Hoggidy Hog. Doors open at 7pm sharp and the gig is open to all ages. Tickets are R170 at Computicket or R200 at the door.

Just Jinjer will be touring South Africa in November & December this year, I’ll more details about that later, but if you are wanting to book one of South Africa’s top bands, this info will save you quite abit of international travel costs! They’ll already be here! Wundaful stuff!

And finally LARK launch the re-release of their ‘Mouth of Me’ EP in Gauteng.

While LARK are busy road tripping and winning awards, they have also been in studio remixing and remastering their ‘Mouth of Me’ EP that sold out at the beginning of last year.

The EP will have the original 6 tracks remixed to include their drummer as well as three new tracks, ‘Black Swan’, ‘Weights’ and ‘Heroin Mary’. Included in the release will be their award winning music video ‘Moonlight’ and a dolby surround sound mix of ‘Moonlight’ as well as two remixes of the tracks ‘Grey Evening’ by Mr Sakitumi and ‘Half Eaten’ by Jacob Israel.

The EP was recorded at Sound and Motion Studios in Cape Town and will be released through JUST MUSIC nation wide in the coming month. The band have decided to launch in Gauteng first and then in Cape Town at a later date as there is something special being planned for the band’s hometown fans.
The launch dates are as follows:

2nd MAY – Tings n Times (with Jacob Israel) – Pretoria
3rd MAY – Tings n Times – Pretoria
4th MAY – 88 – Johannesburg
9th MAY – Café Barcelona – Pretoria
10th MAY – Back 2 Basix – Johannesburg

The band will also be doing shows at The Wanderers Club in Johannesburg on the 5th of MAY and at TEMPOS (21:00) in Johannesburg on the 6th of MAY.

Here's a little treat - Just Jinjer live in Johannesburg in 2006.

As I said - have an awesome weekend!

Cameroonian Della Tamin in Jozi

2007-04-20T03:40:00.000+02:00

One of the greatest joys of working in the music industry, is when you get to meet & hear about lots of exciting new artists. And getting to know that artists work seems to broaden horizons – you can’t take that knowledge away, you can only add to it. That’s what its like having Robert Trunz as a music guru! He’s forever broadening my horizons!

The latest artist that he introduced me to is the Johannesburg-based Della Tamin, originally from the Wouri region in Cameroon, where some of the great artists such as Prince Eyango and the late Kotto Bass were his immediate influences.

Della’s songs, which he pens himself, are in his mother-tongue, Medumba, as well as Duala, French & English, and he has been making a name for himself of late by performing at Moyo Restaurants in and around Jo’burg, following a very successful gig at the Bassline.

Della studied physics & chemistry at the University of Cameroon, graduating as a Civil Technician before coming to SA in 2004.

He is recording an album through MELT, which we can expect at a later stage of 2007.

So here’s a little track to broaden your horizon! Della was joined on stage by some local artists, including the Kwani Experience & Live African Percussion duo Frank Magongwa (left) on Bass & percussionist Bafana Nhlapo.

Have an awesome weekend folks – we have a stunning start in Cape Town today!

1st Video from Zoopy.com... a funky little site!

07/04/23 UPDATE: I was waiting for a mail from Robert as I couldn't remember the back-up vocalists name - it's Laure Yolande Noongo, also from Cameroon, and this mama has a voice to listen to!

Her range goes from Folk to Opera, and I am sure we are going to hear more of her!

I also asked Robert if Della's music would be classed as more World Music mix, or if it is a typical Cameroonian style, and he replied, "On the one hand he is a singer/songwriter who composes his own songs with a strong influence of the rhythmic patterns of the region of Yaounde (Cameroon) where he was born but Della also admires French chansons which comes out in his romantic and often quite dramatic song writing" - so there you have it.

Fusion happening all around us

2007-04-20T01:06:00.000+02:00

I got off the phone a little earlier to Pops Mohamed, who was filling me in on what he is going to be up to over the next few months. International tours, collaborations, and even a few CD’s will be released under different labels, and genres.

Pops will be leaving to perform in Oslo for 6-weeks from the beginning of May, returning for a short while before jetting off to France for a 3-week collaboration with Jozi’s Kwani Experience. Kwani and Pops will be such an amazing combination – they both focus dearly on traditional instruments and the fusion with jazz.

Kwani also has the L.A.P. guys involved in it, and they’ve been working closely with Robert Trunz from MELT in the last while, appearing live with a number of artists like Madala Kunene, Cameroonian Della Tawin (got a lil vid coming soon!) and Zulu maskanda artist Umshika Shika Qabe.

Pops has been working on a few projects, like doing workshops with a 50-piece youth choir, backed by Kora… There is going to be a CD released soon, in which Pops plays healing music; music from the ancient times that have developed such an important part in today’s hectic life-style (try meditating to Britney…). He is also going to be creating a Social Vibes Volume II, the Volume I, recorded with McCoy Mrubata, has been on the market for some 8-years under Sheer Music, but Pops has his own Record Label now, and so releases his own material.

That is the directions all musicians should strive for; owning your own material, and licensing it out! I’m a small business owner, and believe in the man on the street determines his own destiny – and it works exactly the same for musicians – take charge! Do it yourself baby-shoes! No-one worries about the grumbling of your own belly as you do yourself!

Pops was highly impressed by a collaboration that he saw at Baseline last week; Uju combined with the most hectic Kora players you have ever seen, that I have ever seen, in the world, Ba Cissoko from Guinea.

Lenny & I saw them live in Essen at WOMEX, and how this young lead Kora plays like Jimi Hendrix… Behind the back, up in the air, all with the required leg stomping and grimacing concentration, and he gets really funky when he plays with his teeth!

So Pops, go out there and tell them more about the beautiful diversity of South Africa, play them our music, and carry on being an ambassador for us!

EverestSA2007 Update 4

2007-04-19T17:46:00.001+02:00

This morning I received an sms via my mother, from my uncle John, who is sitting at the base of Everest, saying that he is feeling wonderful. Their internet is still down, so they are only expecting to receive emails next week. But there is worry about team leader Ronnie, who injured his back.

16 April - After breakfast the team did an acclimatisation climb above Base Camp. We climbed to 5600m on fairly precarious terrain. Where on one occasion Ronnie slipped and hurt his back. The afternoon was spent preparing to move up to Advanced Base Camp.

17 April - Ronnie struggled to get out of bed this morning. His back had gone into spasm due to yesterday’s fall and he will probably not move up to Advanced Base Camp with Mike, John and Andy tomorrow, as a full recovery is imperative before going higher. He has been taking anti-inflammatories to help ease the spasm and pain. John made his famous bully beef stew for lunch, which went down like a storm. (I suppose sitting in such conditions boiled-boot would be great! I prefer John's curry!)

18 April - Early this morning Ronnie was carried on a stretcher to the communications tent where a lady doctor from the Russel Brice expedition gave him some powerful drugs to ease the spasm and pain. For 6 hours he was out for a count, Mike, John and Andy left for Intermediate Base Camp and then on to Advanced Base Camp. Ronnie will join them later in the week.

I’ll be keeping a close eye on updates, and will post anything I hear. Lets hold thumbs he gets sorted out!

Lark owes me a butt-kick

2007-04-19T00:07:00.001+02:00

I want to tell you about what a ‘poephol’ I made of myself the other day, with Lark, our newest SAMA winners of Best Alternative Album for Razbliuto, the funky electronic organic fusion album that’s causing major waves. We were caught up in the frenzy of production for the SNG Peace Breaker launch, and we toying with groups to support the Nudies – when I suddenly thought about Lark!

Lark, as you may already know, has been around for a few years. They’re a young, dynamic mix of artists that fuse a multitude of instruments and disciplines to dramatic effect. I first heard about them through Anton Ressel, a founder of the very cool Streetwires, who is the brother of Paul Ressel, and who I also happened to go to school with. I had done some research, & made contact, but sometimes it takes time to meet.

So I shouted to Denise to call Anton the other day, to get Paul's number to ask them if they would like to open for the Nudies at the Tafelberg Tavern? I explained to him who I am (I’m starting to sound like a bit of an ‘ou man’ now), and then Paul very graciously declined, explaining that they were going to be in Sun City on Friday, and so they wouldn’t be able to – though they would have enjoyed it!

And then on Monday I realized what I had done, when I presented the 2007 SAMA winners on my own blog…

Damn… I couldn’t believe that I had been such a poephol!

I wrote to them immediately, apologizing, knee’s getting indented by little stones in the dirt, and they forgave me. And told me they had sent their latest DVD and CD (SAMA winner!!) in the post. (Jasper suggested I needed my bum kicked... and Kai showed how)

I’m happy. They are VERY happy. And so to make you happy – here’s their most awesome video – Moonlight, from the award winning album Razbliuto – which was also rated as Best Video of All Time on MK89… See for yourself…

Vusi Mahlasela conquers USA

2007-04-17T17:47:00.000+02:00

To my small contingent of American friends (want hierdie blok is meestal vir Suid Afrikaaners wat nie ‘Bos’ befok is nie, en ek praat nie van die Knysna bos nie - ok ok ok in English – South Africa has stunning nature, with lovely forests!) I would like to warn you of our newest South African Music Award winner Vusi Mahlasela (Best Solo Male Artist) whose May dates have just been confirmed.

If you haven’t heard Vusi before, you have a spot in your brain that is still empty and waiting for the beautiful music that has made him this year’s top dog!

Vusi will be back on tour in the USA starting May 5. The tour kicks off at the Co-Existence Festival in New Brunswick, NJ.

05/05/07 New Brunswick, NJ Co-Existence Festival
05/06/07 Northampton, MA The Iron Horse
05/09/07 New York, NY Sounds of Brazil
05/10/07 Baltimore, MD Ram's Head Live
05/12/07 Jamestown, VA America's 400th Anniversary Celebration
05/13/07 Charlottesville, VA Starr Hill

(If you're a USA'er) Tune into your local NPR station Monday, April 16th to listen to Vusi on Morning Edition. Please visit www.npr.org to listen online or to find your local station. (Vusi's segment will be in the second half of the program and will also be archived online.) Vusi chats with Renee Montagne about his new album, Guiding Star, and discusses his upbringing in South Africa and his role in the struggle against Apartheid.

Then, all my friends in Europe, these are the dates that have been confirmed so far! If you can’t be there yourself, I am sure you know someone who knows someone who will want to be there, so here are the dates:

05/16/07 Angouleme, France Musiques Metisses
05/17/07 Coutances, France Jazz Sous Les Pommiers
05/19/07 Lisboa, Portugal Casa de Musica
05/21/07 San Sebastian, Spain City Festival

Go Vusi! Another Proudly South African export!

EverestSA2007 - Update 03

2007-04-17T13:41:00.000+02:00

I received this update this morning from my uncle and the 2007 South African team attempting to conquer the N.E. Ridge of Mt. Everest. It incorporates some of what I have already updated, but this is straight from the horses mouth!

Everest Newsletter 16th April 2007
The South African Everest team met in Kathmandu on the 3rd of April. We spent four days doing our final preparations before departing for Base Camp. The drive of 350km was taken over 5 days, so that we could carefully begin our acclimatisation process. Base Camp is 5 200m above sea level and the views of the mountain are spectacular from here.

We have settled into Base Camp life and will spend 6 nights here before we move up to Advanced Base Camp at 6 450m above sea level. The weather has been superb although the nights have been cold with temperatures dropping to minus 15ºC.

Our high-altitude Sherpas and kitchen staff moved up to Advanced Base Camp on Saturday, along with 20 yaks each carrying 60 kgs of communal equipment and food.

On Sunday morning we managed to have a warm shower - our first clean-up since leaving Kathmandu on the 7th of April. Baby wipes have had to suffice for the last 8 days.

The team have decided upon their climbing strategy and we are all getting on extremely well. We remembered to pack in our sense of humour and consequently are enjoying some great laughs together.

Roberto Trostli once wrote "To walk along the level road requires little will but climbing up the mountainside develops strength and skill and those who choose to stay below may seek and never find the riches that will be revealed to those who dare to climb."

Warmest regards from Base Camp

Chris Chameleon Shines!

2007-04-17T02:16:00.000+02:00

“Chris Chameleon is just a super-cool guy” swooned Denise; “Oh he is just lovely”, said Wendy; while Lenny had to just confide in him that “Boo was one of the best things to ever come out of South Africa!”, and Chris had to agree. And then they babbled away in Dutch for the next 15 minutes. All the girls are smitten!

The girls pounced on him when he arrived at the SNG Peace Breaker launch last Friday, and 20 minutes later Arno was shouting out that he had just won his South African Music Award for 7de Hemel, in the Best Adult Contemporary Afrikaans category.

Chris is really an artist who has embraced his talent and given himself the freedom to create, whether through circumstances or his own choice is not important, but few artists have straddled such vastly different styles as Mr. Chameleon. Whatever the style, his colours blend beautifully.

After the national & international success of BOO, he has earned the highest award for his Afrikaans contribution to our CD rack with 7de Hemel, while Shine brings out an alternative rock style that caters to us Engelsmanne!

Chris Chameleon is also one of our most difficult artists to secure bookings for – most enquirers don’t realize that he is one Peak’s busiest artists, and is booked months and months in advance! Isn’t that a wonderful sign of how healthy South African music is?

But Chris was at the SNG launch as a fan! He gave us a wonderful shout-out – I’ve heard – but the cam somehow slipped onto memory instead of camera, and so I only got a snippet…

Bribing him with a SNG t-shirt to get this was all we had to do – now I wonder what he’ll want for another take…

I hope it’s not my girls…

I suspect I’d be left with a whirlwind of paperwork in an empty office (and the neighbours do so hate wheel-spins in the driveway!)…

So here is a much shortened shout-out from the Man, with a snippet of the track Nothing from his latest album Shine (RR070).

Ahhh - but I couldn't just leave you with that! So here is a vid I found some time ago of Chris recording Op Die Vootpad, with clips from Vyf Lewens, Fragment and Lied van die Lappop from the album Ek herhaal jou, in studio. Enjoy!

2007 SAMA winners & controversey

2007-04-16T17:45:00.001+02:00

The week has started with South Africa’s newest SAMA winners still glowing in their glory! The nation’s 13th annual music awards ceremony, held at the Sun City Superbowl on Friday & Saturday night, has provided us with some new names to focus on in the future, while also reconfirming that some of our biggest stars, are still stars! But nothing without a little bit of controversy…

I read through numerous online reports, & even 4 papers yesterday; the Sunday Times, The Sunday Independent, The Sunday Weekend Argus & City Press; just trying to find a full list of the winners, but each place I went to just highlighted their own readers presumed preferences. How are we supposed to hear about all the winners if we don’t read about them? How do you cross language barriers if not through music, and learning who is singing what?

The controversy stems from the article in the City Press, written by Japhet Ncube & Cecil Motsepe, who were at the event at the Sun City Superbowl. Their headline reads ‘Dana crowned queen of SA Music’ with the by-line ‘But drama and controversy plague ‘rigged’ music awards’.

“Controversy, drama and rumours that the event was rigged could spoil what turned out to be Simphiwe Dana’s night to shine.” And the article carries on mostly using words like ‘incredibly talented singer controversially crowned’, and about Best Newcomer award winner Siphokazi, who was nominated for 5 awards, being ‘robbed’ of the Best Female Artist award because there is doubt over the juries selection process.

Nothing constructive was offered, or any direct accusation made against the awards process, to which the organizers can answer. Is this responsible reporting? Or do I smell vrot grapes? (Am sure Jon Cherry from the SA Blog Awards knows this feeling!)

I am very pleased with this years winners, as most of the artists I focused on in my ‘South Africans shining all over the world’ post are artists that we love to promote, and were happy winners on the night. And rightfully so!

snatched the Best Group/Duo award from We are so chuffed that Moreira & Mark Fransman picked up the Best Producer Award; and who can deny the talent of Chris Chameleon for Best Adult Contemporary in Afrikaans; while City Press bitch that MafikizoloTrompies and Shwi Nomtekhala (Best Selling Album), who Ncube & Motsepe say should have at least taken it home.

The journo’s say that many of the judges are hand-picked by the organizers (tjommies?), and that some of them moonlight by writing artists profiles and press releases for the record labels (back-handers?), which must prejudice them. Some of the judges have not even written about the music industry in a number of years; which is a worrying factor, because even I would then be a better judge of what’s going on out there!

I just find it slapgat that this information is not highlighted & bitched about prior to the event, as there is really no need to piddle on the fireworks that some very deserved artists have happening inside their heads!

Let’s celebrate the music, encourage audiences to support and nurture that many talented people we have in South Africa, and be professional about how we assess success. Pointing fingers should be done at the right time, and in the right face – the artists, nominated or winning, have no control over the awards – they just want to do what they do best!

So we would like to wish all the winners of this years South African Music Awards our heartiest congratulations, and to the runners up – there is always next year!

For a FULL list of the winners – please feel free to scroll down… Because I want you to know more!

Best Solo Male Artist: Vusi Mahlasela for Naledi Ya Tsela
Best Female Solo Artist: Simphiwe Dana for One Love movement on Bantu Biko Street (hopefully Gallo will be able to afford to update her website now…)
Best Duo/Group: Mafikizolo for Six Mabone
Best Selling Album: Shwi Nomtekhala
Album of the Year: Simphiwe Dana for One Love movement on Bantu Biko Street

Best Producer : Moreiera Chonguica & Mark Fransman for Moreira Chongiuca & the Moreira Project
Best Engineer: Lloyd Ross for Vusi Mahlasela
Best Compilation DVD (Single Artist): Mafikizolo for The Hits
Best Live DVD: Soweto Gospel Choir for Blessed Live in Concert
Best Music Video: Lara Hollis for Lira
Best Kwaito: Kabelo for Exodus
Best Rap: Flabba (from Skwatta Kamp) for Nkuli vs Flabba
Best R&B/Soul: Claire Phillips for Say My Name
Best urban Dance: DJ Cleo for Eskhaleni Zone 3
Best Afrikaans Dance: Kurt Darren for Lekker Lekker
Best Urban Pop: Lesego for Mymusic
Best Pop (African): Mafikizolo for Six Mabone
Best Pop (Afrikaans): Eden for Eden
Best Pop (English): Danny K for This is my time
Best Alternative: Lark for Razbliuto
Best Rock (Afrikaans): Fokofpolisiekar for Swansong
Best Rock (English): Cassestte for Welcome Back to Earth
Best Country: Fredi Nest for Hey DJ
Best Kiddies Afrikaans: Steve Hofmeyr for Laaitjies & Ladies
Pop/Rock Gospel: Mic for Snapshot
Traditional African Accapella Gospel: Thulani Manana for Impi Kasathane
African Traditional Gospel: Jabu & Sipho for Esphambonweni (Send Your Fire)
African Contemporary Gospel: Rebecca for Umthombo
Best Urban Gospel: Redeemed for Live in Soweto
Best Adult Contemporary - African: Siphokazi for Ubunu Bam
Best Adult Contemporary – Afrikaans: Chris Chameleon for 7de Hemel
Best Adult Contemporary – English: Johnny Clegg for One Life
Vocal Jazz: Simphiwe Dana for One Love movement on Bantu Biko Street
Instrumental Jazz: Bheki Khosa for Getting to Heaven Alive
Contemporary Jazz: Simphiwe Dana for One Love movement on Bantu Biko Street
Best Instrumental: Paul Hammer for Accused #1 Nelson Mandela
Best Traditional Accapella: Colenso Abafana Benkokhelo for Induku
Best Maskanda: Shwi Nomtekhala for Angimazi Ubaba
Best Mbhaqanga: Bhekumuzi Luthuli for Inkinga Ngu R7
Best Tsonga: MD Shirinda for Gama Ranshele
Best Afrikaans Traditional: Klipwerf for Hantam Kwela

SNG rocks Cape Town!

2007-04-15T07:17:00.000+02:00

The Springbok Nude Girls rocked Cape Town on Friday night. Long live the Springbok Nude Girls!

I was there, I sweated, I jumped up & down, I sang along even when I didn’t know the words, and came out feeling very much like the rocker I never was!

The atmosphere was already sweaty after Throatball got the launch going with some hard rock that almost gave me hair on my head! I have to admit that there was much growling that I didn’t understand, but by the end of the set the Nude fans were filling the venue and getting psych’ed up for the main act!

The man, Arno, Arno Blumer, Adriaan Brand (left - we realised not family), Francois Kruger and of course the famous Theo Crous had been out amongst us mere mortals, greeting, back-slapping and pressing the necessary flesh up until just before they got on stage – making it so personal!

But the party really started the moment Arno stepped out onto the smoky hot stage. There is no denying that he is a pro at what he does. His personality, natural & passionate; you can see it in his eyes that every song is sung for the music; from the moment that microphone feels his grip! He dances his own dance. He lives every track.

They started out with Gang Gang, Theo electrifying the air on lead-guitar & Francois setting the beat on drums, thumping the adrenaline straight away, Arno strumming that bass guitar in the back, & Adriaan kitted out in a keyboard cockpit, and launching the concert skyward!

Peace Breaker was appreciated.

The audience of old & new Nude fans got tracks like Looking for Master, Illuminate, with Adriaan’s trumpet sailing through the air – I really want to live forever - Supergirl, I love you, Kill Them For The Country, 1 More Time, and the album namesake Peace Breaker, which just soared upward with such a full sound, it was really amazing. Sweat pouring from the band at the end of 90 minutes, Cape Town knew the Nudies were back!

The VIP room had a mixture of journo’s and sponsors, music people and a few stars, such as Chris Chameleon who had just won a SAMA that night & and was there to celebrate with the Nudies! Arno also invited Atillo, a wheelchair bound disabled SNG fan for many years. He was introduced to the whole band, they signed his copy of Peace Breaker, kitted him out in a t-shirt, and stuck him right in front of the stage during the show – man, was he beaming!

Lenny and I had surrounded ourselves with an awesome team to take care of the launch, with Peak'ers Denise & Angie, being joined by Wendy in VIP, and Francoise (my sis!) at the door. Security really impressed me with Gadiga from Core Security even keeping the moshers from inflicting too much damage! High energy music gets the system pumping, so its good to keep close control on high emotions!

The sound& lighting on the night was from Hellfire, and we had a VJ mixing images onto 2 screens from Little Big Productions. We had a marquee outside from In Tent Productions, with Nice Toilets, and sponsorship from Puma, Nando’s, Red Bull & Smirnoff, Vodacom & 5FM.

Here’s a little teaser, thanks to Sony BMG Music Entertainment’ s Paul Thackwray, of some Nudies energy on stage. See it, feel it, and love it – there’s not much more to add…

Recovering...

2007-04-14T11:40:00.000+02:00

Because it rocked!

i am in awe

2007-04-12T19:06:00.001+02:00

OK - I am excited! I have been mentioning that we are in the process of imploding our present look, and that there should be a huge explosion when we hit the road running with our new corporate image, around the end of the month, beginning of the next. And of course, it also means that I am also going to get the blog a magnificent new set of clothes!

Iaminawe are incredible (Gregg & Angella...love you guys). I wanted a warm African design; one that spoke of the powerful emotions that this continent evokes, warm deep colours, full of the silhouettes of people, performers, & African design.

I wanted it to show some of the spirit of South Africa, and I think we're damn well getting there! More to come.

EverestSA2007 Update 2

2007-04-12T18:14:00.001+02:00

The 2007 SA Everest expedition, of which my uncle John is a member, met their Sherpas last Friday (070406) at a monastery known as Pal Gyi Dingri Langkor Jangsem Kunga Ling (try pronouncing that!) where their Kathmandu Puja ceremony was held. As individuals and as a team they were blessed by His Holiness Tsering Wangdu Norbu Rinpoche. “It was a very special ceremony indeed and extremely important for our Sherpas.”

The group left Kathmandu on Saturday (070407) morning for Base Camp, the trip taking up to 5 days the group to get there. They said that the drive up the Sun Khosi River to Kodari was magnificent, before they crossed Friendship Bridge into Tibet.

As I mentioned before about my family being pretty technologically backward, Ronnie (team leader) had to teach John how to send an sms, but he ended up phoning my mother anyway!

After heavy rainfall that night, they left Zangmu early so as to avoid the resulting landslides which were expected later in the day. “We arrived at Nyalam in time for brunch and then did a climb up to 4 100m to acclimatise. We rested this afternoon in the cold Snow Land Hotel where the four of us are sharing a room.”

On Monday, they did another acclimatisation climb up to 4 300m and got back to the village just before it started to snow.

My cousin Mike and Andy inadvertently swapped thermal long johns, and they say the guys will never be the same again.

On Tuesday they drove to the little village of Tingri which is 4 200m above sea level. We’ll spend two nights there and do some further acclimatisation, but we are very pleased to hear that all is going well.

I'll keep the updates coming!

Kurt Darren & DJ Sbu showdown!

2007-04-12T14:10:00.001+02:00

The day before a major launch like we have planned for tomorrow night, things get pretty hectic in the office! Sponsors calling to try and get extra tickets, interviews being planned (Arno will be on Maties FM from 16h30 – 17h00 & on UCT Radio from 19h30 – 20h00) and juggled around last minute rehearsals and just a general pandemonium – which is exactly what you need for it all to fall into place on the day.

I spent the morning yesterday filming many of our artists who were part of a circus show currently being hosted at Bayside Centre in Table View. Aerial acts, clowns that juggle, acrobats, an escape show, uni-cyclists, knife-throwing, etc – if your kids have nothing to do this Saturday, go and check it out – it is really cool.

I was standing high up on the staircase, to be able to film from above, and had a few teenagers standing near me; the ones that are still in a pretty geeky stage of their lives, when they aren’t sure is they are coming or going, and they don’t really find anything cool – these guys were hosing themselves at all the slapstick and subtle jokes that go over the kids heads… So I feel it was mission accomplished.

Musically, we are all preparing ourselves for the South African Music Awards that are happening on Saturday. It is really the highlight of the year; when musicians get official recognition for all the hard slog that they have put into their creations…

And competition for the top-spot is getting tight! Song of the year… will it go to Bok van Blerk’s Afrikaaner heart-wrenching De la Rey? And what about the very mellow What he means from Just Jinjer? Or the ‘balle tussen jou bene’ Leeuloop by Robbie Wessels? I can’t answer. But I know that Kurt Darren (Lekker Lekker) and DJ Sbu (Remember when it rained) took things to the streets the other day in a bitch-slapping-testosterone-fueled challenge… check it out…

Hope your day is just great!

End of Fokofpolisiekar?

2007-04-12T10:44:00.000+02:00

News has just come in that Fokofpolisiekar’s (For the English readers: Fokofpolisiekar basically means Go away way police car translated nicely…) front man Francois van Coke is going on a national tour (jus NOT Cape Town!) playing his own material. He’s going to be joined by joined by lead guitarist Laudo Liebenberg…

I read at Makesomenoise that he was touring as the VAN COKE KARTEL with Fokof Bassist Wynand Myburgh… but then the Laudo confirmation is from the horse’s mouth, so you better believe it!

Fokof had a hectic year in 2006, that saw they reaping awards; MK89 Best Band Award; 2 Blunt Best Album Awards for Swansong & Best Live Act; there is a possible SAMA for Best Afrikaans Rock Album; Swansong was the first Afrikaans track to reach 5fm’s # 1 shpot!

Hmmm… I wonder this means? Is this the break up of Fokof, now that Francois is touring? Is there confusion in the ranks? Even SAMusicblog was worried… ‘twould be donnerse shame!

4.16.07 Tings 'n Times, Pretoria
4.17.07 Cafe Barcelona, Elarduspark. Pretoria
4.18.07 Back2Basix, Mellville. JHB with Warren Snaith (Soulja)
4.19.07 Steak 'n Ale, Pretoria
4.20.07 Hi-Flyerz, Boksburg. JHB FREE SHOW!!!
4.21.07 Maloneys, Roodepoort
4.23.07 Maloneys, Hatfield Pretoria
4.24.07 Waenhuis Theatre, Bethlehem
4.25.07 Mystic Boer, Bloemfontein
4.26.07 Stones, George
4.28.07 Corner Bar, Durbanville

07/04/14 UPDATE: A Best Rock in Afrikaans South African Music Award for Swansong, let's hope that this is enough of a sign to the guys that the formula is right, and that awards are meant to be collected! So congrat's guys! And keep them coming!

Arno's Peace Breaker shout-out!

2007-04-10T07:31:00.000+02:00

I had my meeting with Arno today. He had just finished shaving when I arrived – to look good for you lot, I am sure. He's 'not a morning person', he grinned slyly at me, but I got him to give you a shout-out anyway; about Friday nights Cape Town launch of Peace Breaker, remember? The Springbok Nude Girls new release, that's happening at the Tafelberg Tavern (doors open 20h00).

Ahhh Cape Town, we are in for a party! So to whet your appetite; to start you thinking about where you’re going to park; what you’re going to wear; and mostly, how many buddies are going to be able to squeeze in the car with you – I’ll let Arno say his (slightly NSFW) thing.

It's a SA music week!

2007-04-10T02:32:00.000+02:00

Wow – it feels great to be revived and ready for the week ahead after a nice relaxing long weekend! And we’re going to be needing lots of energy with the Cape Town launch of the new Springbok Nude Girls album, Peace Breaker, happening at the Tafelberg Tavern on Friday night!

There is so much work that gets put into a gig like this; months of behind the scenes stuff that the audience never knows about!

Len & Denise from our side, with Shelly Coetzee, Melanie (Carstens) & Mel’s mom Arlene Machattie from Arno's side have spent hours of talk-time and forests of email planning & preparing, then its over before you know it!

Sitting in a brightly lit venue after the show; once the crowds have sung their way down the road, and the clean-up has to start, you're left feeling drained & elated at the same time. The music & the energy from the audience pulls you through to that point; seeing the pleasure and blood-pumping appreciation during the show, making one feel very proud to be a part of South African music.

The S.A.M.A's are on Saturday; creating new stars, celebrating old stars and hosting a great party I am sure. There are a few artists I am keeping an eye on, and so I will be doing some build-up features before we get there.

So I think its apt that I share a shout-out from one of the nurturers of our traditional music; music from the roots of this country; that real music that is the foundation of all our rhythm. Mzwandile Qotoyi, the oldest (and I say that in the nicest possible way MZ!) founding member of Amampondo, knows about taking the past into the future, as can be heard by the kick-ass sound clip, Hule Lam, by Juno Reactor & Amampondo I’ve included in it.

I’ll be filming something special tomorrow – for you, all my Peakers – another exclusive shout-out by a way cool dude whose passion I want to share with you – so watch this space!

(Rouvanne shouts-out) HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK!

The number one Gang

2007-04-07T15:40:00.000+02:00

We have just finalized the contracts for the Freak Out music series, starting at the Coca Cola Dome with a Kwaito/Hip Hop Festival on 22 June and can confirm that Mafikizolo, Mandoza, Pitch Black Afro (right), Tuks and Gang of Instrumentals are going to give you the party of the year!

It’s a top class line-up, that we are very proud to have secured, on behalf of Beyond Events, and this is the first place you’ll be hearing about it.

Lenny is very excited that it’ll be our first booking a the Gang of Instrumentals, as we’ve been burning deep grooves into their CD Salute at the office. They are a group who know where they want to go!

From Soweto, they have cool and groovy sound, with lead vocalist Tumi “Lady Naturelle” Masemola’s beautiful voice catching your ear! She finished in the top 50 of Idols, appeared with the international hit show African Footprint, and produced and stared in the multi-award winning SABC sitcom ‘City Ses’la’ – all giving rise to the professionalism that takes them forward.

"Lady Naturelle" (right) has Mandla N the “Pimville Spokesman” & “Bongo Riot” Zunga to complete the group, and add the hip hop flavoured reggae rhythms that are stirred together with soulful urban beats – a great South African cocktail!

Salute is their second album, the first a lot of hard work and dedication – so hats off to them, because otherwise it’ll fly off your head as they whiz past on their journey to the top!

Here is their track My Number One from Salute (MMACD003) – listen out for Mandla’s “Koochi Koo koo, Baby Boo, I’m so gaga over you” hehehe – great stuff!

Tickets on sale through Computicket from 30 May 2007!!

I am Pops Mohamed

2007-04-05T01:32:00.000+02:00

Pops Mohamed, an artist who has appeared and collaborated with some of the most interesting artists in the world, was in Cape Town on Tuesday and I managed to catch up with him for a quick chat.

He wanted to send out a message to all young musicians in South Africa, and across this vast and beautiful continent, about how important it is to know where you come from, to be able to know where you are going.

Having recorded with traditional artists such as the San of the Kalahari, cultural ambassadors such as Amampondo, Dizu Plaatjies, and even being backed by the London Sound Collective, or funky DJ's like Rudeboy Paul, Revolution, Blackcoffee, as on his new release The Fucha Rist.

Pops is an artist who embraces traditional sounds and makes them funky by modernizing them with electronica; such as appearing with the 109-year old !Gube Tee Tee and his family, and combining this most ancient trance dance with jazz and DJ’s for events around the world.

This is music from Africa, for the world.

Hope you have a good, and safe, Easter weekend!

Springbok Nude Girls tour starts Friday!

2007-04-04T03:05:00.000+02:00

We’re very excited in the office – we have been chosen as the official Cape Town production office to South Africa’s star rock group The Springbok Nude Girls!

We have been dealing closely with Arno’s office for the last few months, and so we are chuffed to let you know that the official launch of their new album Peace Breaker will be happening across the country starting this Friday!

THE Peace Breaker TOUR 2007

06th April – Carfax, JOHANNESBURG
13th April – Tafelberg Tavern, CAPE TOWN
14th April – Burn, DURBAN
25th April – The Union, GRAHAMSTOWN
26th April – Tapas Al Sol, PORT ELIZABETH
28th April – Mystic Boer, BLOEMFONTEIN

The doors open at 20h00, so get your ass there early! Because I can tell you now that it is going to be packed! Tickets are available at Computicket and on the night at the door – but you have been warned, so I would advise all the Peakers to get them in advance!

See you at the Tafelberg Tavern next Friday!

Umshika Shika Qabe - Zulu Maskandi live!

2007-04-03T06:18:00.000+02:00

Maskanda, or maskandi, is a unique style of South African music. Traditionally it is a Zulu style that has been the domain of mainly men, but in this exciting new time we live in, anything and everything is possible!

So how would you describe it? Maskanda is distinguished by an instrumental flourish that sets the tone at the beginning of each song, picked guitar style, and rapidly spoken sections of Zulu praise poetry, called "izibongo". The content isn't always praise, though, and with pop, house and other influences colouring maskanda, it has become more about the storytelling ethic and the modern migrant culture, than simply about the musical style. (Answers.com)

One of South Africa’s biggest exports of maskanda is Busi Mhlongo (pictured right) – whose album Urbanzulu reached and stayed at the top of the World Music Charts for some 16 weeks! But other names that have made a big impact include Amashayina Amahle, Bhekumuzi Luthuli, Shiyani Ngcobo and my favourite, Madala Kunene.

The artist I would like to present is Umshika Shika Qabe who was first discovered by Madala Kunene and recorded by MELT during a visit by Airto Moreira to Durban in 1996. The recording lay dormant until 2005 when MELT released one of his tracks on Madala's album UXOLO.

The launch of the UXOLO (Peace) album was at the Bassline in Johannesburg's Newtown district and featured maskandi guitarist Umshika Shika Quabe (pictured left) who preformed with Mabi Thobejane and members of L.A.P. and Kwani Experience.

A full version DVD of the 2005 UXOLO launch is being released in the first half of 2007, including groups like Umshika Shika Quabe, Cameroonian Della Tamin (that I'll be featuring soon!), L.A.P., Greg Georgiades with Madala Kunene, Ashish Joshi & Bernard Mndaweni plus Madala Kunene's traditional group with Bernard Mndaweni, Mabi Thobejane, Gontse Makhene and Bafana Nhlapo from L.A.P.

So here is a small clip to whet your appetite! Umshika Shika Qabe live at the Bassline!

CTIJF - 4th best in the world!

2007-04-02T05:07:00.000+02:00

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is finished, but having been one of the most successful of the past 8-years, it won’t be forgotten for awhile yet! All the hype and excitement is over; the artists have headed home; and I am sure that the espAfrica staff and their affiliates are needing a well deserved break!

Wolfgang Koenig, our world music journalist friend from Radio Multikulti in Berlin, Germany, told us that the CTIJF has been ranked as the 4th best jazz festival in the world (wow people, can I hear some applause for that please?), and that it has been positioned in the top 40 of the best events of any kind. After having enjoyed my weekend there, I can well imagine it; the timing was perfect; the organization was evident to the smallest of details; and the music this year represented one of the biggest collection of South African artists that I have seen in years.

Saturday night even showed that ESP are concerned about the health of their visitors, by once again giving us such a variety of world-class shows, that we had to run from one venue to the next! The Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band, Stimela & the Bheki Khosa Quartet started the excitement, with Tucan Tucan and the Ernest Mothle Quartet (left) catching my ear.

Then there was a rush for the Basil “Mannenberg”Coetzee outdoor stage where Jack DeJohnette and our star diva, Sibongile Khumalo, were appearing. Lenny & I were very chuffed to see internationally renowned musician Byron Wallen, who we worked closely with at the Arts Alive Festival in JHB when he blew our minds away as a member of the muliti-cultural group PedXulu (made of the Pedi, Xhosa & Zulu clans, with international guest stars).

In one track he showed his skill by launching into an amazing duo with Sibongile playing a conch shell, instead of his trumpet, and even President Thabo Mbeki, who was ushered to the front of the stage, stood transfixed amid a writhing mass of bodyguards and police. Ministers Aziz Pahad and Trevor Manual, I noticed, had far more freedom to move – if I were Mbeki, I would have sent the guards for a beer and chilled awhile longer – because the fun had just started!

Lenny is crazy about Ismael Lo, and I couldn’t have dragged her out of the concert, if I had tried. I had been caught for the 2nd time taking photos without a Photographer badge, and felt like leaving for some fresh air. After all – if I can’t take pictures, how else are my Peak People going to see what all happened. I do this for you!

Ismael did some of his greatest tracks, and Len was especially blown away by his percussionist (who she complimented later in the new morning). It is great that the festival was able to secure Ismael, and I think, let this festival represent the African continents different styles of music coupled with international jazz – we have no other platform of the same magnitude, and we need to be able to learn more about these artists that have made such huge impact in Europe and America.

My highlight was always going to be standing in the press pit in front of Zulu maskanda master, bafo Madala Kunene, taking pics. Here my MELT 2000 Record Label pass was like a UN passport! No-one could stop me!

There were quite a number of Durbanites in the audience, and they quickly loosened up the audience by whooping, ululating and dancing every time Madala looked up, never mind play some awesome tracks with his new young band. The Sangoma who burnt offerings before the show started, obviously brought the most powerful ancestors to the party, because even Robert said that this was quite possibly one of the best outdoor concerts by Madala, that he had seen in a long time.

By 1am we found ourselves at the after party at the Cape Sun Hotel, mingling and chatting to all our artists (left - fancy bumping into Fancy Galada exAmampondo in front of her pic!), and meeting new ones. The after party is traditionally known to become one huge jam session, and I hear that it continued until well after five in the morning – by which time I was long tucked away in bed.

Looking back today, I think Cape Town should be very proud of being host to such a successful gathering of world artists. Bigger and richer cities try the same and don’t meet the standard that we are setting – I just wish that we had more throughout the year, because you can just never have enough music!

Have a great week folks!

EverestSA2007 - Update 01

2007-04-02T03:22:00.000+02:00

In 1922 George Leigh Mallory wrote the following "The first question which you will ask and which I must try to answer is this, 'What is the use of climbing Mount Everest?' and my answer must at once be, 'It is no use.' There is not the slightest prospect of any gain whatsoever. Oh, we may learn a little about the behaviour of the human body at high altitudes, and possibly medical men may turn our observation to some account for the purposes of aviation, but otherwise nothing will come of it. We shall not bring back a single bit of gold or silver, not a gem, nor any coal or iron. We shall not find a single foot of earth that can be planted with crops to raise food. It's no use. So, if you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go. What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for."

Two weeks ago Mike and John left for Nepal and finally Ronnie and Andy’s turn has come around. Before Mike flew to Kathmandu, he had this to say: “I guess the show is on the road for John and me. It’s been a hectic few days and will be some relief to get on the plane to Nepal.

Thanks for all your inspiration and support during the lead-up and it’s been a privilege being associated with you. I think we’re going to make a really good team and look forward to hooking up in Kathmandu.

I know you guys will be very busy in the workplace over the next two weeks – but vasbyt and don’t stress too much – the mountains beckon!!!”

It has certainly been a hectic and stressful 2 weeks, but the mountains do beckon and we’re on our way.

The first radio crossing with Nic Marais and KFM took place this morning at 07:45 am.

These crossings will take place from now on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at the same time.

Watch this space for updates!!

With warm regards from the South African team.

UPDATE 17H00: As fate would have it, we just received the following mail from cousin Mike, and my uncle John, which I add below:

From: "Mike Patterson"
Subject: everest 2007
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:24:20 +0000

Hi all

John & I have just returned to Katmandoo after a great climb in the Langtang Valley which is just south of the Tibetan border. We managed to include 3 climbs ranging between 4700 & 5000 m and are now fully acclimatised to this altitude; we’re .both well and in good spirits.

Ronnie & Andy arriving tomorrow am - we have a hectic few days ahead of our departure for Tibet on 7/4. Looking forward to a few steaks at the Everest steak house in order to put on a few lost kilos.

best regards

Mike & John

CTIJF, the Artists & the SA Blog Awards

2007-03-31T04:36:00.000+02:00

The 2007 Cape Town International Jazz Festival is sold out. If you snoozed, you loozed! Because last night was a stunning evening full of an amazing variety of musicians that set the night alight!

We were a little late in getting there as the traffic was pretty hectic, but once in the flow, the CTICC guys had full control and directed us perfectly! Sitting outside, still in the jam, we could hear Vivid Africa in full swing, and so they were our first stop of the festival.

Playing in Rosies, there was a disappointingly small audience; but then I am pretty biased about the line-up of the group, being a big fan of McCoy Mrubata, Greg Georgiades and Ashish Joshi. But I am so pleased that Siya Makuzeni sounds just as good live as she does on their demo DVD! Ashish blew me away with a solo on tabla; just the smallest movements from his fingers send out a stampede of sounds!

When you have so many choices, as you do every year on the two days of the CTIJF (hmm, why not stretch it out over three days with the same amount of artists? It’s sold out as is!) you have to jump around a little, and so we just caught the last half of the very, very funky Rudimentals! Man, was there an energy pumping on that stage?! Wonderful stuff – and a big audience too!

It’s got a ska, monkey-punk, reggae, Cape Town feel – but you don’t need the mountain to appreciate this! Zimbabwean lead vocalist, and Mr. Energy on stage, Teboho (Teboes) Maidza really got the crowd going – and I left pretty impressed!

After a doppie, and a bite to eat, Shannon Mowday was on the Basil “Mannenberg” Coetzee stage with an international backing of Karin Hammar on trombone, and Hildegunn Øiseth (both from Sweden) on trumpet. Shannon is such a feisty artist, and so Burn, as they are known, is an amazing show of talents, and awesome jazz! Those three ladies are tight!

Shannon has been making a name for herself all over the world, so its great to be able to watch one example of her creativity in the flesh. Yes, budgets are the ball and chain of free creativity, so it’s tough to get groups like this together!

Shannon had the audience in full appreciation and stomping for more at the end!

It’s a jazz festival, ok, but who would miss a chance to see Grammy Award winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo?

Kippies was chocka-block and the audience was in absolute awe of Prof. Tshabalala. Their acapella is a very quiet, and subtle performance, almost soothing to the soul, so its easy to become mesmerized. But as soon as the group would start a little dance to accompany the song – especially a nice long version of that famous ‘hey baby hey, hey beautiful girl’, the ladies in the audience got vocal! Ululating and throwing their hands in the air, the whole crowd would come alive and vibrate, with every Zulu style kick, and flash of those little white tekkies they wear.
They’re stars, so it’s great to have had them back in Cape Town again – the last time I saw them was at the 46664…

Robert, from MELT, had said we had to watch out for Yehya Khalil & his Egyptian Jazz Fusion band – and I am glad I listen to him sometimes! It was awesome!

Yehya Khalil, who great American Jazz legend Dizzie Gillespie described as quite possibly "the greatest percussionist alive", has his drum kit slap bang in the middle of the stage, dominating. On his left he had sax & bass players, and the percussion section made up of three traditional drummers. On his right was the lead guitarist, a keyboard’er and two players of a type of Egyptian zither. And together they created real fusion, with jazz jumping all over the back of Arabian tabla.

Yehya Khalil, who started the first jazz band in Egypt in 1957, is this funny little man, wearing peachy corduroys, braces with a short Father Xmas beard – but he knows his stuff! He gave us a drum solo that just showed his class, and would’ve been a master lesson to any drummer there! And also our final set for the night. We headed for home, exhausted, because you can only smile for so long!

Last night was also the 2007 SA Blog Awards (all the top winners at the bottom of the link page), being held in Johannesburg, and so I was very impressed to see that there was already a video of the evening posted by Missing Link - that’s what you call sharp!

I am so chuffed to see that Peak People is second princess (that’s the ugly sister, but to the lovely Verity and gorgeous Muso got first shpot) in the Music category. If I am wanting to find info on what’s rocking in SA – I go to see what The Muso suggests. I am also so chuffed for Verity, who I’ve known since her Chaos Casting days, because she has just gone out and taken her destiny by the short-and-curlies with her Lucky Packet Project.

Thanks has to go out to Jon Cherry for putting and holding the whole process together – it was an honour to be included, and to be on the same page as some top notch bloggers! But of course, I wouldn't have been there without the votes... humbled.

Hope you’re having a great weekend!

SABlog Awards shout-out from BVK!

2007-03-29T03:05:00.000+02:00

This morning I had a meeting with Mr Fat, from Cape Town’s famous Hip Hop group, Brasse Vannie Kaap. Catching up on what the group has been doing nationally and internationally was very cool, because these guys are into some inspirational stuff!

Mr Fat was telling me how they have been giving workshops, not only to schools and kids in their local communities, but how they have also been going out to prisons to promote Hip Hop as a way of life.

That might seem strange to some, but we get so much of this false gangsta rubbish from the US and UK, that BVK wanted to show that their way of doing things over the last 10 years has kept them on the straight and narrow, with goals, instead of dreams, to give them reason to get up in the mornings.

I am going to be going along to one of their next workshops soon to see for myself, and so will have more info about that then.

But now, apart from mentioning that BVK has a new album out Ysterbek (KMD009), I was pleased when Mr Fat got enthused about the SA Blog Awards that are going to be held tomorrow night. He understands that value of an alternative form of media, and wanted to send all the finalists a shout-out of support! (Thanks to Rowan from MyVideo for sorting me out! You can still see it here too MyVideo.co.za!)

Have a great day folks!

I am a geeks ass!

2007-03-28T02:49:00.000+02:00

I have been pretty nervous about going to the Cape Town 27 Dinner – or Geek dinner as its being referred to in our house – I’ve just never met another blogger, and that coupled with having to arrive in a room filled with strangers, had me pacing around, for what I thought would be my first Geek experience. But juslike I’m a poephol! Considering that the dinner is only NEXT month!

This afternoon I went out and bought a new shirt. I wanted to look snazzy. After all, I would finally get to meet some of the Cape Town heavy-weight’s like the cerebral Mike Stopforth, and Dave Duarte who talked me through my first wikixperience, or the verbally luscious Maximllian Kaizen on whose words I often let my eye's go 4x4'ing, and maybe get so close to the now internationally renowned Teria Albertyn that some of her glitz rubs off… And of course, see for myself what all this Storm(hoek) in a tea-cup has been about.

So I set off for the Protea Hotel Victoria Junction with much fanfare from the family, all waving me off in the street. I was a little concerned, I must admit, that I hadn’t seen much chat about it amongst the local bloggers, and had written to Dave asking him if the venue was definite, but I set off anyway, looking suave, in my new shirt christened with its first spray of Jean Paul Gautier.

The lady at reception (naturally) looked a little perplexed when I asked her if she could direct me to the venue of the 27 Dinner where there would be about 80 people… Had she forgotten something? Who screwed up? So she phoned a few people, who had to ask other people, who too were all left feeling perplexed. By now that gnawing feeling that something was not right had eaten half my left leg, so I hobbled out the hotel, into my car and logged on to the site to just check if I had it right.

That’s when I noticed that the heading very clearly stated 27-4 Cape Town 27th April 2007 – ok, I had to count on my fingers to see where I was, 1 2 3 January February March April… and then everything fell into place and…

(Chorus)
BWAAAAAH! HAHAHAHAHA - Sniff – WOOO HOOOOO…
BWAAAAAHAHAHA - (deep in-take of air) – WAAAAA HAAAA…
BWAHAHAHABWA - sniff – WAHAHAHA…
HAHA HAHAHA snot BWAAAH HAHA!

… this carried on for quite awhile, you must understand. I was quite uncontrollable, slapping my leg, clutching my tummy, squeezing out tears. During all of this, I had my windows open to keep cool, as I was suffering from a slight nervous clamminess, and so a local, strolling Green Point resident, sans a number of front teeth, heard all the commotion and arrived at my window.

When he saw that no-one was being murdered, he grinned, he cackled, and then ‘pissed’ himself laughing with me – which sent me into further uncontrollable snot-slinging-tummy-cramping laughter…

(repeat chorus)

We laughed like this for a few minutes, me at myself and him at this crazy whitie, and then he turned and hobbled off, wiping the spittle from his shaking head. I started the car and headed for home. (Along the way I did relive the laughter a number of times; every time I thought I am just not worthy to even be a geeks ass if I can’t make sense of the date! But I had to keep the car on the road, so the outbursts were briefer.)

Strangest of all, and totally unrelated, was when I entered the hotel, that the first person I saw standing at the reception was none other than Arno Carstens. He looked confused to see me, but then he had been sleeping all day after just arriving back in the morning from a Springbok Nudies gig in the UK. Lenny had been talking and emailing and stressing all day regarding next months launch of Peace Breaker that we’re doing, and then I bump into him somewhere where I ultimately wasn’t supposed to be. Very strange.

But at that stage my sinuses were still blocked, and I hadn’t yet shared a blerry good laugh with another Bergie!

There's sexy Jazz in the air!

2007-03-27T04:53:00.000+02:00

Robert Trunz and his son Nico arrive tomorrow evening in preparation for this weekend’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

He has a couple of our favourite artists on the billing (like Vivid Africa right), which is awesome as it is a high profile international festival. People do come from not only all over our country, but from all over the world. Even my father-in-law has made the trip in the past, being a big fan of the original North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. And we often host music journalist Wolfgang Koenig from Berlin, Germany, on the couch in our lounge.

They all come for the music. And a little bit of the mountain, the city, the weather, the people… but mostly the music!

Some of the artists we’re excited about are Madala Kunene, the Zulu guitarist whose CD we played in the theatre when Jasper was born; Vivid Africa with McCoy, Greg Georgiades, Ashish Joshi and that sassy vocalist Siya Makuzani; Concord Nkabinde the bass guitarist on Arno Carstens Another Universe; Ernest Mothle was has been a jazz man since the ‘60s; Sibongile Khumalo will be joining voices with Jack De Johnette in Intercontinental; Ladysmith Black Mambazo; the (Bruce) Muirhead Quartet; Shannon Mowday who is the current Standard Bank Young Jazz Artist of 2007; The Rudimentals; and Bev Scott-Brown.

But first tonight I am going to my first 27 Dinner… which means as of 18h30 tonight, I will officially be a Geek. (Angie loves that!)

Hope your day is as good as ours has been here in sunny Cape Town! It’s got a hot, sexy, jazzy energy about it! So get out there and enjoy!

Laugh at the Dog's Bollocks!

2007-03-26T06:12:00.000+02:00

An 'old' performing buddy of mine, Gaetan Schmit, sent me a mail recently telling me more about a show he has on at the moment, and then I saw a piece in the weekend-papers yesterday reminding me!

So here’s the release in the meantime!

Press release:
The Dog's Bollocks

The buzz of the Grahamstown Festival finally in Cape Town.

An eccentric Eastern European professor rants about the history and propagation of the English language, its idiosyncrasies and etymological quirks.

Don't mind the prof's lack of vocabulary, ill-fitted costume and small suitcase. His exuberance will blow your socks off!

Isn't a Hamburger a person?
And a crayfish not a fish?
And a hot dog definitively NOT a hot dog?

For the first time Rob Murray (director) and Gaetan Schmid (actor-author) are putting their zany minds together to create explosive theatre.

A show with balls and brains.

The Dog’s Bollocks will run at The Kalk Bay Theatre from the 28th of February until the 7th of April. For bookings: 0732205430

Gaetan and his lovely wife Lara Bye (Vagina Monologues) were part of a physical comedy team with Alan Committie called Los Tres… and I was the fourth member who came in when needed.

One of our gigs was at the then Smirnoff Comedy Festival, at the Baxter Theatre. The thing is with a comedy fest is that everyone has an awesome time during the show, but then during the interval there is generally a flat energy as everyone is rushing to get drinks at the bar, or standing in a queue to get rid of the pre-show drinks. It’s an energy killer.

So Los Tres would come in and entertain before the show, and during intervals, to keep the atmosphere. One spoof was that we were The Horizontal Mountaineers – climbing the floor of the Baxter with ropes and clips and helmets; of course using all obstacles along the way – people, couches, railings, ashtrays, eventually summiting and enjoying sandwhiches. Another was the Crazy Doctors; charging up to people, flinging them onto a stretcher and whisking them away – to a free drink!

I love impromptu physical comedy; you just never know what is going to happen when you step out amidst your audience! So get the the KBT and laugh some!

Brendan Jury is no urban creep!

2007-03-26T03:41:00.000+02:00

I had a really good heart-to-heart with Brendan Jury last weekend after the Arno & Gloria gig for Santam. It’s always difficult sussing out ‘stars’ when you first meet them – except Elana Afrika of course, who fills the room with positive energy – but Brendan was chilled and ‘real’.

I have this habit of only really researching artists after I have met them – for some strange reason – but I suppose it has to do with the vibe I get from them as to whether I am really interested or not. I had the same when I met and interviewed Patrick Duff (Strangelove) a few years ago – it hits you like a klap to the back of the head when you realise that this person is actually a big star! And so with Brendan; on reading more about him online I discovered that he is also part of the Rock group Ohm (thats apart from the very successful New Porn, Urban Creep & TransSky with Warrick Sony of the Kalahari Surfers) – another project that Robert Trunz has had his fingers in! And I bet you thought MELT only did traditional music?

Ohm was a project that was described by Direction Magazine in March 2000 as, ‘Part frightened child, part rabid cur, the music snaps around your ankles, sometimes retreating, sometimes advancing; from world-weary rock ballads to an ambientesque drum’n’bass. At times I was put in the mind of David Bowie’s younger days, but not for long enough to be lulled into any secure places.”

As we do enjoy doing, we hooked Brendan up with Pops Mohamed after he'd said that he wouldn’t mind doing a collaboration together. One call and Pops was immediately keen to do something in the future – of course we will keep you updated!

We got this email from Brendan this morning:

I’m still feeling good after our gig with Gloria on the 17th.Its been a long time since I’ve felt so happy and warm and I must thank you and your husband for an incredible evening. I watched the DVD yesterday and I must also thank you for that-it is really an amazingly comprehensive document. I was so inspired that I composed for ten hours straight afterward.

Wow. That’s cool! Our DVD CD Combo – Freedom to Celebrate – isn’t out on the market yet, as we have just been too focused on gigd – but to know that someone like Brendan was so inspired by it, that he went off to create for 10-hours afterward… That’s special.

Hope the Autumn weather you having is as good as ours! Have a great week folks!

Were you ever caught by The Mimic?

2007-03-23T01:51:00.000+02:00

I received an email yesterday from Camps Bay High School, where I spent the years 1986 – 1989, telling that they “are busy creating an Achievers Wall where we can exhibit some of the success stories of our past pupils and we are delighted to inform you that you have been nominated as one of the candidates. The reason for this exhibition is to celebrate success in all walks of life and to motivate current learners to strive for the highest in all that they do.”

I’m chuffed. My years there ignited my passion for performance, and its only because of the confidence that those school plays gave me, that I had the balls to become a street-performer, or busker. I was known as ‘the guy with the white face’ - as I was right, at the Linz Pflasterspektakel, in Austria 2002.

When I started many would ask me when I was going to stop buggering around and get a job, but I thrived on making a show out of nothing. I loved arriving on a good performance square, sussing the crowd, putting on the make-up, building a crowd to a high point of laughter and then soaking in the applause. And on top of that, the money was great!

For 7 years I followed the sun; travelling to Europe during our winters, and rushing home as soon as the tourists dwindled on the streets of Amsterdam, to the tourist mecca of Cape Town, the V&A Waterfront. It was a great lifestyle, but after Lenny and I married and set up our business, a life of living out of boxes was replaced with servicing the corporate market. I became a cushy street-performer. (Left - early days @ the V&A by Andrew Ingram 1990)

As Rouvanne the Mimic I would stalk the innocent ‘walker-by’ who would suddenly find themselves in the midst of an audience; the kind where everyone is staring at you and you have no idea why; while I am as close behind you as I can be imitating your every move. It was a very fast show; me flashing from victim to victim; with each showing their outward personal characteristics in an animated way; reading their body language and anticipating their every move.

I got to know people quite well, and would be able to get a reaction out of you, no matter who you were – laughter, embarrassment, fear, shrieks of delight, or that moment to shine in the spotlight! I describe my show as having the effect of shoving both fingers up your nose, after which you’d have to join my audience to get your own back with someone else. Strong emotions. And body language – it says so much! (Right - 'bottling or collecting money at the V&A)

I have retired from physical comedy, spending my passion promoting other artists in who I see the same burning desire that I had; to get themselves out onto the world stage, and to be remembered for making a difference out there, in someone’s life.