Monday, May 18, 2009
The ROOTs Cause
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!
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!
Labels: African, music, south africa, world music
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Chris Chameleon's Flight of an Extraordinary Alien
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)
Labels: Afrikaans, Boo, Chris Chameleon, English, music, SAMA, Shine
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The music keeps on playing...
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!
Labels: coda, iridium project, Lark, music, New Porn
Thursday, May 31, 2007
94.7 Raw Rock Concert With Rapport
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!
Labels: 94.7, Afrikaans, concert, Kurt Darren, music, Rapport, Sun City
Just Jinjer’s June Jol’s
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
Labels: Just Jinjer, music, pop rock, south africa, USA
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Fokofpolisiekar and the dancing fat lady
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!
Labels: Afrikaans, fokofpolisiekar, Francois van Coke, music
Promoting South Africa internationally
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!”
Labels: Andrew Cerino, movie, music, USA
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Shannon Mowday on tour!
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!
Labels: jazz, music, Shannon Mowday, tour
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Big music festival for 2008
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!
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!
Labels: jazz, MTV, music, rock 'n' roll, Zandrivier Music Festival
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Urban Zulu queen fights alone
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!
Labels: Busi Mhlongo, cancer, maskanda, music
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
SA is alive with music!
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!
Labels: music, Pops Mohamed, south africa
Thursday, May 10, 2007
SA Music shouldn't be 2nd best!
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.
Labels: music, south africa, support
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Bullard's bollocks!
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!
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Strings 'an Skins from Africa
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!
Labels: Ashish Joshi, Greg Georgiades, Madala Kunene, music, Strings 'an Skins
Monday, April 30, 2007
Neighbour, I see you in Zimbabwe
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?
Labels: music, struggle, Ubuntu, Zimbabwe
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Juno Reactor DVD July 2007
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!
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!
Labels: electronica, Juno Reactor, music
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Unique slide-guitar with a spoon - Hannes Coetzee to the USA
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!
Labels: Hannes Coetzee, Karoo, music, slide-guitar, spoon, USA tour
Private Stash - an Indian mix
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!
Labels: Ashish Joshi, Greg Georgiades, Indian, music, Private Stash, south africa, traditional
World music in Langa
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!
Labels: Dizu Plaatjies, Langa, music, shout-out, traditional
