GIG GUIDE - Mango Groove

Event:  OLD MUTUAL MUSIC AT THE LAKE SERIES concer t featuring MANGO GROOVE
Venue: The Durban Botanic Gardens, 9A Zikhale (Sydenham) Road, Durban
Date: 10 June 2012
Gates open: 13h00 (pre-sold tickets admission) and 13h30 (buying tickets on the day)


Opening act starts: 14h30 (The Meditators)


Headlining act starts: 15h30 (Mango Groove)
Tickets are available online at www.webtickets.co.za


Tickets prices:  R120 online, or at the gate for R130 on the day
Kids between 8-12 pay R50, kids under eight are free


Facilities Available:
All children are welcome at the KidZone for some extra fun and games.
Drinks, cooler boxes and picnic baskets are welcome
Everyone is welcome to bring picnic baskets and blankets.

Claire Johnston

Secure parking is available on the Juventus ground.  Entrance to all parking is off lower John Zikhale (Sydenham) Road, adjacent to the Botanic Gardens and the Munies Hockey Field also off lower John Zikhale (Sydenham) Road.

Amazing performance by Dan Patlansky

Last night a packed Barnyard Theatre, at Gateway, were treated to some amazing blues/rock music by Dan Patlansky and his band. The occasion was the launch of his new album 20 Stones.

Dan Patlansky is only 30 years old but he has already been acknowledged as a legend among followers of Blues music. On stage he is unassuming yet totally immersed in his music as he works his Fender Stratocaster guitar. His passion for his music is evident in every note he plays. He ended off his set with a mind-boggling display of guitar playing, if that is the right word, whereby he created music from it in every conceivable fashion. Last night he also proved that guitar playing is not his only strength as he delivered great vocals. Interestingly the title song of the new album is an instrumental version on the CD while last night guest vocalist Ard Matthews sang it.

20 Stones is Dan's 5th album and with each previous he has built up a bigger following and we have no doubt that, with this title, he will further enhance his reputation. What are Dan's thoughts on the new release? He says "I was going for an extremely old school filthy approach on the blues, which I always wanted to do. I believe we definitely nailed it with 20 Stones. Not only did I draw from my love of the blues but also my love of old school Rock n Roll...".

Dan Patlansky at the Barnyard

Don't forget that Dan Patlansky will be promoting his new CD with a show at The Barnyard on Monday 28th May. Appearing with Dan will be Ard Matthews and Guy Buttery. Click on the poster to the right to see more information.

ECR Music Extravanganza at the Royal Show

Below is the schedule, as far as we know, for the ECR Music Extravaganza on Saturday 26th May. Please confirm details before making plans!

17h15 - Billy Forrest
17h45 - Flying Lions Aerobatic Show
18h00 - Billy Forest
18h30 - Mango Groove
19h45 - Jason Hartman
21h00 - Red Light Stereo

The OLD MUTUAL MUSIC AT THE LAKE SERIES presents MANGO GROOVE at the Durban Botanic Gardens on the 10TH of June.

The Old Mutual Music at the Lake continues its commitment to bringing top line acts to the Durban Botanic Gardens every month by presenting one of the most celebrated musical groups ever to come out of South Africa – Mango Groove. The group will be headlining the Music at the Lake concert at the Gardens on the 10th of June.

The continued association with the Botanic Gardens allows Old Mutual to ensure funds are raised to maintain and improve biodiversity.

Mango Groove’s career has spanned an exciting and turbulent time in South Africa’s history. Since its first iconic multi-platinum release in 1989, the band, together with its charismatic lead singer Claire Johnston, has gone on to become a household name in South Africa. To date, Mango Groove has sold over 750 000 albums in South Africa alone and enjoyed over 12 Number 1 hits and received every conceivable SA music and video award, as well as a number of global ones. Who can forget hits like Dance Sum More and Special Star to name just a few?

Says Claire Johnston, who is a keen birder and green campaigner: “This is the perfect opportunity for city dwellers to partake of some top-class entertainment whilst also appreciating the natural environment and all it has to offer. The Botanical Gardens are home to plenty of species and animal life that are essential to the planet. This space should be celebrated. It is a wonderful natural site. We are delighted that we will be playing here.”

Mango Groove will be in good company on the day as The Meditators will be opening the show. The Roots Rock Reggae band from Mandini (KZN) will bring their creative fresh new SA reggae sound to the ‘green’ event.

The Old Mutual Music at the Lake series presents live concerts every month throughout the year at the Durban Botanic Gardens. Proceeds from the performances go towards an innovative people and plant development programme, the Garden Window Project, within the Durban Botanic Gardens. and the Wildlands Conservation Trust’s Trees for Life initiative which sees community members growing trees to support their livelihoods.

For more information about this and other events at the Durban Botanic Gardens, visit the website – www.durbanbotanicgardens.org.za or call the Info Centre 031 322 4021.

Tickets are available online at www.webtickets.co.za
Tickets prices:  R120 online, or at the gate for R130 on the day
Kids between 8-12 pay R50, kids under eight are free.  All children are welcome at the KidZone for some extra fun and games.
Drinks, cooler boxes and picnic baskets are welcome

Gates open at 13h00 (pre-sold tickets admission)
Gates open at 13h30 (buying tickets on the day)
The Meditators start at 14h30
Mango Groove will perform at 15h30

Secure parking is available on the Juventus ground.  Entrance to all parking is off lower John Zikhale (Sydenham) Road, adjacent to the Botanic Gardens and the Munies Hockey Field also off lower John Zikhale (Sydenham) Road.

The next event is scheduled to take place on August 26th.

Young talent rocks Howard College

Last night there was a good crowd on hand at the UKZN Youth Music Festival at Howard College. Most of the artists were either still at school or students at the university. We were treated to a variety of music from beatboxing to rock. Highlights of the night were performances by Toxic Candy, Sounds Good and headline act Gangs of Ballet. Gangs of Ballet performed an acoustic set which had the audience shouting for more. Their set included new versions of their hit Breaking the Silence and their new single This Love. The evening showed that Durban has plenty of young talent coming through and it is great these school going bands are given an opportunity to perform.

Book early for Mango Groove

The popular Old Mutual Music at the Lake series continues on 10th June when Mango Groove will be performing. The concerts at the Durban Botanic Gardens are getting better and better and I am sure this event will be no exception. The enormous crowd for Johnny Clegg obviously caused some frustration but the organisers, Impi Concept Events, have promised to take measures to sort out any issues that were identified. One difference that we have noticed is that the gates will open at 1 pm for pre-sold tickets and 1.30 pm for cash sales. That makes sense to give preference to those who have bought their tickets in advance. If you want a good spot then there is extra incentive to buy your ticket beforehand. At this stage we are not sure who the support act will be but it is guaranteed to be an excellent afternoons entertainment.

Tickets are already available from Webtickets so book early.

Dan Patlansky to launch 20 Stones in KZN - Monday 28th May

The legendary Blues musician Dan Patlansky – an artist who shares the muse that touched Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan, is excited to announce the date for his KZN launch to the public.

On Monday 28th May, this exciting rock/blues guitarist will launch his 5th album 20 Stones.

This live performance will include guest artists Ard Matthews as well as the legendary maestro Guy Buttery.

Fans are urged to buy their tickets as soon as possible:

Date: Monday 28th May
Time: 8pm
Venue: Barnyard Theatre, Gateway, Umhlanga
Tickets:  Tickets are R120
Bookings info: gateway@barnyardtheatres.co.za or 031 566 3045

For more information please visit www.danpatlansky.com where his latest album, 20 Stones, is available. For more gig information please also check out Dan Patlansky on Facebook, and Twitter @danpatlanksy.

UKZN Youth Music Festival

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM) presents the UKZN Youth Music Festival which takes place on UKZN's Howard College campus from Friday 18th to Wednesday 23 May. The purpose of this festival is to promote a lifelong engagement with music through a structured programme of performances and educational opportunities for UKZN students, the broader community and young musicians at local schools. With an immediate goal to encourage an appreciation for, and the study of, jazz and popular music in KwaZulu-Natal, this festival brings opportunity for sharing musical knowledge and skills in a variety of collaborative music making activities. The festival also aims to highlight the need to advocate for broader music education in schools in KwaZulu-Natal.

The festival starts with a concert on Friday 18th May at 6:00pm (CJPM) in collaboration with Young Guns (a new initiative to encourage, uncover and provide professional platforms for new school going music talent), featuring two exciting, young high school bands TOXIC CANDY and THE SUNSHINE. Sharing the stage with these and other bands will be young solo artists, UKZN Jazz & Popular Music Ensembles followed by local band SOUNDS GOOD keeping it fresh with Electro, Neo, Soul and RnB collections. The headliner for the evening is Durban-based eclectic band GANGS OF BALLET whose recently released self-titled EP is currently rocking the charts. Tickets available at the door R30/R10 (scholars and students) Enq 031 260 3385

A music workshop will be presented on Monday 21 May. Facilitated by UKZN Music lecturers, Neil Gonsalves and Debbie Mari, the workshop will introduce young musicians to the idea of improvisation and accompaniment/ensemble playing through exploring one, two and three chord song forms. Later the same evening there will be a concert featuring theUKZN Big Band, UKZN Voices (close-harmony jazz vocal group), UKZN Jazz & Popular Music Ensembles and the Umlazi-based UC Jazz Ensemble. Top of the line-up will be the newgroove-based, electric four-piece instrumental outfit THE SIR WALRUS BAND. Tickets available at the door R30/R10 (scholars and students) Enq 031 260 3385.

Tuesday 22 May brings an international element to the festival with a concert featuring Paraguay Primeval led by Canadian based pianist and composer Carol Ann Weaver. Paraguay Primeval features acclaimed vocalist Rebecca Campbell and Meaghan McCracken (flute). The band will also include some Durban guests in their line-up as they chronicle the experiences of Paraguay's Chaco and Germanic Mennonite immigrants. Sharing the stage for this concert will be selected UKZN Music Ensembles. Tickets available at the door R30/R10 (scholars and students) Concert starts at 6pm. Enq 031 260 3385.

The final concert will take place on Wednesday 23 May at 6pm and features senior students from the UKZN Jazz Studies programme under the guidance of Durban pianist and UKZN Music lecturer Susan Barry. Tickets available at the door R30/R10 (scholars and students). Concert starts at 6pm. Enq 031 260 3385.

Gangs of Ballet

Kianja, lead singer of The Sunshine

Sir Walrus Band

Toxic Candy

Full-house at Durban Botanical Gardens

Something unusual happened in Durban today. Us Durbanites have developed a bit of a reputation for not supporting music events but that didn't hold true today. Organisers were forced to turn some people away from attending the Johnny Clegg concert this afternoon. Apparently today's audience breaks the record for any of the Old Mutual concerts which are held in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Go Durban!

The concert kicked off with Cape Town act Hot Water. Although they have released three CD's and played in a number of countries, it was their first visit to Durban. They are an ideal band to open for Johnny Clegg and their energetic performance went down well with the huge crowd. A favourite part of the performance was a dance competition which saw some of the braver members of the audience dancing on stage. Let's hope we don't have to wait too long before Hot Water visit us again.

And then Johnny Clegg took to the stage and showed us why he has reached such great heights in his 30 year career. He also showed that he still has the passion and energy. Most of the audience were on their feet for the whole performance as Johnny Clegg played some of his classic tracks and some of his new material. The music continued into the evening and still the crowd wanted more.

All in all it was a great day to be at the Durban Botanical Gardens. Next up, in June, is Mango Groove who are another band that can draw a big crowd. Remember to book your tickets early to prevent disappointment.

Upcoming events

11th May - Catlike Thieves at Amsterdam

11th May - Me and Mr. Brown at Beach Bums, Tongaat

11th May - City Bowl Mizers, Anti Retro Vinyls and D'urban Knights at Live

12th May - Goodluck and Pascal and Pearce at Suncoast

13th May - Johnny Clegg and Hot Water at Durban Botanic Gardens

18th May - Southern Gypsey Queen and Shadowclub at The Red Door, Pietermaritzburg

18th May - Young Guns showcase at The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music

19th May - Southern Gypsey Queen and Shadowclub at Live

25th May - The Ocean Doesn't Want Me and Strage at The Red Door, Pietermaritzburg

27th May - Locnville at Chris Saunders Park

This list is only published as a guide line of what concerts are coming up so please check details with the venue.

Hot Water to play in Durban for the first time

On Sunday, 13th May, Hot Water will be opening for Johnny Clegg at the Durban Botanical Gardens. Although they have played at many venues, both locally and internationally, they haven't yet been to Durban. We put some questions to this highly regarded band to find a bit more about what we can expect.

WRD - Have you ever played in Durban and, if so, when last were you here?

HW - Hot Water has always operated in a unique way and we have been waiting for the right to come for a visit....a show with Johnny Clegg strikes us as the right time!

WRD - You are scheduled to open for Johnny Clegg at the Durban Botanic Gardens on 13th May. What music can the Durban audience expect to hear?

HW - A core question for Hot Water is: What does it mean to be South African at this point in time? Hopefully you will hear our musical answer.

WRD - Have you toured with Johnny Clegg before?

HW - We performed at old Mutual's 100th Birthday Party with him and Freshlyground a couple years back.

WRD - Which is your favourite venue to perform at and why?

We launched our first album 'Home' at Kirstenbosch (Botanical Gardens) Summer Sunset Concerts some years back and recently played there again - this has got to be one of the best venues around!

WRD - You have played in a number of other countries. Which is your favourite and why?

HW - Holland has been really good to us and we've performed there a lot ! Closer to home, Swaziland's 'Bushfire International Festival of the Arts' held at 'House on Fire' is really one of the most inspired venues on the globe.

Free concert at Live on the 11th May

This coming Friday night, 11^th May, get down to Live for a great line-up that includes City Bowl Mizers, The Anti Retro Vinyls and D'urban Knights. It kicks off at 8pm and entrance is free. City Bowl Mizers will be filming scenes to incorporate in their next music video.

The Parlotones set to top the bill at Durban Day

According to the Computicket web site Durban Day will take place on 9th September at the Peoples Park, next to Moses Mabhida stadium. The line up published so far includes The Parlotones, Lira, Goodluck, the 12 idols finalists, Yoav, Zahara and Platform Jazz. Although tickets aren't on sale yet they are advertised at R100.00. Add this event to your diary now, especially if you missed The Parlotones at Botanic Gardens recently.

A week to go until Johnny Clegg is in town

Excitement is building for next Sundays (13th May) Johnny Clegg concert at Durban Botanic Gardens. Johnny is one of South Africa's biggest music stars and has had phenomenal success both at home and overseas. In fact, he leaves for the USA and Canada in June where he has a demanding schedule of 26 concerts. Recent concerts at the Durban Botanic Gardens have been well organised, and well attended, so it promises to be a great event. See you there!

Upcoming events

8th May - Gainsford at Zacks at 8 pm

9th May - Zarchia Zacheus at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music

11th May - Catlike Thieves at Amsterdam

11th May - Me and Mr. Brown at Beach Bums, Tongaat

12th May - Goodluck and Pascal and Pearce at Suncoast

13th May - Johnny Clegg and Hot Water at Durban Botanic Gardens

18th May - Southern Gypsey Queen and Shadowclub at The Red Door, Pietermaritzburg

18th May - Young Guns showcase at The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music

19th May - Southern Gypsey Queen and Shadowclub at Live

25th May - The Ocean Doesn't Want Me and Strage at The Red Door, Pietermaritzburg

This list is only published as a guide line of what concerts are coming up so please check details with the venue.

Monday SAMA Winners.

Last week Monday, the main ceremony of the SAMAs were held at the Sun City Superbowl.  In case you missed it here are all the winners of the night.

Best Classical and Instrumental Album

CH2 for Ping

Best Smooth Urban Music Album

Zahara for Loliwe

Best Jazz Album

Jimmy Dludlu for Tonota

Best Pop Album

Lloyd Cele for One

Best African Adult Album

Zonke for Ina Ethe

Best Rock Album

Shadowclub for Guns and Money

Best Traditional Music Album

Soul Brothers for Amaphutha

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

Solly Mahlangu for Mwamba Mwamba

Best Street Urban Music Album

AKA for Altar Ego

Best Sokkie Dans Album

Snotkop for Ek Laaik Van Jol

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Elvis Blue for Elvis Blue (2CD Special Edition)

Best Maskandi Album

Thokozani Langa for I-Protection Order

Best Kwaito Album

Big Nuz for Pound for Pound

Best Dance Album

Mi Casa for Mi Casa Music

Special Award:  Best Selling Album

Loliwe by Zahara

Newcomer of the Year

Zahara for Loliwe

Duo/Group of the Year

Mi Casa for Mi Casa Music

Male Artist of the Year

AKA for Altar Ego

Female Artist of the Year

Zahara for Loliwe

MTN Record of the Year

Mi Casa for These Streets

Album of the Year

Loliwe by Zahara