Dave Koz & Patti Austin

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is ranked 4th in the world by Melodytrip, placing it right up there with the biggest jazz festivals in the world such as Switzerland’s Montreaux Festival and Holland’s North Sea Jazz Festival. On average, the event attracts around 34,000 passionate jazz fans over the weekend.

Hugh Masekela

You’ll be pleased to hear that the line-up (subject to change) has been announced and it looks amazing. Just take a look at some of the big names below:

International:

• James Ingram (USA)
• Marcus Miller (USA)
• Third World (Jamaica)
• Kevin Mahogany (USA)
• Alfredo Rodriguez (Cuba)
• Dave Koz with special guest Patti Austin (USA)
• Mike Stern with special guest Dave Weckl (USA)
• Ron Carter, Donald Harrison and Lenny White (USA)
• Atmosphere (USA)
• Jean Grae (USA)
• Allen Stone (USA)
• Brubecks play Brubeck (USA/SA)
• David Sanchez with special guest Lionel Loueke (Puerto Rico/Benin)
• The Moreira Project (Mozambique)
• Xia Jia (China)
• Nouvelle Vague (France)
• Gabriel Tchiema (Angola)

South Africa:

• Hugh Masekela
• Vusi Mahlasela
• Virtual Jazz Reality
• Unathi
• HHP
• Goodluck
• Zamajobe
• Zahara
• Thandiswa Mazwai
• Zolani Mahola
• Steve Dyer
• Lindiwe Suttle
• Sophia Foster
• Victor Kula
• Herbie Tsoaeli
• Adam Glasser
• Rus Nerwich
• Dorothy Masuka
• Ill Skillz
• Zakes Bantwini
• The Jason Reolon Trio
• Andre Petersen Quintet
• Alexander Sinton High School Jazz Band

The jazz festival traditionally opens with a free community concert in Green Market Square. This year, the free concert will be happening on Wednesday 28 March 2012 and it’ll feature a preview of some of the artists performing at the festival.

Another big part of the festival is developing local talent and sharing knowledge and experience. To facilitate this, a series of workshops will run over eight days and will cover the creative and business aspects of music. The Duotone Photographic Exhibition will also be back, showcasing some of the best in jazz photography.

Tickets for the Cape Town International Jazz Festival are available from Computicket. Prices range from R400 for a single day pass to R550 for a weekend pass. For performances at the Rosies stage, there’ll be an additional fee of R30 per act.

Guests will be treated to a sparkling wine cocktail and special Nederburg gift on arrival, followed by freshly-baked mosbolletjies, bread rolls and korrelkonfyt made from Pinotage grapes. It’s then over to the Nederburg harvesting team as they show everyone the art of hand-picking the perfect grape. To complete the harvest experience, you’ll have the opportunity to taste freshly-pressed grape must and also some tank samples of wine.

After harvesting, South African instrumental supergroup Sterling EQ will be on stage treating guests to a concert on the sprawling lawns outside the Nederburg Manor House. A picnic dinner will be served along with a selection of fine Nederburg wines.

If you’d like to attend, the cost is R200 per person. This includes the picnic and also a bottle of Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve wine per couple. For kids under 12 years old, the cost is R65 each. Arrival time is 16h30 for 17h00 and bookings are essential. You can get in touch with Sunette Rust on 021 862 3104 / nedwines@distell.co.za to secure a booking.

Nederburg is a beautiful place to be on a summer’s evening and the food and wine are always good. Just remember to be responsible if you’re driving. You’ll find Nederburg Wine Estate on Sonstraal Road, about 10 minutes from the N1. Take care and enjoy!

The band has been working on material for a new album, expected for release later this year in April. Maybe you’ll get to hear one or two new songs, along with classic Parlotones tracks like ‘Giant Mistake’, ‘I’ll Be There’, ‘Colourful, ‘Push Me To The Floor’, ‘Should We Fight Back’ and more.

Tickets for the D’Aria picnic concert are available from WebTickets for R175 each. For kids under 12 years old, the cost is R60 each. Gates open at 12h30 for the picnic and the concert starts at 18h00. It’s advisable to get there early if you’d like a spot near the front.

You’re welcome to bring along a picnic basket to the concert (just note that you can’t bring your own alcohol) and there’ll be plenty of wine and food on sale at the venue as well. You’ll find D’Aria Wine Estate on the M13 (Racecourse Road) in Durbanville.

Every year, Moonstruck raises much needed funds for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), whose members risk their lives to protect those out at sea in need of assistance. The event is family friendly as well, with entertainment on hand to keep the little ones entertained. It’s now twelve years on and Moonstruck is as popular as ever.

The music starts at 18h30 but it’s advisable to get there early to find a spot, as there’s always a big crowd. Just remember that alcohol is prohibited on the beach but the music rocks, so you’ll be entertained through the night. Enjoy!

[Update: 2010 Idols winner Elvis Blue has been added to the line-up.]

See Prime Circle live at Kfm K-Day 2012

K-Day is building up a reputation as one of Cape Town’s favourite music events. The focus is on showcasing some of the best in South African music in a family friendly environment. As always, the event is brought to you by 94.5 Kfm and Santam.

GoodLuck will be live in action at Kfm K-Day 2012

Tickets will be on sale from Computicket and the prices are R160 for adults and R80 for kids aged between 3 and 12 years old. Gates open at 09h00 and the music kicks off at 11h00. I’d advise getting there as early as possible to avoid issues with traffic. The Val de Vie Estate is located on the R301/Jan van Riebeeck Drive in Paarl.

You’re welcome to bring along food and picnic baskets but alcohol and braais are prohibited. There will of course be refreshments and food on sale at the venue.

Which other bands and artists are you hoping to see at this year’s concert? Post a comment below and share your thoughts.

K-Day 2012 is set to be bigger and better than ever. Enjoy!

Auditions are open to South African citizens aged 16 to 30 years old. If you’re younger than 18 years old, then you need a parent or guardian to accompany you to the auditions. Remember to bring your ID document to registration, which takes place on the day of the audition.

Idols auditions for the rest of South Africa take place on:

• Saturday 4 February 2012: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
• Saturday 11 February 2012: Ushaka Marine World, Durban
• Saturday 25 February 2012: Walter Sisulu Square, Kliptown, Soweto

Musical instruments will once again be allowed at the auditions. Good luck!

Money’s Too Tight To Mention sees Stuart once again teaming up with director Heinrich Reisenhofer. The show sees Stuart taking on the current financial crisis in a light-hearted way, with some really funny personal stories, observations and tips which cover everything from bonds, cars and education, to travel, credit cards and even naked sushi!

Tickets are available from Computicket and prices range from R85 to R100, with discounts available for students and senior citizens. The duration of the show is 70 minutes and note that it has a 16 age restriction.

If you’re feeling the pinch financially or you’re just looking for a good laugh, then check out Money’s Too Tight To Mention. It’s Stuart Taylor at his best. Enjoy!

As usual, festival-goers can look forward to a cracking line-up of musical talents which includes big names like aKing, Albert Frost with the Blues Broers, Dan Patlansky, Karen Zoid, Kongos, Sterling EQ and Taxi Violence. Other confirmed acts include an AC/DC Tribute Band, Akkedis, Andra, Black Cat Bones, Cameron Bruce, City Bowl Mizers, Fox Comet, Great Apes, Holiday Murray, Hot Water, Jeremy Loops, Louwtjie Rothman, Luna Paige and Gerald Clark, Luna Paige and Schalk Joubert, Machineri, No One’s Arc, Peachy Keen, Piet Botha, Shadowclub, Southern Gypsey Queen and Wrestlerish.

The music will take place on three stages – the main stage, the MK river stage and BOS Breede River bar stage. Like last year, the festival will open one day earlier on the Thursday for a special preview show but note that numbers are limited for the evening. South African rooibos tea company BOS will also be back this year with their ice teas and cocktails, as well as the BOS ‘Pimp Your Lilo’ competition. Expect to see everything from lobster lilos and Indian canoes, to floating bars and human tube chains.

The 2012 Up The Creek music festival will include loads of food vendors, stalls and bars, as well as coffee maestros who can deliver to your tent, a kiddies area with committed staff to look after the little ones and also dedicated life-guards at the river.

Tickets are available from www.TicketBreak.co.za and it’s worth noting that’s cheaper to buy your tickets in advance, rather than at the gates. Online prices range from R150 to R575.

The Up The Creek campsite is situated on the banks of the Breede River, about 15km from the N2 with the turnoff approximately 8km before Swellendam. The beautiful setting coupled with the awesome music makes this event a must for SA music fans.

It all began at a birthday party for Andreas Wellman, a German Hammond organ player and the man behind the JPP idea. He invited some musicians to jam with him that night and because guests enjoyed it so much, it turned into something regular. Fans of the sessions eventually asked for coverage of the performances and this materialised with a recording at the legendary Cape Town venue, the Green Dolphin on 7 August 2007. The result was the first Jazz Potjie CD – Winter in Cape Town – Volume One.

There are now six Jazz Potjie CDs, each showcasing live performances from some of Cape Town’s best artists. The musical styles featured include Cape Samba, Goema, Marabi, jazz and pop standards, gospel, soul, Afro and some electronica/lounge. Some of the artists featured include Soi Soi Gqeza, Erin Clark, Dave Ferguson, Robbie Jansen and Hilton Schilder, to name but a few.

If you visit www.jpp.co.za, you’ll find track-listings and samples of the recordings which you can listen to. Choose from Winter in Cape Town – Volume One, Two and Three, Summer in Cape Town – Volume One and Two and also the latest release – Erika Lundi from Cape Town.

The CDs cost R120 each if ordering direct from Andreas or R150 if you buy from one of the shops. A portion of the proceeds goes to Rotary Club am Kap, the first and only German speaking Rotary Club in Africa and also IMAD, the umbrella organization that organizes the ‘Little Giants’, a community music project for kids which started about 10 years ago in Khayelitsha and Landsdowne. You’ll find songs recorded by the kids on the various Jazz Potjie CDs.

If you’d like to order a CD, give Andreas a call on 021 426 1093 or email aw@paso-partners.com. The CDs are also available at the African Music Store in Long Street (021 426 0857), Upbeat Records in Sea Point (021 434 1994), Martha’s Vineyard at the V&A Waterfront (021 421 5710), the German Bookshop in Burg Street (021 423 7832) and also at Cape Town Tourism.

The CDs really do feature some fantastic music, so check them out if you’re a jazz fan. If you’d like to get involved with the next Jazz Potjie release, then get in touch with Andreas and have a chat with him. Here’s to the Jazz Potjie – enjoy!

The ‘Puppet Asylum’ show features the notorious political analyst, Chester Missing who no longer wants to be a ventriloquists’ puppet and instead wants to go on and host his own TV show. The show also features characters like Hilary the ostrich, who’s tired of being in Chester’s shadow and also Ronnie the green monster, who Conrad just can’t keep under control. The hilarious show is directed by multi-award winning director Heinrich Reisenhofer and is produced by Podium… The Comedy Merchants.

Conrad Koch has performed at some of South Africa’s biggest comedy events including the Vodacom Comedy Festival, the Smirnoff Comedy Festival, King Size Comedy, the 94,7 Heavyweight Comedy Jam and the SA London Comedy Festival. He is also a winner of the Speakers Inc Entertainer of the Year Award for 2010 and he’s nominated for the 2011 award. The result is that Conrad is now one of South Africa’s most ‘in demand’ comedy acts, so expect to see a lot more of him in the near future.

Tickets for the shows at the Baxter are available from Computicket, with prices ranging from R50 to R90. If you’re looking for some laughs, then check this one out. Enjoy!