Johannesburg

Kwesta

kim_3 — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:57:02 +0200

Senzo ‘KWESTA’ Vilakazi was born 11 August 1988 to school teacher Thabsile Vilakazi, on the East Rand of Johannesburg. It was during his high school days at J.G. Strydom where the dream of becoming a rap superstar began, he was a constant irritation to his teachers for writing verses and poems during lessons but as time went on, the very same teachers started asking KWESTA to give examples of his writing by reciting whatever “student friendly” verse or poem he had for the class.

It was at that time that his first rap group ‘Ghetto Fellaz’ was formed and with the addition of another member it was changed to ‘The Juvenylz’ and two years after the group came to an end his dream elevated to the next level… to finally begin recording songs, this happened after a group of youngsters moved into the neighborhood and were trying to establish they’re own recording company, AMS.

While a relationship had began with AMS other great moments and opportunities were also unfolding, KWESTA went on to win the MC of the month competition on Yfm’s Rap Activity Jam and also took first place on The Freestyle Kings special on ETV’s Shiz Niz. He was also actively getting his name on peoples tongues by performing at the Miss Confidence Show, The Rand Show and The Durban Beach Festival just to name a few.

With dozens of songs recorded and on stage experience under his belt, KWESTA’s demo made its way to the Buttabing Entertainment offices in April 2007 and was received with pure enthusiasm to further the relationship and add KWESTA to the label’s roster.

Since embarking on his journey with Buttabing Entertainment, KWESTA has been introduced to the life of no sleep, no rest and the complex workings of the music business. He has since traveled across the country as part of the entertainment line up and judging panel on the Sprite Hip Hoop Tour and was also featured on The Ventilation Street Tape in Association with the Sprite Hip Hoop Tour 2007, he has also taken part in the Nokia Defend Your Street campaign which saw him collaborating with Slikour & Shugasmakx (Skwatta Kamp), T’do (Zulu Mobb), Nothende and Piet Potent on the campaign’s theme song.

KWESTA has been places, is in places and is most definitely still going places. His album is a work in progress and will be part of your music collection in the near future.

Look out for KWESTA …………… All over the place!

Laurie Levine

One Minute Trolley Dash — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:24:30 +0200

Laurie is a prolific songwriter with a distinctive jazzy soulful voice and strong melodies that breathe life into her songs and embody the emotional core of her music.
The singer-songwriter has built up her loyal fan base through her performances at some of SA’s most prestigious festivals including: Mr Price Pro, Levi’s Vintage Sunday Sessions, Oppikoppi, Splashy Fen and the White Mountain Folk festival.
Laurie has performed at the famous CBGBs in New York as well as opening for Rodriguez at The Forum in London.

Laurie was selected to open for international artist Joe Jackson in June (Wednesday 4th June & Thursday 5th June) 2007 at The Theatro at Montecasino, Johannesburg.
This was a very successful showcase and a great opportunity for the Johannesburg based artist whose 2007 debut release ‘Unspoken’ was nominated for a SA music award (SAMA) in the English adult contemporary category.
Laurie has commenced the recording of her second album to be produced by Dan Roberts, for release towards the end of 2008 including a nationwide tour to support the new release.

Laurie directed and featured in ‘Ancestral Grooves’, an orchestral show with the Mzantsi Traditional Orchestra. The show fused traditional and Western instruments, it had a short run at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square, Sandton from the 20th – 24th May.

Laurie played at the August Oppikoppi (2008) on the Gito Baloyi acoustic stage as well as at the White Mountain Folk festival.
Laurie was selected to be part of the Powerzone Unplugged tour in October 2008. Other artists on the tour include: The Black Hotels, Louise Carver, One Sock Thief, Perez, Josie Field and The Parlotones who were the headliner.

340ml

marketing4 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:23:03 +0200

In a musical scene dominated by just a handful of starkly hewn genres, 340ml brew a music concoction that pulls down boundaries with ease and is set to make a lasting impact on the global music scene.

The southern African four-member group, currently based in Johannesburg but with its roots firmly planted in Mozambique, has already released an album that’s earned it critical praise and opened the doors to a seriously busy gigging schedule (among their gigs in 2005 was a very well a received slot at the annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival). Titled Moving, the album is one of the most effortlessly evocative recorded in South Africa during 2003, casting a musical glow that speaks of hazy beach sunsets, languid afternoons and blissed out summer fun.

But don’t think that 340ml is only about the slow jam.

Paulo Jorge Chibanga (drums), Rui Soeiro (bass), Tiago Paulo (guitar) and Pedro Pinto (vocals, sampler) are all skilled musicians with an eclectic approach to playing that makes for compelling listening. It’s not for nothing that Paulo and Tiago are an integral part of the off-kilter, jazz-inflected hip-hop created by Tumi and the Volume. Simply put there are few drummers playing in the sub-continent today who can create beats in the way Paulo does and Tiago is a gifted guitarist, for sure.

Part of 340ml’s ability to create music that’s fresher than an early morning sea breeze comes from their collective youth, spent in Maputo where a sure-footed belief in their ability to be something special threads through their early lives.

“The main reason that so many musicians come out of Mozambique is that our entertainment – and even that of our parents – revolves around music, whether it’s on the radio or on television,” explains Paulo, who came with his mother on a trip to South Africa when he was a teenager solely to buy a drum kit. “But when we were kids it was pretty hard to get hold of CDs or get the music that you had heard about – that’s changed a bit now.”

An organic musical influence on 340ml’s members was unquestionably Latin music. “Here in South Africa it’s seen as something exotic but at home it’s everyday stuff,” says Tiago. “It definitely makes you more aware of rhythm – the way it’s part of everyday life. I mean if someone is listening to music in Maputo they don’t do it passively – even if they are not a musician they will be drumming on the table with their hands.”

Traditional Mozambican music (“Marrabenta”) is another influence – although subtle. “For me, Mozambican music is very folk,” says Paulo. “It’s about the marimba and the acoustic guitar – although groups like Kapa Dech have taken it to more an Afro-jazz level.”

Taking it to another level is what 340ml is all about. “It would be easy enough for us to become say a rock band – we’ve got the musical ability,” says Pedro, “but there are enough Limp Bizkit soundalikes in the world and we wanted to create music that was unique and true to us as a group. You have to represent where you come from.”

It’s hard not to see that a great deal of 340ml’s musical sensibility come from an obvious seeking intelligence that streaks through each individual member. In fact it was to pursue academic paths that the four ended up in Johannesburg in the mid-90s. Paulo in fact had designs on being an architect, Rui studied a BCom, Pedro’s career lay in Industrial Psychology and Tiago was headed for a career in economics. All four currently freelance in their areas of expertise (with Paulo now branching out into a different area of design, through his Dubstars clothing label which is fast becoming a must-have with Joburg’s hip crew) – although focusing on 340ml is where they want to be. And soon.

In spite of their weighty academic qualifications, the sway towards music was undeniable – first in Maputo and then when Rui and Paulo joined a band led by their art teacher at St Martin’s school, in the south of Johannesburg. That band was called Panic Orange – a surreal name that was being pulled more and more towards rock by its South African member. In the late 90s Panic Orange earned a semi-final place in the annual Emerging Sounds competition but it was already turning in a Ska direction and the group dropped its name (and it’s rock playing member) mid-contest. “I think it became a bit of a battle,” says Paulo, “and when we hooked up with Tiago and Pedro it just worked. We were dying in the rock mode because we always wanted to do other things – different things.”

The four had known each other from living in Maputo – with Tiago and Pedro playing together in a “Rage Against The Machine”-inspired rap-metal cover band as teenagers in the mid-90s. (The group says a noticeable aspect of Mozambicans youth is how boundry-less they are when it comes to music.) “We also had other bands including a three-piece, Tiago and I,” reveals Pedro. “We had this friend who had a recreation room at his Dad’s construction company, with instruments in and we would go there every Saturday morning and play for hours. We were called CCR – the R being for rock.”

It was an inspired choice when the group – after many false-starts - took its name from the ubiquitous measurement on beverage cans when it finally formalized itself in 2000! But it’s the music that really speaks – as Moving reveals. The album was co-produced by the popular Jazzworx production team and is, in parts, dub, reggae, jazz, Brazilian, rock and more (“just call it southern African contemporary,” says Paulo) and it’s bound to get 340ml noticed nationally, if not globally.

“Music must be art,” Tiago says. “It must be active thing – being passive and doing covers is not what it is about. It’s about being creative and pushing it all the time.”

Writing songs has become a propulsive force with 340ml – many of the songs on the album were penned close to five years ago (“Early Morning” for one) but others were crafted when the band was in the studio in 2003. 340ml’s approach to songwriting is fluid – sometimes the inspiration arrives with a force, other times the band has to work hard on a song. “I’m very critical of the lyrics I write,” says Pedro, “but we all give input, perhaps a bass line will be the start or a beat, and then we layer it and flesh it out.” The lyricist’s way with words is part quirky, part jive-talking – there are few vocalists who can sing lines like “you knock me over with your kung-fu smile” with such ease!

340ml has many more songs than appear on Moving – as songwriters, they are impressively prolific. And live, the group bounces and flick-flacks through songs with a loose-limbed ease that comes from a confidence in what they are creating. The group’s music is all about plump bass notes, beats that get even those non-Mozambican fans tapping the table, guitarwork that’s just the right balance of melodic and low-key and vocals at times seem like another instrument in the musical mix.

2006 will see 340ml taking their music to fans – both in South Africa, Mozambique and beyond (keep up to date with gigs by going to www.myspace.com/340ml). “It’s all about spreading our music,” Rui says, “to an appreciative audience that’s hard to classify. We have people of all ages coming to our gigs, and they may be fans of other genres like hip-hop but they also just get what we are doing.”

If 6 Was 9, Prelude to June & Pedestrian Knockdown as Guest bands @ Stones Centurion for the Rock Stars competition

If 6 Was 9 — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:49:53 +0200

Start: 30 Nov 2011 - 18:00

End: 1 Dec 2011 - 02:00

If 6 Was 9 is one of the Guest band at the Rock Stars competition @ Stones Centurion along with Prelude to June & Pedestrian Knockdown Come and join us @ Stones and give the semi finalist some support. Lets Rock...

If 6 Was 9, Pedestrian Knock Down & more @ Factory in Centurion

If 6 Was 9 — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:37:41 +0200

Start: 25 Nov 2011 - 19:00

End: 26 Nov 2011 - 02:00

Come Join If 6 Was 9 and four other kick ass bands @ Factory Centurion on Friday 25 November. Line Up: 20:20 My Life On Fire 21:10 Proposing to Medusa 22:00 If 6 Was 9 22:50 All of Eternity 23:40 Pedestrian Knock Down R30 gets you in from 7pm

Headbang Cartel Featuring If 6 Was 9 @ Factory Centurion

If 6 Was 9 — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:05:49 +0200

Start: 19 Nov 2011 - 18:00

End: 20 Nov 2011 - 02:00

Headbang Cartel Saturday 19 November 2011 At Factory Music Bar & Lounge With live on stage From 19 - 00 = Silver Reflection 19 – 50 = Just for the Halibut 20 – 40 = Audio Diaries 21 – 30 = Random Article 22 - 20 = Adorned In Ash 23 – 10 = If 6 Was 9 00 -00 = A Minor Affair R30 Gets u in From 6pm Free entrance before 6pm Open at 2pm Safe Parking Foose ball & Pool tables Bar specials Dbl Wellington + Mix R22 Black Label R10 Tequila R9

Sleeping Beauty

bookings_10 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:17:35 +0200

Start: 18 Nov 2011 - 20:00

End: 27 Nov 2011 - 21:00

Sleeping Beauty - the Pantomime!! A fun filled musical theater experience for the whole family (kids aged 2-92 welcome) It'll get your feet tapping and you voices humming as you watch how the evil Augusta plans to poison the heroine Aurora on the eve of her 21st birthday on the fabulous Sandton Square. Will her true love, Norman the IT nerd save her?? Come and find out!!
Tickets R40-60 - speak to Wendy 082 366 9987 or e mail bookings@franklin.org.za. Shows 18th, 19th, 25th, 26th at 8.00 pm, matinee 2pm 19th and Sunday evening show on the 27th at 7.00 pm.

Irvine with The Stray Natives

Irvine — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:55:12 +0200

Start: 29 Sep 2011 - 20:30

End: 29 Sep 2011 - 23:30

Irvine's Gauteng tour kicks off at The Bohemian, one of Johannesburg's coolest venues!

We'll be taking to the stage alongside locals THE STRAY NATIVES - please come and join us and have some fun! After all...we're coming all the way from Cape Town to see you guys.

R30 gets you in, and the doors will open at 8:30pm. Bring a friend or two and come and dance to some awesome indie/rock.

You can get more info (and a free MP3!) from Irvine over at:
http://www.irvineband.com/

For more info on The Stray Natives:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Stray-Natives/136672336363900

CRYSTAL PARK Launch Event

rockfordmedia — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 11:50:37 +0200

Start: 8 Jul 2011 - 19:00

End: 9 Jul 2011 - 02:00

It's the moment you've all been waiting for...

CRYSTAL PARK was formed by former members of popular JHB-based Dirty Rock n' Roll outfit, The Hellphones after their departure from the SA Music Scene in 2010. Members Tenn Elliot, Joe Cole and Kev Hall had a long-standing relationship with Country Music, and felt there was a massive gap for this kind of music.

They immediately started writing material, and soon found a lot of their inspiration was coming from their very own home town - Benoni. From this dubious start came the name inspired by the equally-dubious Benoni suburb, and CRYSTAL PARK was born.

Soon, another ex-Hellphones member joined the ranks - Fredriguez - and it wasn't long before he brought his brother in on it... Calvin "The Kid" was roped in on drums and the two brothers did wonders for the band's overall country sound. Steve East soon joined in on Bass, and CRYSTAL PARK was complete.

CRYSTAL PARK's music roams the deep, dark, dangerous world of the suburbs, streets and myths of Benoni - from the famed "Benoni Werewolves" of the 80s, to the most popular pubs, drinking holes and take-away joints, to the ladies of the night (if you're looking for a good time).

And best of all, it's Country

****TOWN HALL****
8 JULY 2011

CRYSTAL PARK will be appearing for the VERY FIRST time!

With special guests:

^^JAY BONES^^
^^JOSIE FIELD (unplugged)^^

and to keep you jolling until all crazy hours:

^^BATTLESHIP DJ THE MARKNESS playing the best CountryFolkAlternative choons!

R50 entrance

Limited ed. CRYSTAL PARK demos on sale - first 50 people to buy get a FREE CRYSTAL PARK ALE, the very best home-made brew made by the top brewmasters in Crystal Park - the band themselves!

Jay Bones and Josie will also have their merch on sale as well.

AND WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING ON THE NIGHT?

The Music you hear from CRYSTAL PARK is all about Benoni and the suburb after which the band is named. So we are inviting all budding artists, painters, videographers and photographers (even if you are just a "happy snapper") to participate in the CRYSTAL PARK EXHIBITION on the evening. Here's how it works:

1. All budding artists, painters, videographers and photographers can participate. We don't care how good you are, as long as:
2. All work exhibited on the night is themed around Crystal Park or Benoni or all inherent myths, stories, misconceptions etc. thereof.
3. On the night, you will be provided space to exhibit your work and sell it for whatever price you like.
4. All the money you make, you keep.
5. You MUST email steve.east@rockfordmedia.com BEFORE 4 JULY 2011 to participate.
6. Artists are also invited to submit samples of your best work to the above email address as well, and the best chosen work by the band will be punted though our facebook pages, as well as through Rockford Media's outlets, and will also be used on the night as backdrops to the stage set and artwork. The band Crystal Park, and Rockford Media, will have full permission to use this work in any way they wish, but the work will still be owned by you.
7. All work submitted, exhibited and sold MUST be your own, original work.
8. Again, you MUST email steve.east@rockfordmedia BEFORE 4th July 2011 to participate!

The Rockford DJs at Mamma's Shebeen, JHB

rockfordmedia — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:33:29 +0200

Start: 4 Jun 2011 - 20:00

End: 5 Jun 2011 - 01:30

THE ROCKFORD DJs ROCKING GREENSIDE!

Greenside is fun.

It has LOADS of cool places to go to.

All on one road!

So you can bring your friends, park, and simply walk up and down Gleneagles Rd, popping into all the places on the way. It's like going to 5 different pubs in one night WITHOUT HAVING TO DRIVE IN BETWEEN THEM and worrying about cops etc!

Wow!

Of course, the MOST JAMMING, MOST AWESOME place is:

Mamma's Shebeen!

Why?

The have the coolest drink specials, the coolest looking venue, TVs in case you want to watch sport, they make a fucking AWESOME vetkoek and mince (nevermind all th other great stuff on their menu) and because...

THE ROCKFORD DJs are playing!

Expect the best:

Indie
Alternative
Rock
Pop
Oldies
Swing
Jazz
Blues
Folk
Punk
Funk
Reggae

including new stuff from:
Bell X1
Foo Figthers
The Lollipops
Jason Isbell
The Veils
Drive-By Truckers
Eddie Vedder
Blondie
The Vines
The Kills
Brian Setzer Orchestra
and MORE!

And best of all?

IT'S FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

See you on the Dancefloor!
The Rockford Team