The most successful band in South Africa in the last decade will thrill fans with hits from their three platinum-selling, award-winning albums.

They are playing at the AquaFestival at the North Wharf, V&A Waterfront (entrance at the Aquarium) on 19 December at 20h30.

Freshlyground is made up of seven talented and diverse musicians from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The band exudes a live performance energy that has been the bedrock of their success. Although hailing from diverse backgrounds, between them the band’s members weave a musical magic that is highly infectious and an undeniably groovy fusion of African folk and kwela, blues, jazz and indie rock.

Fans can expect to hear many old favourites, in addition to newer hits off their recent album Ma’Cheri. The group is currently recording a fourth studio album due for release later shortly.

Their second and third albums have achieved multi-platinum status and, in November 2006, they won the MTV Europe Award for Best African Act, placing the band on the international music map, and opening the door for them to tour the United States and Canada for the first time this year.

Freshly Ground guarantee an energetic show with superb vocals from Zolani Mahola, bassist Josh Hawks, drummer Peter Cohen, guitarist Julio Sigauque, violinist Kyla Rose Smith, keyboard player Seredeal Scheepers and Simon Attwell on flute, sax, harmonica and the traditional African ‘mbira’.

FreshlyGround is part of the AquaFestival presented by M-Net in association with the V&A Waterfront and Hunta Live – a multi-disciplined Music & Entertainment Festival staging 12 world class performances on one of the most spectacular settings ever… a giant floating stage in the V&A Waterfront Yacht Basin with Table Mountain as a backdrop and the summer skies as roof.

It will cover all genres including ballet, music tribute shows, carols, rock, pop and circus to name but a few.

A musical of hope and triumph, Lion of the East tells of the story of farm activist Gert Sibande.

The Playhouse Company, in partnership with the KZN Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Committed Artists, Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation and SABC 1, presents Mbongeni Ngema’s Lion of the East at the Playhouse in Durban 15 December 2009 until 3 January 2010.

Created, written and directed by Africa’s King of Theatre, Mbongeni Ngema, known for seminal works such as Asinamali, Sarafina and The Zulu, to name a few, Lion of the East will run in The Playhouse Company’s Drama Theatre.

The life of Gert Sibande, one of the eminent political activists in Bethal, comes alive on stage in a musical production titled Lion of the East. Sibande was a leader among farm workers in what was then known as the Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga). He was an ANC activist and one of the first of a string of accused in the treason trial of 1956 to 1961. At that time he was a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC.

“His pronounced commitment for the plight of poor people in the rural areas is well documented,” says the production’s director, Mbongeni Ngema. “He stood against exploitation on Bethal farms where wanton killings occurred. Farm labourers were flogged to death, gruesome stories of others dying of the cold and of people conned into working on the farms were the order of the day. One can imagine how hard it was for the people. They worked from sunrise to sunset, and they were fed porridge and gravy on sacks instead of plates to make them eat faster because the gravy soaked quickly through the sacks.”

South African poet Roy Campbell, describing the conditions on the farms, wrote of “the fiercely ironic abuse of an illiterate ruling class.” Sibande emerged in the Bethal district in the 1930s as an organiser and founder of a farm workers’ association. He became the local spokesman for the ANC. In 1947 he helped journalists, including Michael Scott, who worked for the Rand Daily Mail, to expose the slavery conditions of African people on the Bethal farm.

The farm exposé was later pursued in Drum magazine in 1952 by Henry Nxumalo and Ruth First. Sibande launched what he called his “talking to papers” strategy to expose the slavery conditions on the farm. Although Gert never had any formal education he became an important man in the trade union sector and the ANC as its spokesperson.

Sibande left Bethal and lived in the Vaal area before he was banished to Komartiport. He skipped the country and went to Swaziland where he died in 1987.

This is a milestone production which includes the potpourri of music, dance and drama that have become the hallmark of Ngema. Bhoyi Ngema as Gert Sibande heads a cast that includes, among others Seipati Sothoana, Bheki Mqadi, Velephi Mnisi, Thandeka Magagula, Jaco van Heerden, Marissa Fourie, Mmakgosi Kgabi, Thabile Mzobe, Lorato Thekisho and Siphosethu Mnisi.

Special low price previews: 15 and 16 December (group bookings call 031 369 9407). Normal price performances at R145 per person: 17 December – 3 January. (Book at Computicket on 083 915 8000 or call 031 369 9540 (office hours).

Joburg comedy fans are in for a treat in March 2010, when The Real Joburg Theatre Comedy Festival takes to the Mandela stage at the Joburg Theatre.
Brought to you by King Size Comedy Management, the line up so far has something special for all Joburgers:
4 March – MC Chris Forrest will be joined by two of the country’s funnymen, Marc Lottering and Nik Rabinowitz.

Marc Lottering hails from Cape Town, and is considered by many to be one of the hottest comics on offer from South Africa. He first burst onto the scene with a self-scripted one-man show in 1997, and has since continued to wow audiences. The name Marc Lottering has become synonymous with “sell-out seasons” across the country.

He has been the recipient of both Fleur du Cap and Vita Theatre awards. Marc has also performed to ex-pats in London, Australia, New Zealand and Toronto. He continues to keep fans entertained with his hugely successful shows From The Cape Flats With Love, Big Stakes And Slap Chips, Hallelujah, and more recently Three Wise Men and Three Wiser Men directed by David Kramer.

Nik Rabinowitz was raised on the mean, green streets of Plumstead West, a world of ride-by shootings, piano lessons, and unrelenting love and financial support from family members. He grew up as a farm boy; climbing trees, speaking Xhosa and commentating on his own rugby games in Afrikaans. After graduating from UCT with a business science degree and a large afro, he took off with a band of travelling actors and a herd of displaced Zimbabwean donkeys before becoming a stand-up comedian.

Awarded South African “Stand-up of the Year” for 2008/09, Nik currently presents “The Week that Wasn’t” for talk radio stations Cape Talk & 702, has just completed a sold out season of his fifth one man show, “uNik”, and cannot wait to be reunited with his Muslim and Christian brethren for the much-anticipated return of 3Wiser Men.

Be sure not to miss these two very funny Capetonians joined by the very popular and dead pan Chris Forrest.
5 March – Barry Hilton’s new show Fresh Catch

Funnyman Barry Hilton will reel audiences in, hook, line and sinker this festive season with his Fresh Catch show. Fans are in for a real treat as he chums out his hilarious impressions and observations on social, political and family issues. Barry’s new found passion for fishing and enjoying the great outdoors inspired the show’s name and allows for his quick-witted “Throw me a line” segment. Undoubtedly one of South Africa’s favourite comedians, Barry will be at his hilarious best as he also googles our dependence on electronic paraphernalia in this 75 minute high definition comedy set.
6 March – David Kau – I Should Have Done These Jokes First!

After a very successful run around the country hosting the Blacks Only Comedy Shows, award winning comedian David Kau is back on the public stage in the New Year with his new one man show “I Should Have Done These Jokes First”. His first one man show “I Did These Jokes First” two years ago sold over 20 000 tickets and David is back to delight his fans even further.

Tickets available at Computicket from R120, all fees excluding service charges.

The NewSpace Theatre in Cape Town opens its first children’s musical production, The Night Before Christmas, from 4 to 24 December.

On the night before Christmas, Emily stares out of the window, hugs her teddy and waits excitedly for the morning. In the corner of her room, a little mouse called Eddie can’t understand why only humans get to celebrate and receive presents on this special occasion. Along his journey of discovery he dodges the family cat, gets directions from a cowardly toy soldier and is even given some unexpected advice from the magical Fairy on top of the Christmas tree. Will Eddie get an answer? Will Emily get her wish? And what is that odd-shaped present sitting under the tree?

The Night Before Christmas is directed by Dean Roberts who has played the lead in several children’s productions himself that include Oliver and Puss-in-Boots, and in other well-known shows such as The Importance of Being Ernest and the Rocky Horror Show. He has also performed in hit musicals like We will Rock You, High School Musical and Hair.

This delightful family musical is ideal entertainment for everyone from 3 years of age and up, and was originally created by the founder of the Big Wooden Horse Company, one of the United Kingdom’s finest children’s theatre companies. The show is set to original music, with colourful sets and costumes and stars three talented actors, Francesco Nassimbeni, Bethany Dickson and Stephen Jubber.

Performances run daily at the NewSpace 1 Theatre from 4 to 24 December at 11am and 2pm. Tickets cost R50 each via Computicket or 021 422 5522. Parking is available on the street, at Heritage Square on Bree Street or in the Parkade on Strand Street, all within easy walking distance to the theatre, situated on the corner of Long and Hout Streets.

The Night Before Christmas is delighting young audiences at the NewSpace Theatre this festive season.

The NewSpace Theatre on 44 Long Street is pleased to add The Night Before Christmas to its bumper festive season line up.

On the night before Christmas, Emily stares out of the window, hugs her teddy and waits excitedly for Christmas morning. In the corner of her room, a little mouse called Eddie can’t understand why only humans get to celebrate and receive presents on this special occasion. Along his journey of discovery and his quest to meet Santa he dodges the grumpy family cat, gets directions from a nervous but enthusiastic toy robot and is even given some unexpectedly good advice from the magical Fairy from the top the Christmas tree.

The Night Before Christmas is directed by Dean Roberts who has played the lead in several children’s productions himself that include Oliver and Puss-in-Boots, and in other well-known shows such as The Importance of Being Ernest and the Rocky Horror Show. He has also been in hit musicals like We will Rock You, High School Musical and Hair. The show stars three talented young actors, namely Francesco Nassimbeni as Eddie the Mouse, Bethany Dickson as Lizzie the Christmas Fairy and Stephen Jubber as the robot Dymotron.

This delightful family musical, set to original music, is ideal entertainment for everyone from 3 years of age and up, and was originally created by the founder of the Big Wooden Horse Company, one of the United Kingdom’s finest children’s theatre companies.

Performances run daily until the 24th December at 11am and 2pm with tickets costing R50 each via Computicket or 021 422 5522. Parking is available on the street around the venue, at Heritage Square on Bree Street or in the Parkade on Strand Street, all within easy walking distance to the theatre, situated on the corner of Long and Hout Streets.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Busi Mhlongo head for the KZN Music House to record together for the first time

On October 4 2009, internationally renowned sculptor Andries Botha (www.andriesbotha.net) was in the audience when multi-award winning singer Busi Mhlongo performed at the legendary Rainbow Restaurant in Pinetown (www.therainbow.co.za). He was so moved by the performance and Mhlongo’s spirituality that the following week he contacted Neil and Nicola Comfort of the Rainbow and presented a proposal to them.

The proposal related to the Human Elephant Foundation (www.humanelephant.org), an environmental awareness organization initiated by Botha. The Human Elephant Foundation is a visionary and collaborative organization that initiates, coordinates and facilitates discussion and innovative problem solving to create a better, respectful and sustainable world.

Besides the herd of lifelike elephants that Botha has created to spread awareness across the globe, another form of communication, namely music, was envisaged by Botha and his collaborators in the Foundation as being key to spreading the word. Another well-known and much loved Durban musician, Syd Kitchen (www.sydkitchen.com), had already contributed a song entitled Human Elephant Song to the Foundation. Botha hoped that Mhlongo would also be able to contribute a song and asked the Comforts to help facilitate this.

Mhlongo immediately jumped at the opportunity and expressed her long held desire to again team up with London-based producer Will Mowat, with whom she had last worked with on her multi award-winning 1998 release Urbanzulu. Besides his sterling work on what is today recognized as one of the greatest South African albums ever produced, Mowat is also noted for his work with Vicky Sampson and her album Zai that gave us that stadium anthem African Dream; with Mango Groove; and as producer of Angelique Kidjo’s global hit Agolo.

He did not hesitate in confirming his willingness to assist with the recording. Numerous phone calls and brain storming sessions later and Mowat proposed a meeting with three-time Grammy Award-winning act Ladysmith Black Mambazo (LBM) that, without a doubt, is the most globally recognized music brand from South Africa, from Kwazulu Natal and from Durban – the birthplace of the Human Elephant Foundation. Their participation was confirmed with an unequivocal yes.

Just two months since the seed was first sown in Botha’s head at the Rainbow and these two iconic Durban based acts head into Studio 1 of the recently launched KZN Music House on Monday 7 December to create magic. The Music House is an initiative of the KZN Department of Economic Development that has provided the province with a state-of-the-art recording facility that is set to change the face of the music industry in KwaZulu-Natal. The facility is managed by Committed Artists for the benefit of all KZN-based musicians.

Auspiciously, this will be the first-ever recording in the facility and even Chief Engineer Richard Mitchell has moved heaven and earth to accommodate it on this date, as the following day LBM head off to Johannesburg to record their 53rd album. The management of the facility has come to the party and is donating the studio time in celebration of the fact that the first recording will feature the names Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Busi Mhlongo.

The hope is that the song that results from the chemistry between the artists will feature on future albums from LBM and Mhlongo. The hope is that this will be last time that acts such as LBM will have to travel to Johannesburg to record. The goal is that the song will carry the message of the Human Elephant Foundation to a global audience. In another first, this will also be the first collaboration between Mhlongo and LBM.

Top Durban-based director and cinematographer Michael Cross, of Rogue Productions, will be in the studio to capture the making of the song on film.