September 1, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini
PUT on your dancing shoes and prepare to get down and shake to jazzy and contemporary beats in Newtown and Zoo Lake for the opening weekend of the Arts Alive September Festival.
Organisers of the annual festival hosted by the City of Johannesburg and sponsored by the department of arts, culture and heritage, have promised an unforgettable opening of a month of dance, theatre, music and exhibitions.
On Saturday, 2 September, the Bassline in Newtown will rock to Vusi Mahlasela's soothing African jazz music and Blk Sonshine's ear-catching rhythms. A self-taught guitarist, Mahlasela is best known for the soundtrack to the musical compilation Amandla! "When You Come Back".
Vusi Mahlasela will belt out his soul searching melodies at the Bassline on Saturday
Mamelodi-born Mahlasela has been a seasoned performer since the age of 17. A poet and writer, Mahlasela has won many local and international hearts with his soul-searching melodies. Who can forget his most popular hit, "Silang Mabele", a traditional African melody about work and grinding corn and "Weeping", a rendition of Bright Blue.
The duo Masauko Chipembere and Neo Muyanga of Blk Sonshine should also set the stage alight with their unique, contemporary grooves. Blk Sonshine's acoustic guitars and poetic lyrics are a refreshing upliftment from tired radio sounds.
The show starts at 8,30pm and ticket prices go for R50 at Computicket.
The place to be on Sunday, 3 September is the annual Jazz on the Lake, billed to attract thousands of music lovers. The day-long free concert will feature some of South Africa's finest established and emerging musicians sharing the stage with overseas stars.
First on the stage at 10am on the day will be Mimi Ntenjwa, followed by Sylvester Mazinyane an hour later. At 12 noon, Blk Sonshine will take to the stage before making way for Swedish band Daisy. Vusi Khumalo will take over the stage from Blk Sonshine at 2pm followed by Nokukhanya Dlamini at 3pm. McCoy Mrubata and his big brass band will close the show with what is anticipated to be an hour of scintillating dance and music.
People are urged to bring their folding chairs, picnic baskets and dancing shoes for a day of fun. However, no alcohol will be allowed into the concert grounds and police have warned that it will be a "no tolerance" day for transgressors.
The concert ends at 5pm.
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