South Africa included in 4th World Tour of six continents

Date & Venue             Wednesday 8 February – GrandWest Grand Arena

Time                            20h00 (doors open at 19h00)

Cost                             GrandWest – from R375

Tickets                         Computicket – 0861 915 8000 or www.computicket.com

The internationally acclaimed operatic pop group Il Divo has included South Africa in their 4th world tour schedule spanning six continents.  The quartet will perform at the GrandWest Grand Arena on Wednesday, 8 February, at the Carnival City Big Top Arena in Brakpan on Friday, 10 February.

The group, first formed in 2004 by reality TV guru Simon Cowell, consists of French pop singer Sébastien Izambard, Spanish baritone Carlos Marín, American tenor David Miller and Swiss tenor Urs Bühler.  The foursome was selected by Cowell following a worldwide talent search.

Il Divo has since amassed an impressive array of accomplishments, nominations and awards which include worldwide sales of 26-million albums and over 150 gold and platinum awards in 33 countries.  In 2011 they were named Artist of the Decade at the Classic BRITS Awards ceremony.

In keeping with Il Divo’s multinational identity, they perform in English, Italian, Spanish, French and even Latin.  In November 2011 they launched their much anticipated album Wicked Game, and songs from the new album will be included in their shows.

Tickets for the Il Divo and Orchestra in Concert world tour are available from Computicket from R375 for the GrandWest show and from R320 for the Carnival City show.  All shows start at 20h00 and doors open at 19h00.

For more information contact Jeni Fletcher: jeni@corporateimage.co.za

Date                      Friday 3 February to Saturday 17 March 2012 (including                                    Valentine’s Day)

Time                     Doors open at 20h00, show starts at 20h30

Venue                   GrandWest Roxy Revue Bar

Cost                      R67, 00

Tickets                  Computicket

In 1963 a little-known quartet from Liverpool turned the world of music and fashion on its head, creating a cultural revolution that left a lasting legacy still admired and respected 50 years on. Paying tribute to the mania caused by mop-haired John, Paul, George and Ringo, the show All You Need Is Love will transport audiences back to the unforgettable sound of The Beatles and the ’swinging’ 60’s from Friday, 3 February to Saturday, 17 March at the GrandWest Roxy Revue Bar, Wednesday through to Saturday.

The group shook their generation, threatening conservatism to its core and unleashing beatle-mania.  Today they are regarded as the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed band. Setting the tone for the evening, Director Cedric Vandenschrik uses original footage to recreate the public hysteria of the time, such as performances on the Ed Sullivan show and the famous meeting with Bob Dylan.  Fans can expect to hear all the band’s best loved hits such as Help, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, I wanna hold your Hand, Ticket to Ride, Sgt Peppers, Hey Jude, Back in the USSR, Yellow Submarine and many more.

Taking the audience on this Magical Mystery Tour are vocalist and guitarist Cedric Vandenschrik, vocalist Chad Zerf, guitarist Aldert du Toit, drummer Adam Coolsaet, bassist Rob Nel and keyboardist Tracy Johannes.  Adding a pretty touch and a different interpretation to the music will be Candice Malander-Thorne.

For more information pictures please contact Jeni Fletcher on jeni@corporateimage.co.za<mailto:jeni@corporateimage.co.za>

Some of the contestants.

The 6^th Miss Gay Disco Queen is held on Friday, November 11 at the Bonteheuwel Multipurpose Centre in Elder Street.

Contestants (pic) come from areas such as Bonteheuwel, Hanover Park, Mitchells Plain, Ruyterwacht and Retreat.

Doors open from 19h00 and show starts 20h30. Entry cost is R30 per adult and R15 per child.

MELISSA NEL

As a child she dreamt of taking over from songstress Whitney Houston, and currently Lira is working on her goal to become a global African icon, she says in an interview with us. With her travelling all over the globe to promote her R&B music, she seems not far away from achieving that goal.

Lira

It is all about speaking “life” into your life even if people talk about you, says Lira. “I have learned to banish thoughts of failure, self-destruction, et cetera from my mind. I literally only thought of how my life was if all my dreams came true – ALL the time!”

This dance-lover discovered her talent when she was 16. Her first album ALL MY LOVE produced kwaito songs. “I was never a kwaito singer – I featured on songs with kwaito acts as a way for my record label to introduce me to the market. The strategy did not do well for me in terms of introducing me as a soul R&B singer, and this is where my frustration lay.”

She advises upcoming artists: “Never lose sight of where you intend to end up in your career.”

Lira says she performs in European cities, because the audience enjoy African music. “Out here in South Africa there is a lack of performance venues whereas in Vienna and most German cities, festivals are free for the public.”

The songstress who has performed with artists like HHP, the Parlotones, Hugh Masekela and Thansiswa Mazwai, is currently doing a show where selected fans can be alongside her at performances.   

Four Capetonian winners from Nokia will have their experience recorded: they’ll have freedom to move backstage, be in the audience, the dressing room and behind the sound check. Lira performs tonight LIVE at GrandWest Arena.

MELISSA NEL

Centre stage, check… Mic, check… A lot of swag, check! These are the elements that Charle (34), a local artist from Langa, made sure his debut music video would portray: it is what he loves doing best.

Charle recently made a music video in Langa.

Charle (or Chumani Simelela) believes his sound makes people move and feel lekker. In the video he performs in front of crowds. He also has a ball of a time in the music legend Brenda Fassie’s family house in Makana Street, Langa.

Things were not always so smooth and it took a life-changing decision to get back Charle’s zest for life.

He lived in Johannesburg before his fiancé (with whom he was dating for nine years) passed away in 2005. “We were four months engaged when she died.” During 2007-2009 he got heavily addicted to drugs like cocaine. “I started to lose everything. The last thing I lost was my furniture.”

“We (my friends and I) would go to the dealers and pawn stuff, just to get a fix… Stupid, né?”

His mother, who lived in Langa, suspected something but he never stayed long for a visit. “I have been doing it for years, but she never knew.” It was only when he lost his job that he came back to Langa. “It was that pride thing, man.  I didn’t want to come home if I did not achieve anything.”

“And I couldn’t get it with the friends I had.”

Charle changed his lifestyle and is now currently a LoveLife groundbreaker. “I was an introvert when I was younger, so I would go to the mirror and imitate Notorious B.I.G.” Charle says he can see a gap in the music industry which he can fill. “I am pushing to go LIVE on SABC.”

View Charle’s video on YouTube or Facebook.

Mike van Graan

MELISSA NEL

‘Provocative and entertaining’ is how Mike van Graan, writer of Banyana Republic, describes his show which will be showing at the Artscape’s Womens Arts Festival during August 4-6.

“The play is making its debut”, says van Graan who grew up in South Avenue, between Thornton and Belgravia Roads in Athlone. “I decided to compile sketches on the perspectives of women in communities. This was after Bafana Republic went strong in the theatre community last year.”

The name means: ‘a country that is going to the dogs’. In Banyana Republic one person Lindiwe Matshikiza plays a range of women.

This play is one of four being shown at the festival. One of the other highlights of the festival is a panel discussion let by Elna Boesak on that Saturday, with the theme: Women & Justice 2011: Are the Scales Balancing?

Festival-goers can also attend free workshops and exhibitions by Girl Talk, Women’s Legal Centre, Bhalani Readers and Writers Association and TATT2.

Magician and mentalist Larry Soffer is South Africa’s own Harry Potter. 

Magician and mentalist Larry Soffer will perform his Mind over Matter show at the GrandWest Roxy Revue Bar from August 5 to 27.

He keeps his audiences spellbound, from correctly predicting news headlines a week in advance, to eerily using the power of his thoughts to bend cutlery and get stationary clocks to move. Together with a cast of seven other performers, Larry will perform his Mind over Matter show at the GrandWest Roxy Revue Bar from 5 to 27 August, Wednesday to Saturday.  

Tickets are available at Computicket.

Five readers can win double tickets to one of Larry’s shows. Contact The Cape Flats News to win!

MELISSA NEL

A former Bonteheuwel resident is having the time of his life, taking his audience ‘back in time’ at GrandWest’s That 80s Show, the new musical tribute.

Keenan Arrison who currently lives in Blackheath, is one of the lead vocals performing in the show which opened at the Roxy Revue Bar on Friday. “We got a set of music, but we changed it a bit so that everyone at the show can recognize some songs and sing along to it.”

That 80s Show

According to him, many people still want to remember ‘the old days’ which is exactly what the show is about. When The Cape Flats News asked him whether he thinks people still record music onto their cassettes, he answered: “Definitely! My friend Lorenzo Bastiaan records songs from his AFI Vinyl long player on to a cassette.”

Arrison plans to move to Johannesburg after the show ends July 30. He says he might join the cast of local television series The Wild.

The highlights of the show include Riyaan Cornelius performing Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal.

Lisa Huang went to watch the show at the media preview night on Thursday and tweeted: “It was amazing! Belted my lungs out with Tina, Whitney, Stevie and MJ the KING!” She also mentioned about lighters being lit in the diverse audience. Lastly she added: “I love the costumes… Never knew pom pom skirt with leather leggings could be so sexy!”

*Tickets available at Computicket cost R67.

Battle of Youth Jazz Big Bands: Umbiyozo Youth Festival, Artscape. Contact Candice@headsupcomm.co.za