Happy birthday Facebook, and Ryan Koriya

Reflection is a beautiful thing. It helps us see patterns, spot connections and make sense of things. Especially with the speed at which technology improves itself, and with it, the way we can reflect and measure how far we have come!

This is most true for Ryan Koriya, soul friend and fabulous independent solo artist. He was one of the first musicians I interviewed in London many years ago, and also the first person to tell me about Facebook.

Ryan has always been an early adopter of technology and someone who masters whatever he puts his mind to. This goes for musical instruments, software and people. He is a rare soul who rarely says no. He is the ultimate yes man, following opportunities where ever they lead him. 

As his birthday arrived on the 3 February, it was a day later that Facebook was launched 10 years ago. Happy birthday to you both!  

With this hindsight, the irony is not lost on me. In fact, this is a clear example of fate. A gift born unto the hard workers of the world, the artists who will stop at nothing to send their gifts out into the world - the likes of Ryan Koriya. For them, Facebook is a true gift with which to spread and share magic!

On his birthday, Ryan's gift to the world was a most gorgeous new song called Ghostrider. Complete with a stunningly shot video and cleverly so, the lyrics to this new tune. Only due for release on 30 March, this will be one of those songs that sticks in your head after the first listen, and which you put on repeat for at least another eight more. It makes me think of road tripping and series watching. Some one is gonna snap this up. Some one should. Its a love song to me, of Notebook worthy emotive appeal.

Facebook's gift to the world on its birthday was an ingenious piece of software that summarises your 'Facebook' life, your very own 'Facebook Movie' with the date you joined and most popular photos and posts. Very cute Facebook.

In honour of Ryan introducing me to Facebook, I want to acknowledge him for some of our memories, from long phone conversations filled with internet insights, music video discussions and lessons in life and love, to some of his very own solo career highlights:  the very first house concert Ryan did in our flat in Fulham in 2008 and what I think was his first iTunes EP offering with London's Burning in 2012, with our trip to Istanbul in between and so many other chapters I've only caught glimpses of through emails and images - mostly, courtesy of Facebook.

The world is a big place sometimes, but with Facebook - it is made to be surprisingly small after all. And so as we each live our very own Real Life Movie, I am grateful that the soundtrack to mine has been filled with so many wonderful Ryan Koriya moments.

Ghostrider is the perfect end to my day now as I head towards my drive home with my head filled with this catchy chorus. And I feel this song will be a very big driving force behind Ryan's next chapter, where ever in the world it may take him!

Rock on Ryax,

x

Celebrating our unique reporting, the ZA(News) way

For a long time I've ignored the old school news format of the traditional broadcasters and rather preferred to cobble together my own picture of what's happening in the world through word of mouth and online sources, a favourite being SAGoodNews.com for their 'unique' stance on the world. A positive one. 

Imagine that... a world where journalists spend their time sussing out the good stories, the true heroes, the real celebrations. And not just hyping the horror, the sadness, the tragedy, the terrifying. 

However amidst these shocking news stories that span our over-burdened television screens and interrupt our radio waves, there is a burst of the much-needed humourous. 

Poking fun at politicians is nothing new, but mostly done through 2D cartoons and in newspapers. Until 2009 that is, when well-known cartoonist Zapiro (adored/ admired/ despised depending on which side of his pencil you sit) conceptualised the ZANews concept with fellow co-founder Thierry Cassuto, to bring some of SA's true characters to life in wonderful ways.

With much excitement ahead of their recent South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) nominations, we have twisted the facts into a quick read 1- 10 ZANews Factfile. 

Did you know?

1. Only one TV station currently airs SA's political satire animation and that is TopTV!

2. ZANews has been running on TopTV for two years now!

3. The end of the current season is on 3 March 2013.

4. Besides TopTV, there are four other places you can find ZANews - www.zanews.co.za, DVDs, SA's iTunes and as a cartoon in The Big Issue magazine

5. A total of five seasons of ZANews have been created!

6. ZANews has been nominated for 6 SAFTAs!

7. The 7th year of South African Film and TV Awards takes place on 15 & 16 March.

8. You can watch ZANews at 8:30pm on Tuesdays on TopOne (and Sundays at 9pm)

9. ZANews was launched in 2009 by co-founders Zapiro and Thierry Cassuto

10. In 2010, they won a variety of awards including a blog award, newsmaker of the year and even a music award for their collaboration with Freshlyground for 'Chicken for Change'.

Wanna find out more? Read this full report on their achievements as written on EncoreOnline.co.za (thanks for the inspiration) Oh, and congratulations ZANews!

Rock on people rocking the way we think about 'news',

x

Six winters of wonder...

Counting the number of winters spent in the colder northern hemisphere is a common way in which many UK-living South Africans will describe how long they have lived, or did live, overseas! Especially when the clocks turn and the days get darker...

While I did eight winters in the UK, SA musician Laurie Levine has named her latest album 'Six Winters' and yet while not having lived overseas will soon be heading over to the UK for her first taste of a UK winter with a UK tour kicking off at the end of November!

The album itself was so named as it has been six years since the singer songwriter released her debut album, Unspoken, in 2007.

"I feel like this album charts my journey in my music and is the culmination of where I've been musically over the last six years. On a more literal level, the album also marks the ending of a six year relationship," shares the 33 year old South African.

Laurie is no stranger to live performance, having started playing almost ten years ago. She has been flown to Switzerland to perform on behalf of South Africa's International Marketing Forum and in 2005, she was briefly in London town, at The Forum, opening for the iconic Rodriguez himself! Laurie had been a big fan and the album 'Cold Fact' was a favourite of hers for many years!

"Sharing a stage with Rodriguez was somewhat surreal. In person he has that same myth-like quality and it felt like I was in the presence of a legend - because I was!"

On talking more about London,  where she lived briefly for three months over ten years ago, Laurie says affectionately, "I just love London - all the huge parks, the bars, music venues and theatres and especially at dusk when the city lights make the architecture and streets look magical."

Laurie is most excited to traverse the country, visiting lots of cities and small towns and reaching many corners of the UK! She is excited for the road trip and performing to new audiences from Bristol to Brighton in the south, Norwich in the east, and Warwick and Yorkshire up north and of course London, playing in both Camden and at the Halfmoon.

Oh, and Laurie has signed a deal with a big UK agency so it is great to see support of quality SA music enabling a tour of this extent and calibre!

Rock on talented SA singer songwriters touring the UK,
x

Doing it Camnam style...

I gasp in horror that I've missed out on the online 'sensation' that is Gangnam style. After completely missing two references to it in recent conversations, I was personally forwarded a link to the video that has got everyone talking...

But I must be honest. I just don't get it. I just don't get how these kinds of poppy annoying silly videos (in the annoyingly silly sense), actually manage to get this many hits. Are we that curious that we just have to keep on watching what move he does next?

So just how many hits am I talking about? On receiving an email with the link yesterday, I was told it was on 410 million hits - up from 395 million on Sunday. On opening said link today, it was on 419 already. That's 419 MILLION hits.

A while back I did some creative strategising about how virality could be influenced, naming it 'infection inspection' = influencing interjection to inspire connection.

Malcolm Gladwell calls it The Tipping Point. That 'moment' when all seems to take on its own momentum due to key catalysts of influence. I wonder if there is a formula or if it is the magic of serendipity combined with the conceptual simplicity of a good idea easily shared...

What was interesting to note is that Psy, the Korean musician behind this K-pop cult hit, released his first song in 2001. In the music world, if you read into the bios of most music 'success stories', the seemingly overnight success type, well they all seem to have been going for at least 10 years before getting their first big break. Sure, that's changing with the internet as a channel to push flash mob type interest, but it holds quite true for most success stories. Success = hard work and passion. Consider SA's Die Antwoord when Enter the Ninja exploded across the interweb overnight! Waddy Jones had been going for many years before that song broke them internationally.

In another of Gladwell's books he speaks about how 10,000 hours of experience creates an expert. Bill Gates was his key example. Dear Bill happened to be in thee place that had the first on-campus computer in the US. Therefore dear Bill was able to play around with this megalith of a thing and figure out what it was capable of long before most people had caught wind of what a computer was.

So if 10 years or 10,000 hours an expert maketh, that makes most of us an expert in what we do. But do we hone, harness, help and honour our skills?

And then the 10-year-plus-writing-editing-linguist in me got curious. While sounding rather crude, what does this 'Gangnam style' actually mean? According to UrbanDictionary.com, Gangnam in Korean means south (nam) and river (gang). So this is actually about an area in the city of Seoul, capital of South Korea. Expansion of Seoul and development of Gangnam (south of the Han River) started in the 1970s, and Gangnam is the icon of the rapid economic development of South Korea in 1970s and 80s, with Gangname becoming the wealthiest area in the whole of South Korea.

Hence, 'Gangnam style' refers to the cool, trendy swagger style of the wealthy. What is then even more interesting is that Seoul was World Design Capital 2010, and that closer to home, Cape Town is World Design Capital 2014. And in the spirit of all things design and cities, and ideas worth spreading...

A global day of inspiration is going down on 13 October 2012, motivated by TheCity2.org  to inspire, celebrate and activate citizen powered change! 

TheCity2.0 was awarded the annual TED Prize and so now the concept of local TEDx events around the world, entitled TEDxCity2.0, are taking place. TEDxCapeTown is one of 60+ cities who have arranged an exciting line up of local speakers to share insights and ideas around what the city2.0 means to them from their unique lens.

On chatting about the bizarre virality of what makes people watch things Gangnam style, and also wondering just how many have tried to re-create the crazy ride-a-pony style dance moves he does, I am left wondering if we watch these kinds of videos just because other people watch them?

Are we just sheep? To which Bernelle Verster, the amazing main organiser behind TEDxCapeTown.org as a platform of incredible online videos, sent me this:

So in the zeitgeist of the (sometimes ridiculous) times we live in, I suggested we weave in the way that music helps to tell the stories of cities Gangnam style (cos I would never have known about this area in Seoul if it wasn't for this silly song)... and all this is very much aligned to the TEDxCity event on Saturday at which we have Trenton Birch, of Trenton and Free Radical, will be just one of the speakers - his focus being music + cities.

To which Bernelle added that we should go one step further, and create 'Camnam style' for all things cool in Cape Town. The Cam from Camissa, the name given to the Cape as it means 'place of sweet waters', which is sort of centralised to Table Mountain! So Camnam = Cam (mountain) and nam (south), south of the iconic mountain that frames Cape Town!

'Camnam style' is our local is lekker version of the area south of the mountain... now we just need to get the whole world doing the Camnam dance...

While tickets to TEDxCity2.0 sold out fast, anyone, anywhere can host their very own simulcast screening as the TEDxCapeTown City2.0 is being livestreamed, find out more.

Rock (dance) on Camnam style...
x

London's burning...

A man who has a fascination with aeroplanes, a musician who falls in love with cities and then captures stories of random meetings and moments, in song. We chatted to Ryan Koriya about his recent EP release, London's Burning.

Which cities did you dream of visiting when you were young? 
New Orleans is definitely a place I thought would be amazing to experience in person when I was young. Vibe and culture certainly seem to run through its veins.

What is your fascination with cities, I recall you wrote a song titled Istanbul in 2007? 
My first ever trip to Turkey was four years into being away from Zim, so it touched me with that warm Mediterranean air having flown directly from London. I think cities are like people with their different personalities that you get to know over time.

Are there any other city-inspired songs on this EP? 

• Ballrooms In The Sky is about a girl I met on South Bank right after quitting my day job. She was crying hectically and I was on my way back to the London Bridge hostel that was my new home after busking under Southwark Bridge.
• Mirrors Don't Work In The Dark as an idea actually came from living in Harare. It's funny the things you're forced to think of when flung into darkness with incessant power cuts.
• Bruised Fingertips was written when busking in Birmingham City Centre and living in a village nearby. My fingers took a beating with all the hours of playing.
• Lonely Dancer I wrote on the bathroom floor of the London Bridge hostel where I played so as not to wake people who were sleeping in the dorms.
• London's Burning itself was recorded at a backpacker's here in Victoria Falls and the ambient sounds you hear right at the end are from right outside my door. The helicopters are always in the air flying tourists over the falls.

How does your music flow when in big city v small city? 
It was easier to assemble songs about London in a quieter place to London, a place where I had the space and time to make sense of all the musical static within that was looking for a way out.

What is your favourite city in the whole world and why? 
Definitely Cape Town. I love how I feel when I arrive there each time and that mountain adds this strange older brother who is 'always looking out for you' element. The beaches, the people, the diversity, the energy. I'm all about energy. Plus at night, the city has this unique pulsating glow with all the lights that are just mesmerising!

You've lived in both Harare and Vic Falls in Zim, what is special about each place?
Harare has a wonderful two season climate, warm summers and dry winters. Score! The people are something you need to experience. Even in times of trouble, they are still positive and friendly. Victoria Falls has this beautiful energy about it, that's why I moved here before heading overseas. You find the highest concentration of negative ions in the world here which is apparently a very good thing for your energies. There are loads of great activities to do and I just did my first-ever bungee jump the other day. Amazing! The night sky is to die for, one of my favourite things about our universe.

Photo by Go Barefoot Photography

You've always loved travelling and flying, how has your music enabled this dream? 
When I was at school I played violin/cello in a string quartet and we'd get flown to Vic Falls and Kariba to play at weddings. I also toured South Africa with Mann Friday and got to see parts of the country I'd never been to like the Drakensburg and Durban. Mykonos in Greece was another destination for a rock contest and Istanbul Turkey saw me acting in a short film/doing the soundtrack.

Which city do you hope to live in next and why? 
Los Angeles. It has the pre-requisite 'more sun than cloud' quota and it's a vibrant place ripe with other artists. Becoming a part of the scene involves being immersed in it. I hope to take things to a whole new level by being in places like LA over the next while.

Rock on city-inspiration,
x

City-inspired music tonight...

London oh London, so full of movement and light. A myriad of memories rewind across my mind's movie when I think of you tonight. I think of your streets, your energy, your playground of opportunity and the many people I met in the midst of your embrace. 

One such special soul was musician Ryan Koriya, a man I got to interview with SA/ Zimbabwe band Mann Friday. He was the talkative bassist who filled my mind with endless new ideas. We spoke music and perceptions, observations and opportunities.

Capturing an idea, a concept of hustle and bustle, of the burning of the city lights, London's Burning is about these lights, the London life that Ryan once lived. London's Burning, released on iTunes today - 9 September 2012 - is the latest EP offering from this world-wanderer and talented singer songwriter.

Once calling London home, Ryan then moved to the Midlands to experience a quieter side to the UK, and this is where he started to record these now ready songs. A concept born in the big city, and captured around the world from the middle of countryside UK, to the middle of more rustic Zimbabwe where Ryan has been for the last year and a half, soaking up sun rays and inspiration in his mother land.

"The songs are like the calm in the middle of the storm for modern day life," says Ryan, "big cities can be exhausting and feel very lonely". He says that he thinks the EP is like an antidote for the challenges of modern big-city life, something that people can chill out to.

"Having grown up in southern Africa, I struggled with the short winter days in London where it would get dark by 330pm. The idea for Dark Days came from that, inspired by London itself - with a story of a girl in it too!"

The track Dark Days off the EP is now available for free download from his site for a taster of his inspired sound, ethereal voice of depth and authenticity and beautiful arrangements!

We'll also be chatting to Ryan soon about the influence of other cities on his music and life!

Rock on city-inspired songs,
x

Double guitar delight...

This summer, across Europe, two of South Africa's most special guitar souls have come together with an official album collaboration after years of playing and working together at home and abroad!

3 weeks in Sept!

4 European countries!

2 amazing SA musicians!

1 debut collaborative album!

Nibs van der Spuy and Guy Buttery, both award-winning and highly acclaimed guitar geniuses, are touring Europe to launch and promote their debut collaborative album, In the Shade of the Wild Fig.

The tour started in the Netherlands on 3 September at the Amsterdam Fringe Festival where the duo performed a total of six shows! Then onto the UK for the acoustic home of music in south west London, the Halfmoon on Sunday 9 September! Another London gig follows on 11 September at the intimate Greenote in Camden!

After two shows for fans in England, they're onto the Rochefort Festival in France (13-15 Sept) and two shows in Paris on 16 September, before heading to Italy's Madame Guitar Festival (21-23 Sept).

Photo by Kieran Smith

This 17-show tour will be a collection of new tunes, tracks from the new duo album and also a few soulful favourites from both Nibs and Guy.

Find out more on Facebook...

Rock on double SA delight,
x

Feet feet, fabulous feet...

During a recent dance class we were asked to focus on our feet, to notice how they support us, keep us balanced and always catch us when we fall. And of how being barefoot connects us to the earth, reminding us how to embrace the feeling of trusting our feet fully.

I loved this concept and it got me to thinking how feet are such a fundamental yet overlooked element of our being. My mind then drifted to musicians who have mentioned feet in their music, and as it goes, my brain library accessed a few SA feet references...

1. Beautiful Feet - the gorgeous title track and name of the first international album of the gentle, humble and awe-inspiring guitar soloist and singer, Nibs van der Spuy. Just today he released a duo album 'In the shade of the wild fig' together with fellow guitar-maestro and friend, Guy Buttery.

2. Barefoot Hope - a beautiful song, tinged with a gentle African reggae beat, by Trenton and Free Radical shot in a township in Cape Town. The soft light and footage in the video is also wonderful. Watch Barefoot Hope here.

3. Incredible feet - five South Africans have just finished their epic barefoot climb of Kilimanjaro in Kenya, an article in The South African called it 'Climbing Kili Kaalvoet'!

So give some thought to your feet, acknowledge them, appreciate them and mostly, use them! 

Rock on being barefoot,

x

Snow. Sun. Dance. Sugar.

On this, the same day it was said that the 'Blood. Sugar. Sex. Majik.' boys will be in SA in 2013, so too was there a standing ovation for the 'Snow. Sun. Dance. Sugar' man, an American man known and loved mostly by South Africans...

Amidst the Friday morning snow of the Sundance Film Festival, 'Searching for Sugar Man' (Snow. Sun. Dance. Sugar, geddit!?), was one of the opening documentaries at the annual American film festival. 

The story is one which most South Africans know. Music that made it across an ocean and into the tapedecks of teenagers and other anti-apartheid activists in South Africa, the music of Rodriguez was a sort of soundtrack for anti-establishment expression. As were the hippy happy drug-tinged references of Mary Jane and Sugar Man! Not to mention the one song that most associate with Rodriguez...

"And I wonder, how many times you've been had... and I wonder how many plans have gone bad.  

I wonder how many times you've had sex, and I wonder do you know who'll be next...   

I wonder, I wonder I do..."

The story itself is about the mission set upon by a couple of South Africans who spent a few years looking for Rodriguez back in the nineties - and then how they not only found him, but brought the living legend to South Africa!

A legend he is indeed - I will never forget when I had the opportunity (and how I excited I was!) to interview Rodriguez ahead of his first London show in 30 years! In 2004, albeit telephonically - on a very clear line from London to Cape Town - I felt like I was speaking to a channeled spirit, a voice of wisdom and knowing!

And I couldn't help wondering how he must be feeling at the age of 63 (and the same age as my dad at the time), to be reaching the fame he never had in the 70s! And like my dad, Rodriguez will this year be turning 70!

How fabulous that this story of the great search has made it to more people, his music reaching more minds and the 'Great Rodriguez Hunt' (conducted by Stephen Segerman and captured by Brian Currin), proving the power of the internet and getting the extra mileage for the good they did!

Read the Sundance review on TheWrap.com...

Rock on Rodriguez forever,
x

Are you a South AfriCAN, or a South AfriCAN'T...

Up until a few minutes ago, I was the latter. And as a Capetonian, I've been driving past posters on lamposts in the last week which are counting down the days left to vote for Table Mountain as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature - a global campaign to select seven symbols of heritage and nature! 

As is often the beauty, and bane, of deadlines, the pressure pushes us to do something at the last minute! Well, you have 11 days to make your vote count before 11/11/11 when voting closes! So if you are SA proud, and think Table Mountain is terrific, get voting (link below)! 

Whether you are from SA or not, many have visited the beloved and majestic Table Mountain, stood on its 1,086m platform of awesomeness, experienced its city bowl embrace, seen its overflowing wispy white table cloth and felt its presence, forever watching over a very special city.

The mountain the Dutch first saw when they neared the Cape. Imagine what they must have thought. Think of all the people who have lived under it. Known which way to drive because of it. Or walked it, admiring its viewpoint of the peninsula and out across the ocean. We all have our own memories and reasons of what Table Mountain means to us!

Today, I finally made my vote count.

Upon voting, it prompted me to vote for seven finalists - yip, you cannot just vote solely for the beloved Table Mountain. And in doing so, I learnt a few facts about our astounding earth, including some cool facts about Cape Town's coolest icon!

Did you know?

• Table Mountain is the only natural site on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it - Mensa, meaning 'the table'
• Table Mountain boats numerous rare and endangered species and hosts the richest, yet smallest floral kingdom on earth with over 1,470 floral species

There are 28 finalists from which to select your top seven, and its quick to get voting, so head here to be wow'ed about our wonderful world...

In closing, I'll never forget sitting next to a foreigner on an international flight into Cape Town a few years back as he turned to me and asked in all sincerity, "is that the famous Table Top Mountain?"

It made me so proud to say yes and watch him turn back to the window to watch in awe.

Call it what you will, but vote for it!

Rock on rocking rock formations,
x

It's been a while...

IKHYSLSM or I Know How You Screamed Last Scary Movie... a new play by Vulture Productions. Even the production company sounds ominous. Yet it still took me a while to make the connection as to how perfectly timed this Cape Town play was...

On arrival at the Theatre in the District, my first time at this quaint Woodstock venue, I was distracted by the unique design features of the building. From the arched wooden roof to the immense Phantom-of-the-Opera-esque central chandelier, the space was delightfully engaging. The seating cascaded onto the stage making it look like we would literally be a part of the set ourselves! But I digress.

Only when I was standing in the bar queue (which was behind the stage, making it feel even more accessible, intimate and exciting), did I notice the overly pronounced display of American Halloween paraphernalia... a spider-web covered coffin, some bright orange pumpkins and a selection of Halloween masks and props to play with! And a photographer to capture your Halloween moment.

That's when I marvelled at the ultimate marketing power behind this play being put on this weekend, and next. It runs for six days on either side of Halloween. Have I been oblivious to all the orange items and witches hats displayed in windows across Cape Town of late? Now that I think of it, no I haven't. I just cannot believe that it is the end of October already.

But I digress again. I Know What I Did Last Night.

I watched the opening night of this locally-produced eight man play! Produced by Antoinette du Preez, and written and directed by Jeremeo Le Cordeur, a City Varsity graduate, this play is his third production! And he also acts in it!

Its ultimately a comedy, a spoof of the classic horror movies of years past. And the audience demographic confirmed this, with an average age of 28 years 8 months (on average)! It was indeed a tribute, and a test of the memory, to all the scary movies that this generation has been subjected too. Some scary, some more of the comical type...

Do you know your 'Scary Movie' and your 'Scream' from your 'I know what you did last summer'? Your 'Idle Hands' from your 'It', 'Saw' from 'The Shining', 'Poltergeist' from 'The Ring'? And an extra 10 points if you know the name of the guy who possessed Chucky in Child's Play. And then an added bonus if you can work out the scene were Grey's Anatomy is immortalised in SA theatre!

Oh, and how could I forget another key concept and theme trailed through this horror playground, the three South Africanised characters named, and cast with similar looks, from the Twilight saga. Brilliantly clever cross-overs and cross-references!

Jeremeo is clearly a child of the Movie Generation with his extensive knowledge to have scripted such a synergetic blend of classic scenes. In fact, I'm surprised no one had done it before! Or is there a movie of similar direction? It was a parody begging to be produced! And Jeremeo was quick off the mark to capitalise on our horror-inspired mindsets at this time of year!

For a night of horror movie reminiscing, laughter and quality acting (plus free popcorn and a yummy Lindt chocolate on arrival), click here!

Catch IKHYSLSM tonight, tomorrow and then 3-5 November as well!

Rock on reminiscing about scary movies,
x

Today I am so very proudly Capetonian...

Don't get me wrong, I am proudly Capetonian always... But as a recently returned Cape Town raised being, today I am doubly extra proud of the vision and hard work behind Cape Town for World Design Capital 2014 - a prestigious platform which we were awarded this morning!

Today I experienced Cape Town with fresh eyes and an excited sense of endless possibility as I looked around at the blend of people equally enlivened by the energy and future of Cape Town, of the power of design thinking as a transformational mindset shifter - and of the city itself as a living breathing functioning design being!

Today I woke at 4:45am.
Today I went to the Fringe before work.
Today I drank amazing free coffee from the Field Office.
Today I celebrated with fellow design enthusiasts at the crack of dawn.
Today I witnessed history, streamed live from the IDA Congress in Taiwan.
Today I was part of the celebration of Cape Town as World Design Capital 2014.

Today I spoke to the Cape Talk presenter Africa Melane.

Today I chatted to the film crew of SABC's Special Assignment.

Today I wrote my wish for Cape Town at the design collective, The Bank.

Today I shared the excitement with the bid committe and Cape Town Partnership.

Today I helped spread the news of this epic achievement putting Cape Town on the map.

Today I ate slup chips for breakfast, because I am Capetonian.
Today I walked through the parade market and felt connected to the city.
Today I strolled past the vibrant station flowersellers of Cape Town, and smiled.
Today I caught the MyCiti bus and marvelled at the clean, friendly and efficient service.
Today I celebrated and appreciated what it means to be part of the the City of Cape Town.

Rock on creative vision,
x

Na na na...

What do the three n's of Knysna, Nibs and November have in common? ...a fourth 'n' of course - a new album coming soon!

And the live Nibs magic will be unfolding even sooner at one of London's most special acoustic venues, the home away from home for most SA acoustic acts on a visit to the UK's capital city!

November sees the launch of a purely acoustic project from one of South Africa's most talented folk storytellers, entitled Morning Star, an acoustic album which was recorded in Knysna in one day!

He is a man who spends more of his time abroad where audiences bend over backwards to experience the Nibs van der Spuy magic... Over half of his year is overseas, mostly Europe, where the Kwa-Zulu Natal guitarist has a serious following. Particularly in Italy, France and Germany! Currently on one such tour, he is playing two UK gigs before heading back to home shores where he doesn't need a jersey, nor hat.

Ahead of his Halfmoon show in south west London tomorrow night, Heather Walker, editor of The South African newspaper, chatted to the musical magician about genres, influences, upbringing and career highlights! Read the story here...

His support act is someone I've not heard of before, a Dave McMillan, and at times like these, despite sitting in the centre of the mother city - with access to all sorts of SA music - I miss these little gems of SA music in the middle of London's over-saturated all-access options! Always a treat to catch a Nibs show!

Rock on as always the amazing Nibs van der Spuy, we look forward to the new album,
x

Pink is the new colour of rock 'n roll...

It would be the kinda place you'd expect to find Elvis hanging out. Tucked away, living the simple life at the seaside, taking afternoon strolls on the promenade. Or perhaps Nick Cave is a more likely potential Pelirocco patron... He already lives in Brighton after all!

On arrival we originally overlooked the subtle Pelirocco sign on the front of the very plain terraced building in the square opposite the long since burnt down, and well known, West Pier in Brighton...

But once we spotted it, we were quick to dash inside and out of the rain. Being indoors was a welcome relief from the diagonal sheet rain that had pelted us all the way from the rail station about 15 minutes walk away. But in the spirit of it being summer, we'd decided that a bit of water couldn't harm us!

The warmth of the all pink Hotel Pelirocco reception put instant big fat smiles on our faces! We were given our key and shown to the staircase, where we ascended and made our way past all the paraphenalia and photos and artworks on the wall and down a tiny corridor until we found our door...

This might be a rock 'n roll hotel, but it felt somewhat like an Alice in Wonderland or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory adventure lay ahead! 

And then the grand moment! As we wiggled the key in the lock of room no 9, we had an idea of what to expect, but as we swung the door open, what awaited us was bolder and more brilliant in real life!

Also boasting bright pink walls, a giant orange-tinged sunset with a palm tree silhouetted against it formed the centre point, and soul, of our room.

Each of the rooms at this boutique hotel have unique names, though I shall let you find out for yourself just what our little bright pink sweets-from-heaven style boudoir was called...

It was perfect! We even had a sideways view of the sea if we stuck our heads out the window! Plus there were some cool chairs and a cosy flourescent pink quilt, perfect for people who have just been walking in the rain and need to warm up!

And in case you forget where you are, the canvas artwork on the walls (all of which is for sale I believe), is of candy coloured beach inspired signage specific to the Brighton seaside tourist town feel, from fish 'n chip shops to ice cream sellers, beach huts to deck chairs and carousels!

The next morning we wound our way down the quaint cluttered spiral staircase to the breakfast room, back in the pink interior of the reception. An ala carte menu offered us all sorts of delicious favourites, including a healthy eggs royale on a wholewheat muffin and a good full English with Portabello mushrooms too!

Pelirocco will put back the twinkle back in your smile and it will open your eyes to the smaller details that surround us in every moment! Its amazing what one night away from London can do for the soul!

And why am I not surprised to know that this rock 'n roll hotel even has a radio station of its own!


Or perhaps you wish to indulge your own inner rockstar with some Singstar karaoke! There is so much to discover and explore at Pelirocco - including the story behind its namesake! So check out the coolest rock 'n roll hotel an hour south of London and get booking for that boutique beach weekend escape!

Rock on little rock 'n roll discoveries,
x

PS. And on 19 October, Pelirocco is launching a new room - Do Knit Disturb - bringing the total of unique rooms to 20! Keep up to date on the Peli on Facebook!

Counting the daisies down...

One festival, two festivals, three festivals, four... That is one festival for each of the months left of the year, starting today as September, then October, November and December! 

And what more does one need to start preparing for summer holiday mode than a festival to truly get that let go feeling, to kick back and kick off the shoes and just learn to be at one with nature and live meal-to-meal, enjoying the sunshine and mostly concerned with which epic band to see next!

Starting with White Mountain Festival from today in KZN, to Rocking the Daisies next weekend for the Capies and those along the west coast, followed by Synergy at the end of November (also for those in Western Cape), and the new one day Drake Festival in KZN on 17 December!




Rocking the Daisies has a stellar line up on Saturday in particular! I think I'll find myself a permanent viewing possie from 2pm onwards:

• SATURDAY
• 10:00 The Brother Moves On
• 11:00 The Rescu
• 12:00 Peachy Keen
• 13:00 IScreamStix
• 14:00 Jeremy Loops
• 15:05 Yoav
• 16:10 Belleruche
• 17:15 Tumi & the Volume
• 18:20 aKING
• 19:45 Prime Circle
• 21:10 Civil Twilight
• 22:55 Band of Skulls
• 00:30 Lark

And yes, that's two UK bands on the Saturday line-up - electronic / soul band Belleruche for the post-lunch chill and then the main alternative rock headliner Band of Skulls who will take us over the midnight threshold!

Even the Sunday line up is worth sticking around for! I recall last year how we stayed til Nibs van der Spuy at the very end, and despite it pissing it down with rain, we were so pleased we stuck it out!


SUNDAY

• 10:00 Hot Water
• 11:00 Jon Savage and the Nomads
• 12:00 Shadowclub
• 13:05 Graeme Watkins Project
• 14:10 Just Jinjer

Rock on counting down the days til Daisies,
x

1x SA singer songwriter pizza please...

When I first heard the name Malory Torr, my mind jumped to images of Natural Born Killers and odd rock formations. You see, it is not common to hear of a girl named Malory these days... (and I randomly recall the word 'tor' from school geography)

But Malory is neither a serial killer side-kick nor a rock, she is a talented seventeen year old UK-based South African singer songwriter, who like many other overseas South Africans, lives in Wimbledon!

And she is in the running for an exciting UK Jamie Callum inspired Pizza Express 'Big Audition' competition! From something like 10,000 entrants, Mal has made it into the top 50! And she needs your vote to get her into the top 10! With voting closing today, 28 September 2011, have a listen and vote for her here!

Now this young girl sure must be talented, as she also made it into the grand finals of the Live and Unsigned competition two months ago, performing at the O2, also out of a massive 10,000 entrants!

And talent runs in the family it seems, as Malory is the cousin of the uber talented SA-based singer songwriter Josie Field!

Mal may only have just finished her GCSEs, but she has already performed at venues across London, including the Trouboudour and Halfmoon.

As for her influences, she says, "My music is indie folk with a twist of humour and influenced by Regina Spektor, Laura Marling, Lilly Allen, Josie Field and Joni Mitchell. I also love Jack Johnson and Bob Dylan!"

Now go watch her audition video, hear about why Malory wants to be a celebrity and a slut! And may I also make a suggestion, that when next The Brothers Streep are in England, or Malory in SA, that they do a little male/ female challenge in the form of a comedy-sing-off!

Rock on young SA talent making the Pizza Express top 10,

x

Super bok...

I learnt a new word a few weeks ago, and while it was a rather under-stated explanation related to the event, it has never-the-less stuck in my brain!

The word is 'bok', to be used as an expression of something which is super cool. As in, "Ja, that's bok!" 

'Bok' is also the name of a group of guys who put on the pop-up music event on Spin Street in Cape Town a few weeks ago. In a non-music venue, there was a second-hand clothing sale and a small balcony, a selection of basic beers, plus rum and coke. In line with the stripped back set up, they'd even made a budget sign out of brown paper!

A bunch of guys having fun by creating an afternoon gig, in an unusual setting, with good bands, just because! Now that's bok in my books!

Other variations that come to mind are 'bok befok' and 'super bok'. And besides being a Portuguese beer sold at Nandos in the UK, I think super bok could have some traction in our local is lekker lingo!

Then there's the rugby world cup. South Africa's Boks are super bok for having won all their games to date! And much like the comraderie in rugby and sport, Cape Town band The Rescu recently spoke about their desire for a similar music culture of support and allegiance to develop in SA! Patriotism in SA music, supporting SA music regardless... hell yeah!

To me this would be going to gigs where you don't know what to expect (much like watching Japan v Canada, as unfolded yday in an interesting 23 all draw) or trying out new mixes of bands (like going to watch SA v Namibia even though you'd usually support a SA v Wales game) and also viewing each performance as a 'match' in that players have good days and bad days, perhaps even recognising a certain muso as the MVP of the gig!

So this concept of a developing a music culture is an easy one to start... It begins with a shift in mindset. Are you up for the shift to encourage national support and appreciation of SA music?

And on that note, if you spot a band called Supercancer, make the effort to see them soon! They were one of the bok event bands. Whooooaaa! Bok befok! Super bok!

(And while we're on about what's musically hot, later that same bok night we got to see Desmond & the Tutus at Assembly (and I just love their Facebook logo - their name in toast).

Now these Joburg guys are no newbies and are already well liked (I was their most recent 3,770th fan today!) But if you haven't seen them yet, add it to your bok bucket list!

In comparison, I was Supercancer's 370th fan - so a band with 10% of the fans of Desmond - for now! (And FYI - Bok van Blerk has 10 times the fan base of Desmond, with 37,323 fans!)

• Supercancer: 370 fans (Super bok!)
• Desmond & the Tututs: 3,770 (Jozi bok befok!)
• Bok van Blerk: 37,323 (100% bok hahaha)

ZAmmm! shall return with more Facebook fan counts and other such useful facts in the near future!

Rock on all things super bok!
x

A decade since *that* date...

Fast approaching 9/11 and this year 11/9/11, this is the topic of many documentaries and news briefs. Ten years on from the Twin Towers attack that shocked the world! 

Its one of those days where you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing...

I was watching Blade, with Wesley Snipes, a slightly gruesome blood 'n guts type film, and with lots of action. We paused the film so I could top us up on supplies of coffee and popcorn. I came back to a building billowing with smoke, and remember saying to my friend "why did you continue the movie without waiting..." If only it was just a movie!

But here at ZAmmm! headquarters, we are not celebrating 10 years of heartache, but rather ten years of happiness! And so it is with delight, that this September it is 10 years since Madame Zingara first released their magic on the mother city! And now they're back with shows from September to January 2012!

Also boasting 10 years of wonderful life, is Vida e Caffe - roasting fabulous coffee, and singing joyously while doing so! Yip, its been 10 years this week since the first Vida opened its doors on Kloof Street in Cape Town!

And as if by magic coincidence of synergetic decade-ness - both of these local SA brands that I love so much - each have a separate, but connected side project on the go. And both of which, ironically, have used the concept of 'hood'. As in neighbourhood.

Because in this week of all things Creative Week Cape Town, and with a name like the mother city, how can it not be the nurturer of all creative talent!

• Madame Zingara's latest project - "I (heart) my hood Available at "This is not a post office". Who knows what you might find inside the latest MZ venture - both at the physical venue and on the holding page of the site (go see if you remember the theme tune being played ;) So yes, you will just have to make sure you visit when next you're on Kloof Street (next to Cafe Paradiso). But one thing you will find for sure, are hoodies, t-shirts and stickers with this simple, yet super "I (heart) my hood" brand!

• Vida e Caffe's latest staff t-shirts - "Name your hood" Check it out online. Join in. Get creative. Or get voting! Its your city, contribute!

And in keeping with all things ZAmmm! let's also send some love out to London-based Joburg-born rockers, Starseed. This being their 10th year since the band began. Same goes for self-named drunk punkers Half Price, as well as the well travelled piano-ballad bunch of Watershed!

Rock on 10 years of celebrations and innovations,

x

Flex the creative box of your brain...

I feel like a kid who has woken up on Christmas morning before my parents. I have all the excitement in me of something cool about to happen, and yet with no one to share it with, it feels kinda like its not even actually Christmas at all!

Except of course its not Christmas! Its Creative Week Cape Town that is getting me all exciteable! Oh how times have changes from the single digit ages of three to ten, now in my early thirties I am absolutely thrilled by the idea of an entire week that celebrates creativity in the mother city!

Starting today, from 9-18 September, Creative Week Cape Town creates a platform, or a magnifying glass-effect perhaps, to profile all the cool creative stuff going on in Cape Town. A chance to get creatives talking and interacting and even a little bit of boasting.

Because there is lots of cool stuff going on! Be sure to check out the calendar tabs at the top of the Creative Week site to see what is happening around Cape Town each and ever day of Creative Week, including the Loeries weekend 16-18 Sept. And all this follows perfectly in the wake of the World Design Capital bid for which we are still awaiting an announcement - and which I am hoping the judges are waiting too for this very week in which to announce the awesomeness that is our city will be the ambassador in 2014 for how a city uses design for social, cultural and economic development.


As with creative things, often we don't immediately get what they're about. As with art.  And often music too. Creativity is what you envisage it to be! And as with one of the many aspects of the Creative Week Cape Town, these F_ _ _ the box posters are a great idea...

Flex the box I say. Feel the box. Find the box. Fill the box. Fool the box. But whatever you do, be part of it. Stretch those creative mind muscles and keep an eye open around the city of Cape Town, or online, for what else pops up this week ahead!

And if you're in London, you too can celebrate and support African-inspired culturalness at the 9th London African Music Festival!

Rock on inspired creativeness!
x

The Cousin you want to know...

I still remember the first time I saw Barry Hilton live. It was the year 2000 and the venue was the River Club in Cape Town. I soon learnt about Barry's 'crowd-engaging style' as I was personally picked on, at the tender age of 20 when I blushed when made to be the centre of attention...

I chatted to Barry after the show. I remember even being bolshy enough to say to his manager slash marketing guy that one day I would be doing Barry's publicity! (I was studying public relations at the time!) Ever since then, Barry and I have been buddies. 

A year later, in 2001, I moved to the UK and took with me my travellers cheques at an exorbitant exchange rate of R16.75. Soon after, Barry brought his show to the UK too. The cost to his show was £20 (and ten year's later, the price is still the same!). At my rands rate, I ended up paying R335 to see The Cousin on that cold March day in the UK, compared to R80 from my first experience a year before! And worth every penny!

I have since seen Barry Hilton every time he's come over to the UK. I go just for the facial expressions. He has one of those classic malleable faces that morphs and mutates into all manner of hilarious expressions. And its classic Barry Hilton every time. Not to mention the apt and accurate observations on life with the humourous and light-hearted twist. If only more people saw the world with less-seriousness!

Plus you feel like you know his family as he has spoken about his kids over the years, growing up from small boys to absolute adults now. (Though Bazza does have a new addition in the form of another little one... maybe he needed more comedy inspiration to keep the stories flowing!)

This 'Serial Comic Tour' to the UK for Barry is a milestone for me - it is a decade since I've been supporting his shows in the UK. Alas, I am not there to enjoy that very specific South African feeling of being at a Barry Hilton gig amidst other South Africans who just get it! But since I now live back in the land that Barry himself calls the best country in the world, I know I will get to see him more than most!

Although he has been a busy man of late as he is currently on his world tour (which he should have called The Cousin World Cup) having just completed 20 shows in 25 days in New Zealand, warming up South African spirits ahead of The Other World Cup. After this he heads to Doha and Dubai and beyond!

So its two weeks to go until The Cousin rocks the Clapham Grand in London town on 22 September, and Friday 23 September in Bournemouth ahead of Heritage Day on 24th!

Whether London is closer for you, I would also suggest a little road trip to Bournemouth. Its cheap on a coach, and quick on a train - only just over an hour away! And it has beaches, yes - real sandy beaches! So why not combine a little bit of comedy with a Heritage Day beach day!

You've been warned. The Cousin will be in town. The perfect way to kickstart a weekend / a winter / a way of life!

With 29 years of comedy under his belt, I say long live the Serial Comic / The Cousin / The Savanna Ad Guy (making Savanna ads cool since 1999)!

Rock on Barry Hilton and cheers to a decade of trips to the UK in my time,
x

Its good to be home...

It may be rainy in Cape Town today (although still with a dash of monkey's wedding sunshine!), and it still feels like the best place to be right now!

Yes, I am one of those recently returned South Africans who is beaming with happiness at my decision of returning to the place I grew up!

And with pride, fondness and utter delight at some of my recent Cape Town discoveries (or introductions to be grateful to those who have shared their special places) - I wish to share 8 things that are making me excited about being in Cape Town right now...

1) A perfect panoramic birdseye view of the Western Cape on arrival - I flew into Cape Town on a 1Time flight from Joburg. And without prior thought upon boarding, I asked the air hostess if passengers were ever allowed in the cockpit. 'If you don't ask, you'll never know' my mom always says! Much to my amazement, the response was positive! And so I was invited into the cockpit a whole half hour before landing, complete with personal commentary and pointing out towns and mountain ranges, courtesy of pilot Ian Bruce and his co-pilot Rudi van der Merwe! Many thanks to you both!

2) All the Madame Zingara magic floating around Kloof Street and beyond - I'm talking about the exotic outdoor tented theatre dining experience which started in the mother city many moons ago! And is now celebrating 10 days of Madame Zingara magic. Plus all their hippy / trendy / comfy / zooty restaurant creations of wonder! But more on this soon - it deserves magic mention of its own...

3) The increasing number of discount sites and bargain deals - One of the things I distinctively recall when the UK braced itself for recession mode, was that the restaurants and bars stayed just as busy! And not just because people were drowning their sorrows or living in  false sense of all-will-be-fine. But because the restaurants and bars got smart! And I am thrilled to see Cape Town intertwined in this trend.

Monday half price, Tuesday 20%, Wednesday mid-week-wonder-deal, Thursday stay-and-drink-your-body-fluid-in-booze and so on! Between Groupon, UCit, CityMob and more - there are also daily deals to suit every pocket, palette and preference!

4) Cape Town Magazine's 100 days to summer vibe - not only can you win a prize every day, but its the countdown to summer part that I love! In a city that had warmer days scattered throughout its winter patch than some of London's potential summer days, I just love the anticipation of an entire city waiting for the epic summer ahead! And as a now permanent Capetonian, I can confirm that this feeling is tangible... I already feel it too! Excitement is in the air, come on summer, come on!

(Now the last few will be brief, because its Friday and you've read this far... so another four reasons why CT is rocking my world, stimulating my grey matter and inspiring my creative node!)

5) It wouldn't be ZAmmm! without mentioning the music - Oodles of it. And all SA music of course! The Assembly. Zula Bar. Mercury. The list is endless. Each weekend - and week day - brings a smorgasbord of indulgent aural selection!

6) The Hub. The Fringe. The place to be - its as simple as that really. Cape Town is the ka-shizz-nik of places to be right now if you're in / on / under / at the creative scene. Coolness and innovation is unfolding all around. And anyone can be part of it!

7) The World Design Capital 2014 - ok, so we're shortlisted. One of three. And I thought that we'd be celebrating come this weekend. But it seems the people at Selection Headquarters are holding out on us still. Either way, we deserve it most. Cos Cape Town most certainly is just awesome in so many ways like that!

8) Creative Week Cape Town - if no 6 and 7 weren't enough to peak your intrigue in Cape Town's creative buzz... then how about this week long series of awesomeness. Actual people putting on actual events to show just how creative and awesome and collaborative they can be! All over Cape Town from 9-18 September, including the famous advertising awards weekend of the Loeries from 16-18th!

Rock on Cape Town inspiring my world,
x

Taking over the world, creatively...

Would you believe me if I told you I could fill nearly every day of the coming month with some sort of creative South African event or occasion around the world!?

Well, you better believe it - because as spring hits SA and the Indian summer days delight those in the northern hemisphere, South Africans on the creative and cultural scene are active the world over this heritage month!

ZAmmm! brings you a bunch of cool things which South Africans all over the world are involved in this September - ZA music, movies and more!

• 1 Sept: Goldfish (Ibiza) - the electro duo play the famous Blue Marlin as part of the summer residence. And FORR 2011 'Fellowship of Rock 'n Roll' (Mozambique) where many SA bands will be playing at  at a long weekend festival in Ponte Malongane!

• 2 Sept: Casual day (SA) - in aid of those with disabilities, come to work dressed like a rockstar or a musician from your favourite musical era!

• 3 Sept: Dream Mapping Workshop (SA) - a creative outlet to explore the potential and passions inside you, lead by the fabulous Fairy Godmother in Cape Town!

• 4 Sept: Sam Horwill (UK) - this Brighton-based SA singer songwriter does a Sunday solo show at the Horsham Folk Club!

• 5 Sept: National Book Week (SA) - 5-10 Sept, promoting the joy of reading with a theme of "The book that changed my life"...  Which book changed your life?

• 6 Sept: Mashasha & Sam (UK) - two Zim musos will be showcased in Chiswick for those in London wanting to experience this unique African drum 'n bass duo!

• 7 Sept: The last day of Arbour Week (SA) - Hug, or plant, a tree today for the last day of Arbour Week, 1-7 September.

• 8 Sept: Ryan Koriya (Zimbabwe) - the talented bassist, albeit technically a Zimbabwean, he originally hails  from SA/Zim band Mann Friday, and he will be sharing his own songs as a solo act on home ground in Harare!

• 9 Sept: Creative Week Cape Town (SA) - a city-wide initiative from 9-18 Sept to encourage and promote work of CT's creative practitioners!

• 10 Sept: SA v Wales (NZ) - the first South African game for the 2011 World Cup!

• 11 Sept: London to Brighton Cycle Challenge (UK) - in aid of the SA charity Starfish Greathearts Foundation, raising funds and awareness for HIV and Aids.

• 12 Sept: Private Practice (SA) - an episode airs on Mnet at 21:30 in which Durban singer songwriter Farryl Purkiss has a track featured on the show, 'Pennies in the snow'.

• 13 Sept: (hmmm... a day of rest from all things South Africa :)

• 14 Sept: (consider it a weekend off for South Africans entertaining around the world!)

• 15 Sept: TEDx Mfuleni (SA) - based on the spirit of TED's 'Ideas worth sharing', this independently organised event will be held in Mfuleni, 40km from Cape Town, providing a platform for phenomenal locals to share ideas, stories and skills.

• 16 Sept: Cancer Vive (SA) - a group of cancer survivors are driving through South Africa on motorcycles. Join them or support them!

• 17 Sept: SA v Fiji (NZ)

• 18 Sept: (any South African Sundayness or just a day of post-rugby rest?)

• 19 Sept: International talk like a pirate day (the world) - Aaaaaaar, ok, so its not entirely South African - but any good South African worth their salt will join in this ship shape date to celebrate all things shiver me timbers and ahoy matey!

• 20 Sept: (any mid week Saffa stuff going down on this Wednesday?)

• 21 Sept: Nibs van der Spuy (UK) - the acoustic KZN legend performs at the intimate Greennote in Camden!

• 22 Sept: Barry Hilton in London (UK) - catch the Cousin live in London at the Clapham Grand as part of his Serial Comic world tour! And SA v Namibia. And the Golden Rhino Film Festival in London (UK) - the inaugural Mapungubwe Golden Rhino Film Festival

• 23 Sept: Barry Hilton in Bournemouth (UK) - if you missed him in London, or live a little further south along coastal UK, then this is your second chance to catch the cousin!

• 24 Sept: Heritage Day (SA) - also known as National Braai Day, this is a public holiday in SA and a reason to fire up that braai and celebrate with friends and family!

• 25 Sept: Breakfast run and picnic (UK) - a Starfish Greathearts Foundation fundraising event for their 10th anniversary, join them for a 5km or 10km run followed by a breakfast picnic on Clapham Common!

• 26 Sept: (know of anything happening this day?)

• 27 Sept: Full moon (the world)

• 28 Sept: (watch this space...)

• 29 Sept: White Mountain Festival (SA) - the first of a four day acoustic music festival in the picturesque Drakensberg mountains in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

• 30 Sept: Lake of Stars (Malawi) - the start of the annual volunteer-run festival held on Lake Malawi, featuring SA's Freshlyground! And SA v Samoa.

Rock on creative SA September,
x

ps.  In my excitement of spring arriving this morn, I texted and bb'ed loads of friends - including some in London - wishing them a happy spring day! ...only to get a sweet reply from one of my dearest saying 'Autumn here, spring there ;)" So here's wishing an inspired and awesome September to all!