There are music events to cater for all tastes this weekend, writes Riaan Wolmarans
There’s a long weekend coming up … three days of lounging around the house in your pyjamas, watching cartoons on TV and at last finishing that 600-page novel you got for last year’s birthday … right? Absolutely out of the question – the Heritage Day weekend of September 24 to 26 features a wild variety of big music events to spice up your life.
All Gauteng local music lovers have probably already packed their tents for the Woodstock 90s Pop Culture Experience, taking place at the Aventura Heidelberg Kloof resort near Johannesburg over the whole weekend. It’s like a smaller version of Oppikoppi, featuring the usual bands – Springbok Nude Girls, Wonderboom, Just Jinger, Sugardrive, Fetish, Boo!, Nine, Amersham, Ethel My Love and others.
After the bands have thrilled you, the 206 DJs will keep you going on the Friday and Saturday night with funky jungle, big beats and acid jazz. The organisers also promise some alternative entertainment, such as paintball and volleyball. And don’t forget your skimpy swimsuit – it is a holiday resort, after all. Tickets are available at Computicket or at the gate. For more information: Tel: (011) 646- 6467.
Another big event will be 5fm’s birthday bash, the Camel Experience 1 Triple 9 party. It kicks off in Cape Town on Thursday September 23 at the HQ Acacia, and then moves on to Johannesburg’s Gallagher Estate on Saturday September 25. The line-up reads like a who’s who of dance: German house stalwarts Brooklyn Bounce, the funky Tidy Girls, Phats and Small, hardcore/jungle wizard Goldie, Massive Attack collaborator Mushroom, the immensly popular ATB and our own Derek the Bandit, among others. The Weather Girls and Grace Jones will take you back in time on the retro floor, one of the three dance floors available. Buy your ticket at Ticketweb (Tel: 0860 400 500 or www.ticketweb.co.za).
On a more spiritual level, the weekend- long Rustler’s Valley Spring Equinox festival kicks off a thousand years of sacred music (the first year was recently initiated by the Dalai Lama). Festival- goers will hear the music of master Ghanaian drummer Emmanuel Gomado, Kholeho Mossala and Asazi and Durban’s Umgqumo weAfrica (Gomado is presenting a drum and dance workshop at Rustlers from September 17). The festival’s focus will be the full-moon celebration on September 25, which will include a dance party with DJs Nikki and Booth and the Lovalomp Experience. Entrance is R75. For more information: Tel: (051) 933-3939 or www.rustlers.co.za.
The streets of Johannesburg will come alive on Saturday September 25 when thousands of beautiful boys and girls take part in the gay and lesbian Pride ’99 parade and Mardi Gras. The parade starts at the Electric Workshop in the Newtown Cultural Precinct, where everyone will return again for the Mardi Gras celebrations, featuring dance tents, a flea market and two live music stages showcasing top acts such as Naked, Qkumba Zoo, Ghetto Luv, Wendy Oldfield, Dana International and various pop, rock and kwaito acts from Southern Africa. The festivities will keep going all day and most of the evening. Have a look at www.sapride.org for more information, or call: Tel: (011) 646-2736.
Also, don’t forget to go see the best bands of yesteryear at the Reunion of South Africa ’99 concert at the Johannesburg Stadium on Friday September 24 from 10am. The concert will feature special appearances by legendary acts such as Stimela, Juluka, Sakhile, PJ Powers and Hotline, Malombo, Sankomota, Brenda Fassie and the Mahotella Queens,who will be showing off their new lead vocalist, Bongani Zanazo. Tickets for this memorable event are available at Computicket.