music
Alex Sudheim 330, 330 Point Road. Durban’s legendary nightclub keeps the serious dance faction in business with the heaviest rig and the wildest parties in town. On Friday December 21 cult international electronic outfit Kosheen perform, featuring special guests Simon Mills and Nail Tolliday from Bent playing their world-famous DJ sets. Kosheen come from the drum’n’bass hotbed of Bristol and shot to fame with the chart-topping single Hide U, followed by the full-length debut album Resist. The members are breakbeat experts Markee Substance and DarrenDecoder and vocalist Sian Evans. Kosheen’s electronic beats, tinged with deep, chilled drum’n’bass and downtempo sounds and Evans’s vocals should be very enjoyable they believe a band has to”be prepared to experiment”. The guys from Bent have become known for their wild mix of samples from all over the place and electronic sound magic on stage. The other stars on the decks will be Warren Rhodes, Steve Roets, Sam Boylan, Allistair Lundall and Roddy Rogan. Doors open 9pm. Tickets are R80 and are available from Idols in Musgrave Centre or Ticketweb. Bargo, Greyville racecourse, Mitchell Crescent. One of Durban’s top nightspots,Bargo has a busy festive-season programme. On SaturdayDecember 22 Kung Funk looks back at the emergence and history of house music, as well as its future. DJs St Nicholas, Kevin Coco Loco and Sweet Sarah are the historians for this journey through the archives of dance. It all starts at 9pm and cover is R30 at the door. Tuesday December 25 brings the venue’s all-night Christmas party. Those lucky enough to have VIPtickets can get in from 7pm, but the rest have to wait until 9pm and pay R20 at the door. Eight DJs man the decks: Dogger, Sniper, St Nicholas, the Green Brothers, Garuni, Manoj and Deano. The VIPs get snacks and shooters and a complimentary cocktail; the common people just get the cocktail. Under-18s can get away from the family on ThursdayDecember 27 from 7pm for the Star 69 party with DJs Francois and George and plenty of giveaways. Girls pay R20, guys have to shell out R25. On SaturdayDecember 29 have a ball at the Habbit end-of-year party with DJ Azul and a crew of breakdancers from Cape Town. Mimi Kesaris and Manoj also play, and MCThatch lives it up on the R&B and hip-hop floor. Other DJs for the night are Dogger, St Nicholas, Sweet Sarah and Garuni. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 309 6066. Bat Deck, Durban harbour. Bringing smooth sounds to the sweltering subtropics is the scenic terrace on the harbour’s edge which, in one of its series of free concerts called Jazz on the Deck, on Friday December 21 from 6pm features talented and versatile world-music trio Tsunami. The Johannesburg-based musicians who comprise Tsunami are music director Max Mikula on electric and nylon-string guitar; Brendan Ou Tim on bass guitar; and Peter Auret on drums. Tsunami’s style ranges from world music and jazz to funk. By combining their musical talent, skill and expertise, Tsunami have written, arranged and produced exceptional original material for their eponymous debut album, recently released on Gallo’s jazz label. To complement their blend of diverse musical styles, Tsunami make use of additional instruments such as saxophones, violins, trumpets, keyboards and percussion for their live performances. These three central members of the band used to form a significant chunk of pop-rock act Henry Ate. Keeping the groove steady on Sunday afternoons, the Deck continues to provide patrons with the finest live sounds free of charge. Starting at 3pm, the Jazz on Sunday Session on December 23 features lyrical local band Lalela, whose music is a velvety combination of Afro-jazz, soul, gospel and reggae. Tel: 332 0451. Bat Hall, Durban harbour. Durban’s foremeost cultural epicentre lays on a sizzling four-day summer Christmas Festival from Friday December 28 to MondayDecember 31, culminating in a New Year’s Eve bash featuring the hottest local talent Durban has to offer. With sublime live sounds and food and craft markets, the festival offers quality fare for the whole family to savour in the summer sun. Kicking off the music programme in the Bat Hall at 7.30pm on Friday December 28 is a medley of top Durban rock acts Squeal, Butternut, Steve and Tara Fataar and Dan Kapuejah. At the same time on Saturday December 29 it’s the turn of the women to strut their stuff as top female performers Imbokodo, Senzeni and Connie and Fasimba take to the stage. On Sunday December 30 KwaZulu-Natal’s finest maskanda, jazz and percussion artists in the form of Madala Kunene, Mandla Masuku and Inqwelo Afrika do the honours. The New Year’s Eve bash pulls out all the stops with big names Sipho Gumede, Stax, Vusi Ximba, Vusi Mkhize and Sakhula ensuring a vibrant groove until the early hours. There is an exciting range of specialised children’s activities and quality original handmade art, craft and foodstuffs on sale. Tel: 332 0451. Blue Bottles, Point Waterfront. The inspired new season of live music at this laid-back harbourfront venue continues to reveal the level of quality songwriting and musicianship in this neck of the woods. Original Durban music, not one-man cover bands, is the order of the day as the vast wealth of folk music of every description around these parts gets some long-overdue exposure. Get to the Point this weekend to check out the sultry scene on Sunday December 23 when renowned rock guitarist Ken E Henson joins percussion virtuoso Richard Ellis for some rootsy action. On Sunday December 30 quixotic collaboration DAD comprising veteran Durban musicians Dave Marks, Alan Judd and Dan Chiorboli put on an inimitable show. On Sunday January 6 legendary Durban bluesman Richard”Growlin Wolf” Haslop is joined by Rob”Bayou Frog” van der Linde for some of that old-time deep-South delta blues and Mississippi mud music. Don’t miss it! The music starts at 7pm and there is no cover charge. Also on offer at Blue Bottles are three storeys of world-beating sea views as well as fine food and a full cocktail bar. Website: www.3rdearmusic.com. Tel: 332 2787. Burn, corner of Clark and Umbilo roads. Durban’s heart of the alternative-music scene pumps with feral energy as the Phoenix of Jimmy 12″ rises from the ashes to shine in new-found glory. Down to a four-piece now, the songs are tighter, harder and faster, keeping a precarious grip on the razor’s edge of metal, rock, ska and pop. Intense, exciting and original, Jimmy 12″ perform here on Friday December 21. On Saturday December 22 check out melodic Durban indie-rock outfit Bethreporting, the curiously named remains of Overtone. Then, if you’re keeping the home fires burning over New Year, head to Burn for one the finest parties in town. The club’s New Year’s Eve party is themed Wild Wild West and features a way-out redecoration job, dancing girls and great theme prizes. Tickets are R25. Every Wednesday night the venue is packed to the brim with moshers, skaters, punks, teenage dirtbags and rapcore phreaks all letting it loose on the dance floor when DJs spin everything from classics to the latest hardcore releases. Tel: 201 0076/082 976 7895. Cloud 9, McClausland Crescent, Umhlanga Rocks. The swinging summer holiday paradise of Umhlanga Rocks gets kitted out in party flavours this weekend courtesy of this ritzy, glitzy nightclub. Euphoria is the name of the jol on Friday December 21, which features three separate dance floors and many DJs. It’s a PIMP Productions party that bumps and grinds until the sun comes up. On the Sleep When You’re Dead dance floor DJs Tyrone, Sam Boylan, Speedy and Gareth ensure hot house action and on the Funky and Friendly floor Steve Roets, Justin V and Ricardo Luis spin some friendly funk. Easy and mellow moods are the order of the night with DJs Simon, Dave Skins and Jordi on the Cream floor. Cool Runnings, Milne Street (off Brickhill). This sultry reggae dive in downtown Durban offers the mellowest moods in town and an authentic Jamaican atmosphere. For sweet weekend sounds don’t miss Cool Vibrations on Friday December 21 when a night of sensory stimulation and cultural enlightenment is guaranteed with all musicians, singers, poets, dancers, actors and comedians welcome to join the impressive array of confirmed acts. The inimitable Eric Coolfire will MC on the night, which often features performances by Swiftlove, Undivided Roots, Ghetto Prophecey Movement (who are rumoured to have a recording deal), X-Convict, Krave, Free, Adam (from Perez), Gunflower, Sandy B and many more. Durban Jewish Club, Old Fort Road. For its final concert of the year Friends of Music will host popular baroque ensemble Baroque 2000 at this fine venue on December 20 at 7.45pm. The acclaimed classical ensemble will perform orchestral works and the famous Corelli Christmas Concerto (Concerto Grosso Op 6 No 8). Featured as the prelude performer will be pianist and teacher Derrick Nikwe, who can also be seen playing in Musgrave Centre every Saturday morning from 10am to 2pm. Nikwe started playing the piano in 1990 and studied classical music with Kim Siedle. Though his repertoire is mainly classical, he enjoys R&B and some jazz numbers. Playing light classics and popular numbers, he is the first performer in this new project that sees talented musicians making a 10-minute appearance before the featured artist or group of the evening. Book at Computicket. Eighties, Absa Stadium. The booming monster of a nightclub, suitably parked in the shadow of the gigantic rugby stadium where the echoes of grinding bones and thudding flesh are still faintly to be heard, on Saturday December 22 lays on a mega-thrash in the form of the Summer Festival 2001 grand final. Aside from proving to the world what a righteous party animal you are you can also ogle the fit fillies in the bikini concert and even win yourself a jet-ski. Flux Music Festival, Mooi River (take the N2 to the MooiRiver toll booth and look out for the yellow-and-black Flux signs). Availing itself of the picturesque Southern Cross festival site just three hours outside Durban is this exciting new creation, which looks set to lay on the top party in the province to see in the New Year. Running from Sunday December 30 to Tuesday January 1, a bewildering array of musical genres and their foremost exponents are the order of the day and night at this fine-looking hoe-down. No mere assembly of the usual festival suspects, Flux has been put together with care and attention to create its unique and compelling character. South African pop darlings Max Normal provide their inimitable snap crackle and fizz with the country’s favourite electronic artiste Felix Laband in hot pursuit. Sideshow and TRO collaborate in their breathtaking fusion of rap, rock, metal and”gully bounce” (Newland’s kinetic crossover between hip-hop and kwaito) and top maskanda man Madala Kunene sings the rugged Zulu blues. Funk-rock rhythm meisters Swiftlove also provide a ravishing live show alongside top DJs Krushed & Sorted, Ian, Se Jnr, Toine, Manoj, Someone, Clybax and many more. If you want to get out of town and hear some blissful beats while floating in the warm rivers of the’Berg, this is the place to be. Tickets are R175 and are available at Computicket, with day passes available at the door. Remember to take along sunscreen and inner tubes for fun on the river. Website:www.fluxfestival.co.za. More info:Tel: 082 795 6686/082 338 1604/202 3038. The Jam, St Michael’s Sands hotel. Dishing up quality local rock sounds for the salty South Coast locals on Sunday December 23 is The Jam, which features 5-piece Durban indie rock outfit Wax Lyrical in concert together with fellow rockers Plus, formerly known as Boredom Palace. The music starts at 7pm and tickets are R10 at the door. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 082 494 0350. The Mixer, Shotblast Shed, Point Waterfront. This swish new venue on the increasingly happening Point Waterfront at the harbour entrance mixes equal parts sophistication and hedonism in a refreshing cocktail. With its fine scenic location, vast outdoor terrace area overlooking the harbour and state-of-the-art indoor cigar lounge, dance floor, restaurant and club, the venue is sure to up the ante in the Durban nightspot stakes. Resident DJ Paul spins juicy club scorchers from 10pm. The Mixer is open until very late and there’s no entrance fee. Website: www.shotblast.co.za. Tel: 332 1086/7. Nite Fever, Corner Argyle and Umgeni Roads. This seething hotbed of cheesy retro-glam action goes for the populist jugular on Saturday December 22 when Big Brother bozo Ferdi shakes his moneymaker and proves to the nation why we all love the dear boy so much. Rainbow restaurant, 23 Stanfield Lane, Pinetown. This legendary jazz dive, which opened its doors in December 1981, celebrates the end of the year on SundayDecember 30 with a Castle Milk Stout music event featuring PedXulu. This outfit is a collaboration between Mabi Thobejane on African drums, congas and percussion; Madala Kunene on guitar and vocals; Bernard Mndaweni on bass guitar; Tabang Tabane on percussion, malombo drums, marimba and congas; and ZuluLesefa playing a one-string tin-can guitar. Thobejane and Kunene, who brought this outfit together, are described as”journeyman musicians”, with Thobejane’s career going back to 1952. He has travelled all over the world to play his music. Kunene is also famous locally and internationally for his mastery of the Zulu guitar. The name PedXulu refers to the combination of different music styles in the group. The group will also perform at the Flux festival onDecember 31 see separate listing for Flux. The Rainbow is open Monday to Saturday from 7.30am, so soak up the great ambience, cheap hooch and fine food. Tel: 702 9161/083 463 8044. Rivets, Durban Hilton. The ritzy bar/bistro of Durban’s Hilton hotel has earned itself the reputation of Durban’s top live-jazz venue thanks to the success of the Johnny Walker/Rivets Jazz Season, which provides quality live jazz every Thursday evening. Entrance is free. Dress smart casual. Tel: 082 892 6176/336 8204. Tilt, 11 Walnut Road. This stylish dance venue lays on the Christmas cheer on FridayDecember 21 from 9pm with the White Christmas in Tokyo party featuring Fat Jack fromCape Town, Garuni, St Nicholas and Dogger spinning the vinyls. Dress all in white with a bit of red trimming, advise the organisers. Tickets are R40 at the door. Tel:306 9357. Umhlanga FestivalShowgrounds. The Gateway Summer Festival onNew Year’s Eve from 7pm has DJs Kevin Minter Brown, Albert and Quentin providing the beats. Tickets range from R60 to R100 at Ticketweb. The Winston, corner of Clark and Umbilo roads. Durban’s first lady of the underground music scene breaks rank somewhat this weekend when the main attraction on the cards is a 12-hour trance party that kicks off at 6pm on Sunday December 23 and throbs and pulsates its way to 6am the following morning. If you’ve got the stamina the revered Seratonum DJ team will provide the dark hypnotic beats. Tel: 201 1165. Zack’s, Musgrave Centre. The breezy balcony of this fashionable new bistro outside the upmarket shopping mall offers fine dining and great coffee and mellifluous music to boot. Every Wednesday evening from 7pm to 11pm the sweet sounds are supplied by Richard Walne on guitar and vocals and Logan Byrne on double bass, two veteran Durban musos who strum away at the laid-back jazz and blues. The Sunday Session on December 23 features a performance by Neo Trio with John Edwards on piano, Yolande Sangweni on vocals, Dan Wilson on bass and Grant Emmerich on drums. The music starts at 3pm. There is no cover charge. Tel: 201 4768.