The Dirty Skirts, Paul Hanmer and Guy Buttery are all leaders in their fields, and all play in Durban this week.
? One of South Africa’s hottest indie-rock prospects is incendiary Cape Town act The Dirty Skirts. The band exploded on to the scene in 2005 and immediately made their presence felt with a milestone performance at SXSW in the United States. In South Africa, they have shared stages with Oasis, Snow Patrol, Panic at the Disco and Evanescence and toured with Billy Talent. Now, after two highly promising albums, On a Stellar Bender and Daddy Don’t Disco, the Dirty Skirts raise their game to a whole new level with the release of Lost in the Fall — featuring the towering single Strike a Match — with a series of live shows across the country.
Unit 11, Stamford Hill Road, on August 27. Doors open at 8pm and entrance is R50. Visit www.unit11.co.za.
? McCoy Mrubata and Paul Hanmer, two of the top names on the South African jazz scene, celebrate the 10th anniversary of the reopening of legendary jazz joint the Rainbow Restaurant with a performance this weekend. Renowned pianist and composer Hanmer has made several solo appearances here but this is the first time he and saxophone virtuoso Mrubata take the stage together. Backed by an ace rhythm section in the form of Peter Sklair on bass guitar and Paki Peloeole on drums, they are sure to put on a smoking show.
Rainbow Restaurant, 23 Stanfield Lane, Pinetown, August 28 at 1pm. Tickets are R60 beforehand and R80 at the door. Tel: 031 702 9161. Visit www.therainbow.co.za.
? Given the extraordinarily visceral and kinetic nature of a live Guy Buttery performance, it seems odd that the guitar and sitar prodigy has yet to record a live album in his stellar 10-year career. But the situation is remedied when Buttery puts in two performances of his singular guitar-playing, which will be recorded live for formal release. Buttery has carefully selected a venue with the kind of reverberating acoustics and aural space crucial to maximising his signature sound.
Of course, another essential ingredient in the sonic mix is the audience: every clap, cheer, whistle and foot tap will be immortalised on this album, so here’s your chance to make some history.
Howard College Theatre, University of KwaZulu-Natal, August 31 and September 1 at 8pm. Entrance is R60. Tel: 031 260 3353. Visit www.guybuttery.co.za.