Local folk, Cape Town indie, European classical… it’s all on Durban’s menu this week.
? World music maestro Greg Georgiades puts in a lunchtime performance this weekend in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Georgiades is a renowned multi-instrumentalist who weaves sonic tapestries with the oud (a North African fretless lute), bouzouki, oudtar, ukelele and Indian sarod. The instruments all possess their own character and unique sound, which are brought to life by Georgiades’s compositions and improvisations.
Emoyeni Lodge, Camperdown, Sunday September 11, 12pm. Cover charge is R30, with an excellent à la carte menu on offer.
Tel: 031 785 1740/072 822 7988. Visit: www.emoyenilodge.com.
? Cape Town’s Pretty Blue Guns have been prominent on the South African rock radar for the past few years and get ready for the next level with the release of their sophomore album, Shed Your Skin. The quartet, who are touring the country to promote the album, take aim at Durban this weekend with a trademark show of raw, blues-fuelled rock at the city’s top live indie venue, where they will be supported by local outfit Coals of Juniper.
Unit 11, Stamford Hill Road, Saturday September 10. Entrance is R40. Visit: www.unit11.co.za
? The popular, monthly, free dockside rock event, Zackattack, is back in action this weekend with an attractive double bill featuring Juice and Avatar. Juice are described as “an experimental instrumental blues jazz band” while Avatar, led by Durban music veteran Steve Fataar and featuring Tara Fataar on vocals, are well known to local audiences for their engaging fusion of soul, folk, rock and blues.
Zack’s, Wilson’s Wharf, Durban harbour, Sunday September 11, 7pm. Entrance is free but it is a good idea to book a table.
Tel: 031 305 1677.
? One of Durban’s most popular supper-theatre venues is hosting a new show, Unplugged. Some of Durban’s finest musicians — Barry Thomson, Andy Turrell, Marion Loudon and Calli Thomson — produce two hours of intimate music during which they give the unplugged treatment to songs made famous by artists like Jason Mars, Amy Winehouse, Bruce Hornsby, Sting, Vanessa Carleton, America, Rod Stewart, The Eagles, Eric Clapton and more.
The Heritage Theatre, Westville, until September 25. Tickets for evening shows Wednesday to Saturday at 7pm are R190, and R165 for Tuesday evening and Sunday lunchtime. Price includes a two-course meal. Tel: 031 765 4197. Visit: www.heritagetheatre.co.za
? Pietermaritzburg audiences have an opportunity to experience a symphony orchestra in full flight this weekend at the annual Symphony in the City in the Pietermaritzburg city hall. The venue is widely regarded as having the best acoustics in the country, which will add to the rousing repertoire of symphonic dance and ballet music in this year’s concert, Invitation to the Dance. Naum Rosine conducts the 70-piece KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (KZNPO), whose repertoire is dominated by some of the world’s most famous music.
A stand-out attraction is a performance by concert pianist Christopher Duigan of Liszt’s powerful Totentanz (Dance of Death), which fittingly marks the great Hungarian composer and pianist’s 200th birthday.
Pietermaritzburg City Hall, Friday September 9, 7.30pm. Tickets range from R80 to R160 and are available in advance from Parklane Superspar. Tel: 033 342 3487
?The KZNPO will also perform one of their highly popular, laid-back Sunday Sinfonia concerts this weekend. Special guests will be Calefax, the internationally acclaimed Dutch reed quintet who this year celebrate their 25th anniversary. Works in the typically wide-ranging Calefax repertoire include music from Bach, Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Richard Strauss laced with contemporary compositions by Sweeklink, Kevin Volans and Mayke Nas.
St Thomas’s Church, Musgrave Road, Sunday September 11, 11.30am. Tickets are R45 at the door (R30 for students and scholars). Tel: 031 369 9453.