Since its inception in 2006, the On the Edge of Wrong festival has consistently challenged established musical identities and categories.
Using connection and improvisation as its starting point, the festival brings together innovative African musicians with their Nordic counterparts in an attempt to open the possibilities of thinking and hearing music in new ways. Most importantly, perhaps, it seeks to provoke complacent South African audiences to abandon their comfort zones and develop new ways of hearing. This year promises to be radical with a line-up that includes the acclaimed “weird music” proponent, Norwegian saxophonist Rolf Erik Nystrøm, multitalented Mozambican percussionist Texito Langa and local jazz improvisers the Tune Recreation Committee. In addition, globetrotting sound artist James Webb makes a rare home-ground appearance.
Commune 1, 64 Wale Street and Mahogany Room, 79 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town, February 20 to 26 at 7pm. Entrance is R80. Festival passes are R300. Website: edgeofwrong.com/2012.
? Over the years music band Machineri has garnered a growing fan base with their ability to transform African-American music traditions into a style that makes sense to the alt-rock South African nation. The band’s influences range from Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin and the Black Keys to Ali Farka Touré and Chopin. Nevertheless, the trio retain their idiosyncrasies. Catch Sannie Fox, André Geldenhuys and Daniel Huxham when they mix it up with muddy blues-rock heroes Taxi Violence in a sunset rock showdown as part of the Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concert Series.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Rhodes Drive, Newlands, on February 19 at 5pm. Entrance is R55 to R80. Tel: 021 799 8783.