Don’t Miss This: October 3 – 9

Durban

Guitarist Madala Kunene will be setting the stage ablaze when he teams up with maskandi artist Phuzekhemisi. Kunene’s band is made up of Bernard Mndaweni (bass guitar), Mduduzi Magwaza (penny whistle and saxophone), Vincent Mthethwa (piano) and Paki Gosisile (drums). Kunene and Phuzekhemisi’s original music talks with lyrical honesty about the challenges and hardships of contemporary life. Both musicians have been playing guitar since they were youngsters and have contributed to creating a distinctive, indigenous Durban sound. WHEN October 4 at 7.30pm. WHERE Playhouse Grand Foyer. INFO Tickets are R100 and are available at the door or from Computicket.

Heels over Head, the smouldering Durban-based all-female soul-jazz band, will be belting out their signature sound for two nights at the weekend in gigs that will feature guitarist Chillie Stent. WHEN October 3 at KZNSA Gallery and October 5 at Blue Ice Lifestyle (Thuthuka). INFO Friday October 3: Doors open 6pm. Tickets R60. Bookings: 031?201?9969. Sunday October 5: Tickets R20. For info call 031?711?1524.

Johannesburg

Mix Tape is a musical comedy about three unlikely friends and the mix tapes that inspired young love, jealousy, angst and embarrassing hairstyles. Taking you back to when headbands were cool, Alanis was a rebel, and mix tapes defined a generation, we meet the cast: Marvin (Mortimer Williams), Vix (Vanessa Frost) and Katie (Kristy Suttner). WHEN Until October 19. WHERE Auto & General Theatre on the Square, Sandton. INFO Tickets from Strictly Tickets on 082?553?5901 or online at www.strictlytickets.com. COST Tickets are R140.

The annual Wits Pride celebrates the diversity of people whether they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, queer or other (LGBTIAQ+) at the University of the Witwatersrand and beyond. The theme for the 2014 Wits Pride is All Oppression Is Connected and aims to unpack the way LGBTIAQ+ individuals experience privilege and oppression. The programme includes a cross-campus march, poetry competition, rugby match, youth forum, open microphone session, panel discussion and photographic exhibition. Bring Back Our Gays written and performed by Khothatso Khumo Mogwera, is a transdisciplinary solo performance exploring the personal journey of a young black man conflicted by the challenge of his Catholic beliefs and his homosexuality. WHEN October 3 at 8.15pm. WHERE Wits School of Arts parking area, Wits Braamfontein Campus East. INFO Contact Tish White on 011?717?1456.

Spring Fiesta returns this weekend, bringing 12 hours of musical delight to Ekurhuleni’s most prestigious party playground for an estimated 15?000 people. Festivalgoers can expect a line-up featuring top local and international talent, including the Layabouts. WHEN October 4 from 11am. WHERE Wild Waters, Boksburg. COST Ticket prices range from R550 to R1400. INFO Visit www.facebook.com/springfiestaparty

The Absa Joburg City Festival is an initiative of the Joburg City Tourism Association (JCTA), a voluntary group of businesses and organisations committed to growing the inner city’s tourism industry. The Festival programme covers 11 inner city hubs, namely Absa Campus, Braamfontein, Constitution Hill, the Fashion District, Ferreirastown (Western Edge), Fordsburg, Maboneng, Marshalltown (Corporate Mining District), Milpark, Newtown and Fordsburg. Absa Campus and Newtown Junction will be focal points in terms of events and logistics. All the Absa Joburg City Festival venues are easily accessible by means of the Gautrain and Rea Vaya. In addition, there will be park-and-ride facilities from central nodes, such as Constitution Hill, Milpark and Newtown Junction. WHEN October 2 – 5 WHERE Throughout Johannesburg city centre. INFO Visit www.joburgcityfest.co.za and www.facebook.com/joburgcityfest for more information

Cape Town

As part of the inaugural Cape Town Fringe Festival, Assitej South Africa has curated Get Kraken as one of its 11 productions for the Assitej Family and Schools Platform. Get Kraken is a tale of adventure featuring poachers, plucky heroes, ice-cold villains, breathtaking battles and a sea monster bigger than your imagination. WHEN October 3 to 5 at 11am. WHERE Cape Town City Hall. COST Tickets cost R55 to R70. INFO Visit capetownfringe.co.za/events/get-kraken