MORE TOP LOCAL ACTS CONFIRMED FOR MAIN STAGE AT ROCKING THE DAISIES 2015

Five of South Africa’s biggest artists have been added to the already stellar line-up for the Main Stage at the 10th annual Rocking the Daisies Festival this year! Jack Parow, aKING, Al Bairre, Majozi and Bed on Bricks will be joining Fokofpolisiekar and Bongeziwe Mabandla to compliment the international acts that so far include The Kooks, Milky Chance and The Cat Empire - with more acts to be announced soon.

Seed Experiences are delighted to introduce our very own Seed Experiences App for both iOS and Android users. As an exclusive launch special – Seed Experiences are offering Phase Three Rocking the Daisies tickets for R850*, if purchased directly through the Seed Experiences app only! Search for 'Seed Experiences’ in your app store, download the app, and get priority and exclusive access to artists releases, event updates, ticket and merchandise specials, competitions, meet and greets and much more!

Download the app here:

iOS: http://bit.ly/SeedExpAppiOS

Android: http://bit.ly/SeedExpAppAndroid

*App deal ends 3 July or while stocks last.

Otherwise ‪#‎RTD2015 Phase Three tickets are on sale from today for R950 at www.seedtickets.co.za

Huawei Culture Club presents The Rocking the Daisies’ Electronic Dome, the second-largest stage at Rocking the Daisies that will host some of the festival’s biggest local and international artists. PHFAT, the massively popular SA rap duo and the first of many incredible artists to be announced, has risen in popularity and demand for their energetic and engaging live performance continues to grow. Rocking the Daisies and Huawei Culture Club will be announcing more electronic acts very soon so stay tuned!

Campers who are interested in buying tickets for a more exclusive camping experience, can still get the Daisies Plus tickets at R1800 (excl. booking fee) or upgrade their normal festival tickets at http://nue.so/e5emy5.

Walking the Daisies and Cycling the Daisies submissions will be opening next week. Keep up to date with all announcements and news by visiting our website www.rockingthedaisies.co.za or follow us on Facebook.

Facebook:           /rockingthedaisiesfestival

Twitter:                @RockingtheDaisy

Instagram:          /rockingthedaisies

YouTube:             /RockingTheDaisiesTV

#RTD2015

#DECADEOFDAISIES

All ticket phases are valid for the full festival experience from 1 – 4 October 2015 at the epic Cloof Wine Estate in Darling. *Prices exclude booking fees, which include charges for the IT services, credit card/ bank related charges, fraud prevention, security control and other administrative fees related to the advanced festival ticketing management system. This only applies to online sales and does not apply to the cash sale tickets. Get your festival tickets today at www.seedtickets.co.za

For any ticketing queries and support please contact tickets@weareseed.co.za.

Cazz returns Stronger

Stronger follows the release of Cazz’s debut single Tipsy which launched her as an incredible new female talent in the SA music scene. Just like Tipsy, the new single Stronger was also co-written, produced and recorded by 2015 SAMA-nominee, Howie Combrink at his studio The Hit Lab.
 
Listening to the lyrics, Stronger celebrates a power that’s in all of us. “Stronger is about letting go of what others tell you to be and how to live your life, as well as what they think of you. It’s about moving forward from that and becoming a stronger person, a person who stands for what they believe in and lives their life to the fullest regardless of what others say. It’s about being free,” explains Cazz.
 
Here’s the SoundCloud link to listen to Stronger: www.soundcloud.com/cazzofficial/stronger
 
Stronger is also available for download on SA iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/za/album/stronger/id1002861795?i=1002861800
 
When asked about the inspiration behind the song, Cazz responds by saying “I was inspired by the current movement for women's empowerment, so this is essentially my girl power song!”
 
Cazz is not looking to be compared to anyone. Her funky-jazzy-pop singles places her in a league of her own.
 
22 year old Cazz has been working hard at perfecting her art over the past 7 years. She’s realised that success is not possible without hard work. Constantly performing at shows and making time to be in studio to write and record with Combrink, she’s working towards releasing her debut album in September of this year.
 
Cazz is also excited to make her debut at Oppikoppi this year! “It's been a dream come true for my band and myself. We absolutely cannot wait to shake it in the dust!” exclaims an excited Cazz.
 
Quickly cementing herself as one of the top new female artists in SA music, Cazz is excited for all the great success still to come.
 
Follow Cazz online!
 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CazzOfficial
Twitter - @CazzOfficial
Instagram - http://instagram.com/cazzofficial
http://www.cazzofficial.com/

Yvonne Chaka Chaka with JYO in “A Night with the Stars”

The incomparable Princess of Africa, Yvonne Chaka Chaka will be starring alongside the talented Johannesburg Youth Orchestra for two shows only in “A Night with the Stars” at The Joburg Theatre on Saturday 27 June at 7:30pm and Sunday 28 June at 3pm.

Performing a selection of her unforgettable hits that made her the music icon she is today, audiences will delight in the orchestral interpretations of Motherland, Umquombothi, Natural Woman, Let the children live to name but a few.

Yvonne will be joined on stage by South African X-Factor winners FOUR who have enjoyed a meteoric rise since their win, the soulful Monde Msutwana, Annemarie Steenkamp and Mzansi Youth Choir to ensure a 2-hour musical experience not to be missed.

Says Susan Rendall, Chief Executive Officer of Johannesburg Youth Orchestra; “It is such a privilege to work with a lady such as Yvonne Chaka Chaka who has achieved so much in her musical career, but has not forgotten he roots and where she started. What a role model for our students and an honour for them to be able to learn from her.”

 

Chaka Chaka responds; “There’s so much we can learn from young blood if only we were to nurture their talents and not calculate wisdom using their age. I am thrilled to be sharing the stage with this young talent,  as we celebrate youth month.  I have no doubt the orchestra and performers will blow our minds as they perform their interpretation of hits made in the 80’s performed by youngsters born in the 80s and 90s.”

 

Operating in Soweto, Johannesburg, Evaton and Sebokeng, the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company (JYOC) is a centre of musical excellence in instrumental tuition. Responding to the needs of the youth in all communities, the JYOC is a meeting place for over 600 young people with musical aspirations. Almost 300 of the students are members of one of 10 graded ensembles and orchestras which cater for all levels of competence.

Rendall adds; “The JYO, under the direction of Eddie Clayton, has risen to extraordinary heights and continues to amaze all who hear them.”

For more information, please contact the JYOC office at

Phone:                        011-484 1257

Email:                      info@orchestracompany.org.za

Board of Directors: Craig Barendsen, James Bassingthwaighte, Susan Harrop-Allin, Yusuf Justin Holcroft, Pops Mohamed, Bryan Schimmel, Dale Smith and Susan Rendall

 

A Night with the Stars with Yvonne Chaka Chaka and the JYO is being staged for 2 shows only on Saturday,  27 June at 7:30pm and Sunday, 28 June at 3pm.

 

Tickets range from R150 – R300 and can be booked online at www.joburgtheatre.com or by calling the Joburg Theatre Box Office on 0861 670 670. 

 

For group bookings of 10 or more tickets, contact the Theatre's ticketing office on (011) 877 6815 / 6853.

#PLAYWITHOREO CAFE

 

World’s most playful cookie brings South Africa the #PLAYWITHOREO POP-UP CAFÉ

LET YOUR IMAGINATION GO AND COME play #PLAYWITHOREO

 

This April, the world’s number one biscuit and milk’s favourite cookie, OREO, invites South African fans to the deliciously playful #PLAYWITHOREO café. The quirky cookie has proved to be the most playful snack in the world over the past 100 and some years and always aims to celebrate the kid inside us all and inspire moments of carefree fun. This year the playful biscuit is back with more fun and spirit to lighten fans’ moods. On the 2^nd April 2015 the #PLAYWITHOREO café will open to the South African public at The Zone @ Rosebank for a limited period only (closes 3^rd May 2015).

The experiential café, a pop-up store at its best, characterises the brand’s imaginative spirit. OREO’s attitude will be brought to life in the café as the store is built around the concept of ‘play’. OREO believes that ‘play’ enables us to see possibilities in the ordinary and that’s what it wants for its fans – moments of endless, imaginative play.  “OREO fans are used to playing with OREO, whether twisting, licking, dunking, rolling, stacking or dipping the biscuit to make various delicious treats,” says Grant Van Niekerk, Category Leader: Biscuits and Beverages at Mondelez SA, “Now OREO is on a mission to inspire imagination and play around the globe, not only with the cookie itself, but in consumers’ everyday lives.” “We are thrilled to open the #PLAYWITHOREO Café to celebrate playfulness and inspire more moments of joy,” explains Van Niekerk.

Fans visiting the cafe can take time out of their busy, serious days to enjoy the delight of the OREO ‘Cookie Conveyer’, a moving dessert bar with OREO inspired treats designed by the renowned patissiere Danielle Postma from Moemas. OREO dessert prices will vary from R10 to R40 and the menu is a mouth-watering list of OREO happiness; OREO popcorn snack, OREO sprinkle pops, milk & OREO, white chocolate OREO fudge, chocolate OREO slab, dreamy OREO chocolate truffle, crushed OREO milkshake, OREO cookie monster cupcakes, OREO cookie crumb parfait, rocking OREO white chocolate cheesecake, OREO shortbread sandwich with ice-cream and last but not least the OREO ice cream Sundae.

 

 

Whilst at the store, café goers can also let their creative sides free and play with the world’s number one biscuit via a variety of fun-tivities. Visitors can dream up amazing ‘OREO Selfie’ art at the OREO decoration station by choosing from a multitude of miniature and edible props and create their own ‘Cookie Characters’. There are three miniature OREO photo-studios where you can style your OREO for awesome mini photo opportunities. Additionally, there are life-size backdrops to take your own playful selfies or simply take five on our OREO see-sae or swing or café tables and relish in the playful spirit of the cafe.

 

 

The playing doesn’t end there as the café also hosts a boutique OREO store where fans can purchase limited edition OREO merchandise and memorabilia. You can even share the fun with a friend by purchasing a dessert for them to come and enjoy when they visit the store next. The café is the perfect spot to bring family and friends to let your imagination go. So make your play date today!

The café will be open to fans 7 days a week from 10:00am to 20:00pm, including public holidays.

Don’t forget to sign the café guest book before you leave the happiest pop-up café in town and share the fun you had with us with #PLAYWITHOREO to @OREO on Twitter and Instagram  and Facebook at Oreo.

           21 SONGS FOR 21 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY

If you need one reason to be Proudly South African, MUSIC is that one reason. Before freedom was what children were born into, the government tried to take away homes, education, unity and lives but they couldn’t take away their music. Even now we go through tough times as a country, but we will always have our music. The main acts of the nights included Kurt Darren, Steve Kekana and Johnny Clegg. Among these were other new and older acts that lit up the stage with passion and drive.

Victor Masondo, the Musical Director, was the bass player as well as the MC for the evening. He inspired the audience with his wise words.  Throughout the evening, there were songs of many languages, Victor said, we need to 

“learn different languages to understand each other rather than let it divide as we have so done before.”

 He even joked about one of the songs “Kahulesa” which was sung by Mama Dorothy Masuku, meaning hurry up.  He joked saying that back in the day they used to sing it to hide their beer away from the police when they came. A few of them would sing and dance for the police singing Kahulesa, mean while the guys in the back would hide their beer from the warning of the songs.  Every story he told was light hearted, funny and non-political or racist. He had a passion for music and South Africans as a united front.

Mama Dorothy

One of the songs that stood out the most for me was one of the Reggae songs, with the words saying “Different colours, one people.”  

Kurt Darren rocked the stage with crowd pleasers, mainly Kaptein and Loslappie.

This really got the crowd going. 

Johnny Clegg, started off the second half, with Sipho Mchunu, bought the crowd to their feet. Watching these two legends was one of the highlights of the evening. Clegg told a beautiful story about the past and the present. 

 Ending off with the legends was Steve Kekana, came on stage and showed South Africa how it’s done. After he sang, Victor said had spoken to Steve and in their conversation agreed that they do not feel sorry for those who cannot see, but feel sorry for those who have no vision. I agree with them. If we do not have vision we cannot move forward nor can we embrace change for the better.

It was truly an honour watching the legends of South Africa. I would never change my experience for anything. If there is ever one thing that will bring us together and proudly so, music will be that uniting factor. Always has been and always will be.  It is my personal opinion that if you need a glimpse of hope, faith, passion, reason (and not just within our country but within yourself) go and see the show. 

The past was a struggle, the present is undetermined and the future will be the change but music will always be there to guide and unite us.

Below are a few views from Twitter followers on the show 

Written by Shannalee Doran 

Coca Cola Bottle Art Tour

We were privileged to have been able to attend the Coca Cola Bottle Art Tour on Friday on Constitutional Hill. The tour celebrates 100 years of the iconic Coca Cola Contour Bottle.

This is a traveling Art tour and will visit more than 15 countries, South Africa being its first stop, and will travel over 100,000 km around the world in 2015. It includes an amazing array of Coca-Cola® inspired art and features actual artwork by world renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Clive Barker and Norman Rockwell, among many others.

 

 

It was such an amazing experience to be transported back in time, and see how such an iconic brand has evolved into what it has become today.

Written by Ghia ten Doeschate

Daniel Baron2nd Album Launch

Daniel Baron, together with La Toscana in Monte Casino, pulled in the masses with Daniel’s second album launch. The second studio album titled Apollo was brought to life with Daniel’s outstanding performance of his latest songs, a few well known covers with a twist and a couple of old songs.

The night was full of fun, dancing, amazing lighting and fantastic music. 

The South African trio of the night, including, guest appearances by Marc Lottering and Vin Deysel, made the night a worthwhile trip. Marc Lottering started off the evening with laughs and Vin Deysel ended it with an unforgettable finale.

The sponsors of the event included, 947, Redken, Toms, uber and. Dermalogica Dermalogica pulled out all of the stops with free goodie bags with samples inside, and a photo booth styled area to take pictures with a card to have the opportunity to win prizes. The first three hundred guests who came through the doors, got a goodie bag upon entrance.

There were albums and t-shirts on sale at the door. Both, the album and shirts, were something worth buying. There were two different styled shirts, for men and women. The men’s shirts had the artwork that is on the album cover.

The second album has music that pleas to all moods and speaks to girls, boys, men and women alike who have been through heartbreak and trying times but who have also overcome those difficulties and faced them head on. It is an album everyone can relate to and feel the passion that resonates through Daniels lyrics and emotion. However it is has “feel good” elements to it as well, leaving no stone left unturned.

According tp Daniel Baron’s website, “Baron’s music has received recognition from the highly acclaimed Patrick Magneralla (Manager of Green Day and Goo Goo Dolls). In 2014 Baron recorded a song at AfterMaster Studios in LA with the team behind the Lady Gaga album, The Fame Monster.”

“In 2013 he was selected to open for Bon Jovi as a part of the ‘Because We Can’ World Tour.
Daniel performed with his band to a crowd of 60 000 at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Over and
above his local success of album sales, touring, playing at festivals and performing to large audiences
and corporates, Baron has also achieved on an international level. “

For more info go to http://danielbaron.co.za/

Written By Shannalee Doran 

The Greatest Love of All – The Whitney Houston Show

Possibly one of the best tribute shows ever made to date!

This brilliant concert featuring South Africa’s own Belinda Davids is equal parts fun, touching and uplifting. Accompanied by a live band and dancers, Davids pays tribute to one of the world’s most revered singers by performing over 2 hours of Houston’s pop hits.

 

And there is no person better equipped to do so. In addition to having a voice described as “jaw-droppingly similar” to the pop diva, Davids openly acknowledges that Houston is her personal idol and was the original inspiration for her own career when she began singing at the age of 14.

 

“I want people to come and remember Whitney when she was at the top of her game and when she was fabulous”, says Davids.

 

And people all over the world have done exactly that, with South Africa, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and the USA already hosting sold-out performances in the show’s first year of touring.

 

The show includes over 20 of Houston’s most popular tracks taken from the full span of her career, including ‘I Will Always Love You’, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, ‘Didn’t We Almost Have It All’, ‘I’m Every Woman’, ‘Exhale (Shoop Shoop)’, ‘Million Dollar Bill’ and more.

 

Davids will again be directed by Showtime Management CEO John Van Grinsven Snr. and joined on tour by the production team responsible for the worldwide hit show Michael Jackson HIStory starring Kenny Wizz.

The show concluded yesterday, 15 February after almost a month of incredible performances.

By Ghia ten Doeschate