We returned from the French island of Mayotte last week, having tour managed a South African contingent of top artists at a cultural 7-day music festival sponsored by the French government. Everyone was looking forward to days spent on an Indian Ocean paradise island, but we were sadly horrified at the treatment the South African’s received from the festival organization.
With South African icons Mandoza, Busi Mhlongo, Thandiswa Mazwai, Amampondo, and new-comer DJ Castro with one of Africa’s top percussionists Mabi Thobejane, our group was subjected to a mini-riot, transport and accommodation issues, bad flight planning, very little English being spoken, and worst of all lies about payments. This is a nightmare story that should be read as a warning to all in the music industry! Continue reading ‘SA music festival nightmare on island of Mayotte’
I don’t normally copy and paste other people’s articles directly, but I received this awesome review from Juno Reactor that they were very chuffed about after their very successful Mexican and North American tour with Japanese Rock star Sugizo and our Amampondo guys.
We are off to the French island of Mayote later this month with Amampondo, and a host of other exciting South African artists (which I will be focusing more on in a later post), but then the Juno clan is off to Greece and Bulgaria at the end of October. They seem to be making big waves where ever they appear, and as can be judged by the following review, their live show is hot hot hot! Continue reading ‘Global music kicks butt in America!’
Starting tomorrow, global electronic sensation Juno Reactor brings living Japanese rock legend SUGIZO to Mexico, followed by concerts in North America. We do all the travel and visa arrangements for the South African contingent which includes the trio of Mandla Lande, Simphiwe Matole and Michael Ludongo from Amampondo, as well as Mabi Thobejane from Johannesburg.
Earlier this year, Juno Reactor, leaders of the electronic scene responsible for soundtracks to movies such as The Matrix, released their seventh studio album Gods & Monsters, which marked Sugizo’s induction into the collaborative ensemble. Following their recent European tour, the band will play two shows in Mexico before embarking on their U.S. leg, marking the first time Juno Reactor has toured the U.S. in seven years. Continue reading ‘Juno Reactor and Sugizo in Mexico and USA - ft South Africans Amampondo and Mabi’
There has been lots of chatter on the internet about tracks that have been remixed by well-known German DJ Henrik Schwarz over a solid base of Amampondo beats – a hot mixture of European dance vibes with African true-earth rhythms. And then Robert Trunz sent me this information on MELT 2000’s latest release music with no name - VIBRATIONS FROM THE MOTHERLAND - volume 3.
This album is a celebration of Africa, an acknowledgement of the Dark Continent’s huge influence on western music & rhythms. The MELT 2000 label works tirelessly to promote the cause of South African musicians, artists, its people & their struggle. Nanny Tango has invited some of the coolest producers in western jazz, electro & funk genres to remix stand-out MELT recordings under a simple directive – ‘respect the original artists and make western ears & dance floors pay attention’. Continue reading ‘Music with no name - Vibrations from the Motherland’
I have been very fortunate in that I have over the years developed a passion for world music – that term that tries to categorise music from 90% of the world. But for this post, we will just call it that – music of the world.
Most of this category is filled with traditional music; music that has been refined by cultures; that defines cultures; and gives us the ability to be touched by the sounds and melodies that have been a part of a peoples lives either for many many years, or as part of their current cultural evolution. And I think that this is where we need to go back to, to find greater understanding of the cultures they represent. Continue reading ‘Go back to your roots to see the way forward’
We returned from the French island of Mayotte last week, having tour managed a South African contingent of top artists at a cultural 7-day music festival sponsored by the French government. Everyone was looking forward to days spent on an Indian Ocean paradise island, but we were sadly horrified at the treatment the South African’s received from the festival organization.
With South African icons Mandoza, Busi Mhlongo, Thandiswa Mazwai, Amampondo, and new-comer DJ Castro with one of Africa’s top percussionists Mabi Thobejane, our group was subjected to a mini-riot, transport and accommodation issues, bad flight planning, very little English being spoken, and worst of all lies about payments. This is a nightmare story that should be read as a warning to all in the music industry! Continue reading ‘SA music festival nightmare on island of Mayotte’
Join Newsletter
Subscribe to Feed
