(Cinnamon Blues)
There are just two days to go before Durban "goes
blue" again with its popular, annual Durban International Blues Festival.
Taking place at its usual water side spot of Wilson's Wharf in Durban, this six
day event runs from October 14 to 16.
It is a proud year for the organizers who celebrate a decade
of the event "against all odds," says publicist and co director of
the Durban International Blues Festival, Tanya van Agthoven Marais. "We
are the longest running blues festival in South Africa, possibly even the
continent. It really has taken some hard work for the team to create this
festival's longevity not with a lack of commitment or of fantastically talented
artists, but with funding.
“Whilst we have a handful of incredibly supportive sponsors
such as DEP Arts and Culture, Concorde Printing and a few others who will pull
out all the stops and under no circumstances renege on their written or verbal
agreements," she adds, “there are other prominent players who promise the
earth, play the waiting game and then don't come to the party at all in the
end! But here we are ten years on and proud of it and realising a concept
thought of by Festival Director, Themi Venturas!"
The line up is extensive, peppered with some new artists
such as international guests Donna Herula (USA), Charlie Love (USA) and Raphael
Imbert (FR) who will perform with Durban hot favourite, The Reals as well
as some older faces who are back by popular demand.
"Finally we can proudly announce we have the long
awaited Blues Broers (CT) on our stage that along with the ever awesome
friendly Cape Town rivals, the Boulevard Blues Band, are going to have the
audience hopping in their seats.
However, one new band to look out for is Durban's newest all-lady
blues band, Cinnamon Blue.
"The band members are not new to the music scene though
and each of them have made a significant contribution to the Durban and
national music scene in their own right and so to miss this tight and
professional show on October 17 would be a sin," says Pinkie Mtshali, one
of the core members of this effervescent quartet.
This year's tenth birthday celebratory programme was devised
by program director Will Wallace and sees a formidable line up of local,
national and international artists including, Sea Level, The Gloucester Blues
Project, Sebastian Goldswain, East Coast Blues Band, Rob Thompson, Natasha
Meister, Cinnamon Blue, Nik and Vuyo and Bobby and the Dynamites. Other top
class musicians appear at the annual Fender evening, which takes place on the
Wednesday.
Raoul and Black Friday are back by popular demand as are
Black Cat Bones, The Reals (featuring French guest artist Raphael Imbert), Ant Cawthorn-Blazeby,
Will Wallace, Keith Fordyce, and the formidable Barry Thomson.
The Durban International Blues Festival runs from October 14
to 19. Tickets available from Computicket. Prices R130 for the paid-for
evenings of October 16 to 19, which will again conclude with the not-to-be-missed
Blues Summit at 19h30 on the final evening. Season tickets R400 for all four
shows represents a saving of R120!
For further information, contact the publicist on 082 747 9738
(o/h) or email: tva_pr@global.co.za or
visit www.durbanbluesfestival.co.za
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