After selling out
their Old Mutual Music on the Lake gig last year, Gangs of Ballet return to the
Durban Botanic Gardens for a special Mother’s Day picnic concert on May 10.
This Durban band is
now a three-piece, after bass player Hardus de Beer left to focus on his career
as a chiropractor. But their sound is no less electrifying, and their loyal
home crowd is expected to turn out in force once again to see this acclaimed
alternative rock outfit in action.
Gangs of Ballet
have caused waves on the local music scene since their 2011 debut single, Breaking the Silence, made inroads into
the local charts and was chosen as the soundtrack to a Cell C campaign. Another
single, Hello Sweet World, became the
theme song for VH1 USA’s hit TV series Rehab
with Dr Dre.
Within 12 hours of
the release of their debut album, yes/no/grey, in 2013 it went to number one on
the local iTunes chart. The album had the critics raving, and Gangs of Ballet
won an MK Award for Best Newcomers and went on to bag five South African Music Awards
nominations as well as an MTV MAMA Award.
In January this
year, Gangs of Ballet became the first South African act to premiere a
full-length music video – for their single Love
is on its Way – on Twitter. They are currently working on tracks for their
new album, and Durbanites may even get a sneak preview of the new material at
the botanical gardens concert.
Spoil your mom and
come and join the gang – comprising Brad Klynsmith (vocals and electric
guitar), Jonathan Rich (keyboards and synthesisers) and Josh Klynsmith (drums
and vocals) – for a laid-back picnic concert in the most idyllic of natural
settings.
Says Old Mutual
sponsorship manager Bandile Mngoma: “It’s a pleasure to welcome back to the
gardens the talented musicians from Gangs of Ballet, who have proved a firm
favourite with local audiences. With their irresistible rock anthems and
uplifting rock melodies, they are without a doubt one of the freshest and most
original forces on the local music scene at the moment.”
Gangs of Ballet
will be ably supported on the day by MonArk, who have firmly signalled their
intention to change the face of pop music in South Africa since bursting onto
the scene in 2013. Mixing Eugene Coetzer’s distinctive falsetto vocals and
Ewald Jansen van Rensburg’s polished production style, MonArk craft songs rich
in meaning with soul-stirring hooks. This is borne out by the fact that this
four-piece’s debut album, Negatives,
has been nominated in the category Best Pop Album at the XXI South African
Music Awards.
Tickets for the
concert are likely to sell like hot cakes, so buy yours today and start
stocking the cooler box and packing the picnic blanket for a glorious afternoon
of music and nature. Refreshments will also be on sale at the gardens, and
children can enjoy fun activities at the secure Kidzone.
Gates open at 13h00
for pre-sold tickets (R140 through www.webtickets.co.za) and at 13h30 for on-the-day ticket sales
(R160). Children aged eight to 12 pay R60; under-eights get in free. MonArk
starts playing at 14h30, followed by Gangs of Ballet.
For more
information, follow @OM_Concerts on Twitter, like the Old Mutual Music in the
Gardens page on Facebook or visit www.dogreatthings.co.za