national Arts Festival Banner

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

RICHARDS BAY PORT FESTIVAL



(Prime Circle)

Two South African musical super-groups are lined up to entertain crowds at the Richards Bay Port Festival which takes place on September 26 and 27, hosted by Transnet National Ports Authority, in partnership with the Uthungulu District Municipality.

Rock sensation, Prime Circle, will perform on September 26 while pop act, Beatenberg, takes centre stage on the Sunday. The bands’ performances are part of an exciting festival line-up that features waterside activities including the Exercise Oxide collaboration between the SA Navy and French Navy, sail-pasts, yacht races, tug rides and more, as well as landside activities including live entertainment, a kiddies’ park, craft stands, and a careers and business exhibition, among others. TNPA is adding the final touches to an exciting programme with local and regional artists and DJs set to be unveiled on a weekly basis.

“A festival like this intends to expose port communities to the port and the opportunities that exist through the maritime sector, but in an interactive and entertaining manner,” said Preston Khomo, Richards Bay Port Manager.

Over a decade after they first stormed out of the gates with their record-breaking debut album in 2003, Prime Circle have kept their brand of rasping, layered, melodic rock on mainstream airwaves, with a string of massive studio albums that have secured their place as the most successful rock act in South African history. The band is made up of lead singer and guitarist, Ross Learmonth, bass player Marco Gomes, Dale Schnettler on drums, Neil Breytenbach on keyboard and Dirk Bisschoff on guitar.

Their 2003 debut, Hello Crazy World, rocketed to gold status in South Africa, with Live This Life, the 2005 follow-up, following suit. She Always Gets What She Wants, the first single from their 2008 album All or Nothing, has received over 789,000 YouTube hits. It is the most-viewed South African rock song of all time on the channel, and cements Prime Circle’s status as the most successful South African rock band in history.

Beatenberg is a fresh new face in pop music, made up of lead singer and guitarist, Matthew Field, bass player Ross Dorkin and drummer Robin Brink. The band from Cape Town has entrenched its position as a leading pop group, despite studying music at the University of Cape Town and being schooled in 'serious music' like Beethoven, Debussy and John Coltrane. Their 2014 album, “The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg”, saw their collaboration with DJ Clock on 'Pluto (Remember You)' become the number one most popular song on South African radio for over 19 consecutive weeks in 2014.

Richards Bay is bracing itself for a bumper week that kicks off with World Maritime Day on September 23, followed by the biannual Exercise Oxide military collaboration between the French and South African military and navies, and culminating in the two-day Port Festival.  There will be appearances and displays by some of the South African Navy’s most impressive vessels, with all naval ships open to the public over the port festival weekend

The Richards Bay Port Festival will take place in and around Naval Island, Tuzi Gazi Waterfront and the indoor cricket facility at the Port of Richards Bay. It will be open from 10h00 to 20h00 on September 26 and from 10h00 to 17h00 on September 27. Entry R20 per day (children under 10 free). Tickets will be available at the gate. 

More information from Nkululeko Molefe, Corporate Affairs Officer, Port of Richards Bay on email: nkululeko.molefe@transnet.net