BBC BLUES

(Nux Schwartz)

As the Windsor Tennis Club has been battling to get members to man the clubhouse on Monday nights, the Monday music evenings have been moved to a new venue at the Berea Bowling Club.

It will be called BBC Blues (Berea Bowling Club Blues). People can attend and play bowls from 16h00 (they also have floodlights) There will be members in attendance to assist non-bowlers. They also have bowls available.

Music will be as before from 18h00 to 21h00. There is a full bar and a full kitchen with a catering lady.

On June 5, join Jason Andrew and Nux Schwartz for an evening of great tunes on lead and bass guitar.

The line-up for the rest of June is as follows: John Skuy (June 12); Mark Hunt (June 19), and Calli Thomson (June 26).

Entrance R50. For more information contact Roland on 082 499 8636 or email roland@stansell.za.net

GET SOUL’D SUNDAYS AT USHAKA

Kick back and enjoy Soul’d Sundays at Wahooz on the promenade.

This latest musical extravaganza at one of the coolest venues on Durban’s Golden Mile allows local musos to celebrate their own brand of soul, R&B, Jazz, Afro-soul, Pop Soul whilst paying homage to musical greats of the century. The likes of Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Ed Sheeran, the Temptations and Percy Sledge created a unique Afro American vibe that still influences music around the world.

Chill out as you sway to the distinctive live rhythms of Soul’d Sundays while enjoying funky and unique cocktails as well as a delicious menu.

From June, you can expect the very best of Durban’s local talent.

Kicking off on June 4 will be ever-popular Afro Divas family vocal trio, Yolanda, Khutala and Ntombi Cenge.

On June 11, Durban based songwriter, acoustic guitarist and cover artist, Gavin William Ferguson, will take to the stage. He and his recently formed three-piece band will have honeyed melodies floating out over Durban’s sun-filled promenade.  

On June 18, Nosihe and her four-piece band will be at Wahooz. This Pietermaritzburg-born and raised singer, songwriter and piano player, has performed at Splashy Fen, White Mountain Music Festival and others and in 2016 made the top 8 in Idols Season 12.

On June 25, catch Passionate who will be jamming out the jazz tunes. Having performed in Dubai, Scotland, Tanzania as well as South Africa, this band is one of the most exciting groups in KZN. They have shared the stage with the likes of Hugh Masekela, Freshly Ground, Rod Steward, Mi Casa and more.

To find out more about Soul’d Sundays’ musical line up, contact uShaka Marine World on 031 328 8000.

AND THAT’S WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTED

(Grant Bell, Gary McKenzie & John Didlick)

The Gee Jays (Gary McKenzie, John Didlick and Grant Bell) are back with an all new musical revue entitled And That’s When The Trouble Started.

The show takes a comical look at what often happens in relationships when there’s “trouble in paradise”. All interspersed with some great songs and some even greater artists. Expect to hear from Michael Bublé, The Beatles, Johnny Nash, The Bee Gees, Procal Harem, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones and many more. And just for good measure there are some more modern tunes from One Direction.

For a good chuckle and some light-hearted escapism come and listen to songs like Love The One Your With, 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, I Can See Clearly Now, I Gotta Get A Message To You, I Got My Mind Set On You, A Whiter Shade Of Pale, Living Doll, I’d Love You To Want Me, Walk Of Life and many more.

Dinner is served from 19h00. The show starts promptly at 20h00. Bring an open mind and your laughing tackle!

There will be two performances of the show at Kloof Country Club on June 8 and 9. This will be a fundraiser to help send talented youngster Dylan Palm over to Japan with the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. Tickets R250 pp inclusive of dinner booked through Claire on 083 300 3248 or email fundraiser8or9june@gmail.com

THE WILD FLUFFALUMP

The Wild Fluffalump is a delightful story written by Mwenye Hadithi and illustrated by Adrienne Kennaway that will have children engrossed until the very last page.

An unknown animal goes to sleep under a tall Cotton Wool Tree, where the leopard’s child has been bouncing all night. It wakes up looking like a giant white fluffy ball and doesn’t recognise itself as its body is covered in cotton. The other animals wonder what animal it is and try to discover what’s lurking under the cotton by patting, poking, sniffing, scratching and washing it…

Bruce Hobson writes as Mwenye Hadithi (meaning ‘story teller’ in Swahili). Born in Nairobi, he grew up in a house with a wild garden, visited by gazelles and porcupines and warthogs. A crocodile once went to sleep next to the ironing board and a hippopotamus got stuck in the back gate. As a child he kept tarantula-like spiders as pets and at school they were often confronted by baboons on the hockey field. From there he went to Rugby School in England and studied foreign literature at London University. This and his childhood, stirred by those traditional oral stories from Africa where the foibles of village characters, thinly disguised as animals, would lead to a moral lesson, inspired him to write.

Adrienne Kennaway grew up all over the world, but spent most of her formative life in Kenya, where an interest in wildlife soon turned to art. Ealing Art College in London and L’Academie Bella Arte in Rome where she honed her skills. She has illustrated over 30 children’s books and became notably successful for her vivid watercolour illustrations for Mwenye Hadithi’s African folktale series. Kennaway’s illustrations for Hadithi’s Crafty Chameleon won her the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal in 1987. She now enjoys spending time in the Irish countryside, capturing the local wildlife on canvas.

The Wild Fluffalump is available in English, Afrikaans, IsiXhosa and IsiZulu. Published in paperback children’s format size (275X240mm) Price R120 ISBN 978-1-4314-2385-9

THE BOB DYLAN TRIBUTE

Following  their runaway success tribute shows, Johnny Cash; Bruce Springsteen and most recently their Paul Simon ‘Road To Graceland production, The Black Lapels, one of Durban’s iconic staples in the world of live entertainment, are excited to add to their stable of shows their latest offering: The Bob Dylan Tribute.

This much anticipated show will run at Rhumbelow Theatre in Durban from June 2 to 4. It will feature a fresh line-up showcasing one of Durban’s hidden talents and newcomer to The Rhumbelow, Cornel Meyer as the frontman, with Chris Melling on drums and percussion. With his stark and edgy voice, Meyer, captures the iconic sound of Dylan perfectly.

The duo will play alongside Rhumbelow veterans Rob Warren and Garth Warren as we see The Black Lapels taking up the role of producer as they pay tribute to the Pulitzer prize recipient, Bob Dylan.

Bob Dylan, who needs no introduction, became the voice of his generation and has been influential in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960’s, when his songs chronicled social unrest. Early songs such as Blowing in the Wind and The Times They Are a-Changing became anthems for the Civil Rights Movement and Anti-War Movement. Leaving behind his initial base in the American folk music revival, his six-minute single Like a Rolling Stone recorded in 1965, enlarged his range of popular music.

This intimate and nostalgic performance will feature all favourite Dylan hits including Blowing In The Wind; Mr Tambourine Man; Times They Are A-Changing; Knocking On Heavens Door; Hurricane; Shelter From The Storm; Rainy Day Women; Like A Rolling Stone and many more.

Shows take place on June 2 and 3 at 20h00 and on June 4 at 14h00 and 18h30. The venue opens 90 minutes before show for picnic dinner.

Tickets R150 (R130 pensioners and tables of eight or more). Take along food picnic baskets. Braais will be available. There is limited secure parking and booking is essential. A cash bar is available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises). Rhumbelow Durban is situated at 42 Cunningham Road off Bartle Road in Umbilo.

Booking is through Computicket or contact Roland on 082 499 8636, email roland@stansell.za.net (also for group booking discounts of 20 or more) or visit http://events.durbantheatre.com