(Meute,
Rocken am Brocken, 2016)
Meute, an 11-piece techno marching band
from Hamburg, Germany, is one of the headline acts at this year’s Zakifo Music
Festival taking place over two consecutive weekends from May 24 until June 1,
2019, with a series of intimate pop-up bespoke concerts in venues in and around
Durban.
Meute is a ground-breaking brass ensemble
that combines hypnotic driving techno and expressive brass band music, freeing
electronic music from the DJ desk and giving the image of marching bands a
total refresh and overhaul. After only two years on the scene, Meute has become
one of Europe’s most-booked club and festival acts and are increasingly
extending their reach into the international music festival scene.
In their bright red military jackets with
gold buttons worn with jeans and sneakers, Meute is a jaunty combination of the
nostalgia of old school military marching bands, married with funky electronic
music. Musicians Hans-Christian Stephan and Thomas Burhorn from the band
re-interpret and arrange techno and house works, typically by well-known DJs,
into music performed for instruments of a brass band, however using as a
starting point electronic beats. Their goal is to bring electronic music back
to its roots.
Meute was founded in 2015 by trumpeter
Thomas Burhorn. Their breakthrough came in the spring of 2016, when their video
for the song Rej von Âme – an
interpretation of the Deep House song - was performed in the middle of the
Hamburg Schanzenviertel. The video became a viral hit through social media;
watched more than 400,000 times within a week. In June 2018, they succeeded
again with the song You & Me by
Disclosure. Their work is prolific with at least ten hits in three years.
Meute is being presented by the
Goethe-Institut - the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany.
They promote knowledge of the German language abroad and foster international
cultural cooperation. The Regional Director of Cultural Programmes, Dr Asma
Diakité says ‘’As a cultural institution that bases its identity on the values
of cultural exchange, solidarity between the peoples of the world, and support
of the emergence of new cultural forms and expressions for a new time, it is
the Goethe-Institut’s pleasure and honour to support this tour, which is a
perfect fit to an Africa-wide celebration of liberation, pride, self-determination,
optimism, love; and the continuation of the building of a cultural identity of
African Unity.
This year Zakifo hosts 25 or more acts over
the course of two weekends, from 10 countries in a myriad genres and styles who
will participate in a series of concerts, workshops, industry talks and artists
collaborations.
This year the festival will occupy some of
the city’s most interesting and happening venues: Durban Botanic Gardens; The
Werehouse; the historic Winston Hotel and adjoining Origin Nightclub and The
Rainbow Restaurant. There will be workshops and industry events taking place
during the week at Curiocity Hotel in the CBD. Festival headline acts include
Ben Harper (USA); Asa (Nigeria/France) and Mr Eazi (Nigeria).
Meute is on the bill over the first weekend
of Zakifo (May 24, 25, 25) which will see a festival stage outdoors along with
the Winston pub and Origin’s Engine Room. Appearing with them will be
alternative Indie Puts Marie (Switzerland); Dobet Gnahoré (Côte d'Ivoire / France)
and her urban / alternative French / Tunisian band; psychedelic garage rock
band Make-Overs (ZA); guitarist, songwriter, performing artist and singer,
Sands (Eswatini / Swaziland); and six-piece Dub Reggae fusion band Granmah
(Mozambique).
Zakifo Music Festival programme:
May 24: The Winston / Origin (R250). Meute
(Germany) .. The Make Overs … Dobet Gnahoré (Côte d'Ivoire / France) …Sands
(Swaziland) … Puts Marie (Switzerland) … Granmah (Mozambique)
May 25: The Werehouse (R300). Sho Madjozi …
Eme (Nigeria) … Moonchild … Dope St Jude … Skye Wanda
May 26: The Rainbow Restaurant (Rxx). Lindigo
(Reunion)
May 31: Ascend Rooftop uMhlanga (R450). Mr
Eazi … Blinky Bill (Kenya) … Kid Fonque … Bheki Nqoko … Tune Recreation
Committee … Buhlebendalo … Alibombo (Colombia)
June 1: Durban Botanic Gardens (R500). “It’s
What You Need” concert - Ben Harper (USA) … Asa (Nigeria/France) … Lindigo
(Reunion) … Maia & The Big Sky (Kenya) …. Beatenberg …. Red Robyn.
Find out more about the Goethe-Institut
South Africa under www.goethe.de/joburg and follow @goethejoburg on social
media to stay up to date on Meute’s tour and other Goethe related projects
Find out more about Zakifo: Info:
www.zakifo.com; Tickets: howler.co.za / Zakifo; General: info@zakifo.com; Press
/ PR: media@zakifo.com; Visit festival platforms www.zakifo.com / Instagram:
@zakifofest / Twitter: @zakifomusikfest / Facebook: @zakifofest for regular
updates
Zakifo sponsors and partners: Igoda music
festival circuit; Dept of Arts and Culture; Durban Tourism; eThekwini
Municipality; Goethe Institut; Swiss Arts Council, Prohelvetia.
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