national Arts Festival Banner

Monday, August 12, 2019

15TH DURBAN INTERNATIONAL BLUES FESTIVAL


(Yamil Jacobo of The Yamil Jacobo Trio from Argentina)

While music festivals wax and wane under the strain of competition and usually economic strain, The Durban International Blues Festival has managed to keep its head up high and soldier on (not without its obstacles, of course) and now, 15 years on, sees the event take place once again at The Plant, Station Road Precinct in Durban from September 20 to 21, 2019.

September 20 will see an impressive line-up of local, up and coming blues talent hosted by Fender as always and is free to the public.

September 21 is jam-packed with an amazing line-up of local and national blues favourite – some known and some new to Durban audiences, but the cherry on the top for this night is the international headline acts, including The Yamil Jacobo Trio from Argentina, who will no doubt have some interesting blues to feed an audience hungry for something new.

Also under the International headline banner is Pat Savage from Canada. Some die-hard blues fans will remember Savage from his visit over a decade ago where this internationally-acclaimed blues master, larger than life both figuratively and literally speaking, cannot help to leave a very strong impression on you long after you have left the venue!

In the meantime, keep your eyes on Facebook pages Durban International Blues Festival and Friends of the Durban International Blues Festival, as well as www.durbanbluesfestival.co.za which will keep you informed and updated.

“This event, majorly sponsored by The Department of Arts and Culture, returns to The Plant again this year, a venue which ticks all the boxes in terms of safety, security, parking and a general all-round great and conducive vibe for such a festival,” says co director Tanya van Agthoven Marais. The idea as always, being to develop this venue into a “blues home annually and the added positives is not only the enthusiastic partnering with new owner Lucy Markewicz, but the buy-in from the precinct tenants who wish to participate with open stores, street markets, exhibitions and other ways of making this the “vibe “for those dates.

Renegade Kitchen will supply a reasonably priced menu selection of easy foods –some with a bit of a “bluesy” twist   and two professionally-run cash bars will sell SAB product (and perhaps a few craft beers will also be sold at a premium cost) and other hard tack, not to mention hot steaming coffee from street vendors just outside or a deliciously fresh and uniquely bottled water from Not made in China. The choice is yours.

Added to this will be the opportunity to buy memorabilia tee shirts printed by Concord Printers and artists CD’s at the Memorabilia table every night.

Yamil Jacobo also handcrafts authentic cigar box guitars in Argentina, one of which will be up for auction over the festival period so be sure to come with a few extra sheckels as this could be your lucky night  to become the owner of a branded, autographed piece of musical art! Harry Lock, the official photographer for The Durban International Blues Festival, will again have some of his photographic pieces on exhibition – you may be able to purchase of piece that steals your heart.

While the festival is the main focus - Pinky Mtshali, a co -director (Development and Mentorship) will be co ordinating workshops and musical clinics which will be held at various venue in and around Durban as well as township venues: Yamil Jacobo will be presenting these workshops .

Tickets go on sale shortly at Quicket and sell at R180 per person whilst limited tickets will be available at the door on show night for R200. The seating is unreserved on a first-come, first-served basis at benches which seat six.

For more information visit www.durbanbluesfestival.co.za