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Saturday, March 7, 2026

MiTH: MARCH 11, 2026

 

(Right: Painting so Severe)

 

Where else can you meet with friends and enjoy top South African music in a beautiful setting, with roaring fires, hearty food and a cash bar – all for just R50?

Following is the line-up for March 11 at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm

Entrance: R50. (cash or Zapper at the door)

Info: 082 331 7271

 

20h40 – Painting So Severe

Painting so Severe is a psychedelic fusion of blues and alt rock. The band began in 2019 with Joshua White, the lead guitarist, and Seth Hutton, lead vocalist and trombone player, joined by Jamie Cunningham as bassist and Stuart Hancocks on drums. Together these four individuals come up with trippy jams and whimsical lyrics. Painting so Severe brings the energy.

It's hard to express a good comparison in terms of sound, so instead let’s paint a picture: They sound like an epic sunset on a cloudy day. They sound like someone else's toast toasting in the morning. They sound like the smell of freshly cut grass. They have drawn inspiration from seventies rock, cabaret, blues, and a little bit of jazz. It's fun.

 

19h40 – Ilan Lax and Friends

For this MiTH set, Ilan Lax is joined by a vibrant bunch of younger, extremely talented collaborators to present a sampling of songs drawn from Ilan’s broad collection of original material. This performance brings the talents of Skippy Khubeka (guitars and harmonies), Jes Bedingfield (bass and harmonies), and Paddy Austin (drums), all well-known at MiTH and around the Midlands music scene, to augment Ilan’s offerings (vocals, guitar and flute).

Ilan is a regular at MiTH and has been involved in the Pietermaritzburg live music scene since the early 80s, when he was a founding member of the MMC (Folk Club), MiTH’s predecessor.

The songs performed for this set are drawn from and inspired by Ilan’s lived experience as a husband, father, active citizen, and human in the world, and offer some insight into Ilan’s many interests. These songs also reflect Ilan’s eclectic and varied musical influences, from trad folk through blues, jazz, rock, reggae, classical, and world music.

  

19h00 – The Chickpeas

The Chickpeas didn’t appear out of nowhere — they sprouted from the wonderfully musical soil of the Hairy-Legged Lentil Eaters. Having grown up around legendary local bands, toe-tapping setlists, and a community that thrives on music, their philosophy remains simple: honour the music, surprise the audience, and never miss an opportunity for a well-timed musical detour.

The Chickpeas have all been influenced by bands such as Incubus, Crowded House, and The Cranberries, and build their repertoire around rich, tightly woven vocal harmonies and rhythm, reimagining well-loved favourites alongside original material.

The Chickpeas blend polished musicianship and spontaneous creativity, with a firm belief that every instrument deserves a solo. The result is a performance that feels warm and heartfelt, with just the right amount of silly.

And yes, there may be bongos.

 

ABOUT MiTH

Food and soft drinks are available for sale. Cash bar on site. The KZN Midlands’ favourite live music venue, MiTH is a platform for beginners, professionals and music lovers to celebrate the joy of live performance. Hosted every second Wednesday at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Hilton.

 

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH

Take the N3 to Hilton. Turn into Hilton Village and drive 5.2 km along Hilton Avenue, which becomes Dennis Shepstone Drive. Look for Knoll Drive on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the second left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. Info: 082 331 7271, www.mith.co.za or mithbookings@gmail.com