Photo : Loyiso Mzamane

Our two-man crew followed Inge as we headed backstage for a quick brief with a few grizzly members of BEAST. We waited, sucked on nicotine and waited some more and then finally strokes after the midnight hour, BEAST laid foot on stage as the cult following stood ready for an unbeknownst performance. Drunk audience members who shoved each playfully now stood at full salute, brimming.

Featuring the hard and pace full drumming of Sasha Righini (The Plastics) and bassists Louis Nel and Rian Zitsmann (Taxi Violence). The lead vocalist sang, screamed and seduced in tones of dark yet airy and shrill vocals, all of which surpassed the guitar riffs and lingered throughout venues concrete structure.

Myself with camera in hand, stood spell bounded as I transcended with the arousing magnetism of a lady named Inge Beckmann. The quartet had a stage presence, which matched their artistic abilities and came out to rightfully exploit themselves. If I had turned around to glance at the audience reaction, I am positive that I would’ve witnessed the previous performers jot down notes.

Many will draw comparisons to Lark the electronic collective, whom Inge fronted. Many will not have heard of BEAST a fresh-on-the-scene quartet mashed up of members from leading bands .

As a collective the headliners of the night were certainly in their own league, and had undoubtedly gained a couple of fans that like myself, are itching for the release of BEAST’s new material. My critique being that the venue was shy of being a full house. For now it’s a good idea to get your head wrapped around the release of the new Lark album Gong Is Struck after all its probably the closest thing bringing justice to an online review.

Words: Kurt Mullins

Photo: Loyiso Mzamane

Put down your blanket, bring your picnic basket – it’s time for the annual

For Capetonians and visitors the internationally renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is the place to visit, not only for its beauty but for the hugely popular Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concerts that draw audiences from far and wide.

The 20th concert series kicked off on 20 November 2011 and runs until 1 April 2012. Be prepared for a line up that reflects not only the long running success of the Kirstenbosch series, but the hottest acts in the industry. With a healthy mix of old and new the concerts attract capacity crowds from every age group and the music genres represent the best sounds on circuit.

Time magazine in 2007 about the Kirstenbosch concerts:

At its best the city offers a relaxed blend of African ethnicity and culture – and nowhere does that harmony look, or sound, better than at the summer concerts at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

How to win:

Each week, Kirstenbosch and one small seed will give away 4 double tickets to the concerts. All you have to do is like the one small seed Facebook page, in case you haven’t done that already, and share the Kirstenbosch blog and another one small seed blog aswell. Make sure you mention (@) one small seed and the concert you are entering for when you share the blogs!

The Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concerts take place at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (Rhodes Avenue, Newlands, Cape Town) on Sundays from 17h00 – 19h00. Even if you don’t win tickets, click HERE! Below is the dates of who will be playing at the Summer Sunset Concerts…

Breakdown of upcoming acts:

Goldfish - mymusicmatrix.com

11 March- Goldfish

Dominic Peters and David Poole’s combination of jazzy house beats and searing live performances has seen them launch head first into the worldwide Dance Music consciousness. Not too long ago, they were two music students, surfing and playing music in Cape Town.

Freshly Ground

18 March-Freshlyground

South Africa’s most popular Afro beat, funk and folk band is made up of seven musicians from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Fronted by the diminutive but dynamic Zolani Mahola, Freshlyground exudes a live performance energy that has been the bedrock of their success. Freshlyground co-performed the Official Song for the 2010 World Cup entitled “Waka Waka- This Time for Africa”, which was a collaboration with Colombian superstar Shakira.

25 March- Hugh Masekela

For the first time on the Kirstenbosch stage legendary Hugh Masekela brings his iconic music the Old Mutual Summer Sunset concerts. Born in Witbank in 1939, Hugh Masekela is one of the greatest musicians ever to come out of South Africa. His international jazz career spans over more than five decades and he has played with just about every top star you can think of. “My biggest obsession is to show Africans and the world who the people of Africa really are,” Masekela confides – and it is this commitment to his home continent that has propelled him forward since he first began playing the trumpet.

Wrestlerish

1 April- Hot Water / Wrestlerish

Hot Water creates uplifting and authentic South African music, expressed through a dynamic group of musicians from very diverse backgrounds .Their music incorporates elements of traditional African music with folk, blues and indie-pop rock. Hot Water creates a space where people from any background have the opportunity to dance on common ground. Melodic rock band Wrestlerish was voted one of the most important SA bands in the last decade in 2010 by the Sunday Times. This year, they received two SAMA nominations and released their highly anticipated second album Towns, with their first single Bodies of Water already peaking on charts.

Images courtesy of: The Portfolio Travel Blog, Day Tours musicalmover.com, fotonadans.co.za, safarinow.com, whatsonincapetown.com, rwrant.co.za, youtube.com, mymusicmatrix

one small seed Issue 12 – Part 2

ISSUE 12 FEATURES:

• PHOTOGRAPHER: LYLE OWERKO – THE SAMBURU
• WORLDWIDE MUSIC FESTIVALS – THE FEST OF THE FEST
• PEOPLE: SOUTH AFRICAN COMEDIANS
• ARCHITECTURE: A LANDMARK IN INNER-CITY LIVING
• DESIGN: TINKER HATFIELD & THE NIKE AIRMAX 90 STORY
• ART: BIGWOOD 2 EXHIBITION
• SWIMWEAR: A SPLASH OF SURREALISM
• MENSWEAR: LEMON AID BY BRETT RUBIN
• LINGERIE: SECRET SERVICE
• STREETWEAR: URBAN 101
• ARTIST: RAY CEASAR
• PHOTOGRAPHER: LIAM LYNCH
• MUSICIAN: KEEPING IT REAL POISENOUS WITH RATTEX
• FASHION DESIGNER: THEMBA MNGOMEZULU
• ARTIST: POP ICONOGRAPHY WITH ALEX HAMILTON
• UNDERGROUND TECHNO PUNK: SHEEP ON DRUGS
• INDIE ROCK: ASHTRAY ELECTRIC
• SAN FRANCISCO FUSION: RUPA AND THE APRIL FISHES
• CANADIAN LUMBERJACK SWING: NATIONAL PARCS
• AFRIKAANS ALTERNATIVE: FOTO NA DANS
• POWER POP: CRASHCARBURN
• MUSIC PORTRAITS: TAXI VIOLENCE