New Singer Joins The Sixth Sense

Cordelia is a young, up-and-coming singer and songwriter. She was born in Fochville and grew up in Carletonville. Her parents have supported her from an early age and had ensured her love for music. Her dad's love for the guitar and songwriting had a big influence on her own passion for music.

Cordelia has always had the desire to give hope and make a difference, and her biggest wish is to prove that dreams do come true. "It's not where you're from," she says, "but where you're going."

Her own dreams include a platinum CD and to perform at the annual Huisgenoot Skouspel concert. To sing her own songs on stage is a huge achievement and as a married lady it's only fair that love (for her husband, family and friends) is her biggest inspiration for writing lyrics.

Cordelia is a great fan of the outdoors, American Country music, beautiful clothes and fast cars, and she likes to sit down to a nice plate of pasta or pizza. Vegetables are not on top of her list and neither is haughtiness. "We're all human," she explains.

Cordelia's star is rapidly on the rise and from day one her motto has been, "Work hard and never stop dreaming." Her debut album Die Beste, is available at all leading music stores.

Videos That Make Me Happy

Hey peeps!

Happy Friday!

So, to get your music-filled weekend started...

I've already posted two of my favourite music videos by local artists (Die Heuwels Fantasties and Easy Tiger), and thought I might as well share the rest with you. These bands offer music of outstanding quality and here are some (if I had to list them all I'd sit here until at least mid-March) of the reasons why I will support our bands to the end...

You & I - aKING

This is about as soppy as my music video collection gets (not that you can call these rockers soppy - anything but!). Don't get me wrong; I still think their 2008 video for Safe As Houses was a lot better in terms of concept, but hearing this song makes me swoon, so you can only imagine what the video does to me.

The Knife - Zebra & Giraffe

This video graced the Number One spot on MK's Top 10 music video list for a couple of weeks. Need I say more?

Los My - Winterstasie

Seriously; have you SEEN this video? The resemblence between myself and a yawning bush baby the first time I saw it, was uncanny! The dark feeling and innocence (well, kind of) of the kid paired with the stunning location (you HAVE to visit the old hall beneath Joburg Park Station... OMW!) were enough to grip me from beginning to end. (The good looking band members have nothing to do with my decision.)

Center Of Gravity - Voodoo Child

This was the first music video shoot I had to cover for people magazine and the whole experience is something that will stay with me forever. Watching the guys do what they love from the break of dawn until late at night and then finally seeing the end product, was a bucketfull of awesomeness.

Enter The Ninja - Die Antwoord

Come on, man! It's Daai Entward! They may not have the most child friendly lyrics, but this video is just too cool. Yes. Kief.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

Have a great weekend!

Izzy
xxx

Another Favourite

Some good music to get you in the weekend mood!

If You're Happy And You Know It...

...then show it! How, you may ask? By supporting local music, of course!

Please don't spend another weekend doing nothing? Come on, I'm sure all of us are younger than 90 (if you aren't, you still have no excuse!) and seriously - nothing rocks more than rounding your friends up for a night filled with good music!

Some ideas:

Thursday, January 27
What's Up: Easy Tiger
Where: Voodoo Lounge, Linksfield, Johannesburg

What's Up: Foto Na Dans
Where: PUK Amphitheatre, Potchefstroom

What's Up: Snotkop
Where: Firkin, Centurion, Pretoria

What's Up: Captain Stu
Where: Zula Bar, Cape Town
Line-up: Includes The Car Boot Vendors

Friday, January 28
What's Up: Die See
Where: Steak & Ale, Centurion, Pretoria
Line-up: Includes Brixton Moord En Roof Orkes

What's Up: Juggernaught
Where: The Black Dahlia, Boksburg, Johannesburg

What's Up: Arno Carstens & The New Porns
Where: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Johannesburg

What's Up: Desmond & The Tutus
Where: Hotbox Studios, Hatfield, Pretoria
Line-up: Includes Tidal Waves and Foto Na Dans

What's Up: Son Of A Thousand Blues
Where: The Bohemian, Richmond, Johannesburg

Saturday, January 29
What's Up: Nicholis Louw
Where: D'Aria Wine Estate, Cape Town
Line-up: Includes Ray Dylan

What's Up: Stompdraai
Where: Firkin, Centurion, Pretoria

What's Up: We Shall Embrace
Where: Sundowners, Alberton, Johannesburg
Line-up: Includes Deity's Muse and Kill The Messenger

What's Up: Louise Carver
Where: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Johannesburg

What's Up: Fuzigish
Where: Tings an' Times, Hatfield, Pretoria

Sunday, January 30
What's Up: Imogen Heap
Where: Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Johannesburg

Have an awesome weekend!

Izzy
xxx

MR CAT & THE JACKAL Album Launch Postponed

Hello friends!

Some sad news... See below press release.

Ladees and Jentelmen,

Like a disapointing pres releece marred with speling erors, we regret to inform you that MR CAT & THE JACKAL's albem luanch has been posponed...AGIAN.

This wil bee the fuorth tyme. Our ship seems too be leaking - exciting, yes - but dangeruos.

Please dont thimk of this as a iritatingly slow download, but rather as a long shot where the dog refuses to bark at the rihgt time at the end. (Yes, we can cut that in, but thats not how we rol.)

Sins & Siren Songs will be relaesed, with the Oracle's blessing, hopefully in mid-March 2011.

Wishing you prosperous winds,
Mr Cat & The Jackal

But the show must go on, and although the album launch is postponed, Mr Cat & The Jackal will still be launching their brand new music video for the first single off Sins & Siren Songs, namely The Devil Always Wants To Dance, at Klein Libertas Theatre in Stellenbosch on February 11.

Bummer, but you know what they say; all good things are worth waiting for!

Save The Date

Artist Q&A: Greg Carlin

Zebra & Giraffe's second full-length album, The Inside, was released in September last year and was received with rave reviews in the local industry. This time around the guys wanted to prove that they could produce an even better album than Collected Memories (their award-winning debut album released in 2008) and all their hard work has definitely paid off.

I caught up with songwriter, frontman and guitarist Greg Carlin for a quick chat about band life.

I recall attending the launch of Collected Memories at the Military Museum in 2008. What has since happened in the world of Zebra & Giraffe?
Ummm, quite a lot! In 2009 we won a SAMA and an MTV Africa Music Award. We also got to play with the Killers which was amazing! 2010 was mostly spent writing and recording our second album, The Inside. We also got to go overseas to mix the album with Cenzo Townsend who has mixed everybody from U2 to Florence & The Machine.

What would you say was the highlight of 2010 - personal and professional?
Completing a second album, with a band this time, was really both a professional and personal achievement for me. I was always worried about going back into the studio; worried if I'd be able to write more songs and whether I'd be able to write with other people... But it all worked out quite well, I think! I'm really happy with how we progressed and what we achieved.

What can fans look forward to in 2011?
We're onto our second single off the album which is called Terrified - we just made a video for it on my iPhone 4 (laughs). Check it out! It's currently playlisted on national and campus radio. We're also looking forward to a whole bunch of great shows coming up like Kirstenbosch, RAMfest and the MK Awards. Hopefully another SAMA nomination... We'll see! And then a big push for some overseas action!

Any international tours lined up?
We are looking to head to L.A. in May. We've been invited to play at a music conference and it's really a great opportunity. Visa dependent...

You are in the line-up to perform at this year's RAMfest.
Yeah it's our first time at RAMfest and we're really looking forward to it. Can't wait to finally see Die Antwoord live...

What is your favourite song to perform live?
Pariahs, which we almost always play last, is fun because it's simple and rocking and easy to jump up and down to. The Knife is also great because we always get such a great response from the crowd. We love playing new tracks but the crowd mostly stands staring...

Strangest encounter with a fan?
A girl jumped on stage once and pulled into me! It was pretty unexpected so it made for a rather embarrassing moment!

You mentioned in an interview once that you wouldn't mind having groupies if they help carry gear. Any luck with that?
No, unfortunately not. :(

If you had to write a letter to 40-year0old Greg, what would it say?
"I hope to hell you are still writing music, or at least doing something creative!"

And 16-year-old Greg?
"Don't stress so much! Play the field."

If someone was stalking you, where would they find you on a Saturday night?
Either at a show somewhere around SA - I think every weekend until April is booked - or at home... I don't venture out much in Jozi.

There you have it, you crazies! For more info, visit Zebra & Giraffe's website or become a fan on Facebook!

Much love!

Izzy
xxx

It Can Like To Be The Weekend!

Happy, happy Friday!

I can't believe the first month of 2011 is almost out the door... Scary actually...

Anyhoo, I went to see the Michael Jackson This Is It tribute show at the Joburg Theatre last night and all I can say, is WOW! I had goosebumps most of the time and the finale is out of this world! Do yourselves a favour and book your tickets NOW - you won't regret it!

Since it's Friday and we're all at our wit's end (okay, I am - I don't know about you), here's a few gigs you can consider attending just to get the weekend grooves going. No pressure. Although, I would recommend you join me at Tanz Cafe in Fourways tonight to see The Arrows live - it's going to be a rocker!

Friday, January 21
What's Up: The Arrows
Where: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Johannesburg

What's Up: Mean Mr Mustard
Where: Firkin, Centurion, Pretoria

What's Up: Broadway Screamer
Where: The Black Dahlia, Boksburg
What's Up: Arno Carstens
Where: Die Blou Hond, Linden, Johannesburg
Line-up: Includes Albert Frost

Saturday, January 22
What's Up: Die See
Where: Tings an' Times, Hatfield, Pretoria

What's Up: Cassette
Where: Zula Bar, Capetown

What's Up: Evolver One
Where: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Johannesburg

Sunday, January 23
What's Up: Valiant Swart
Where: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Johannesburg

What's Up: Dan Patlansky
Where: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town
Line-up: Includes Farryl Purkiss and Inge Beckmann

What's Up: Albert Frost
Where: Backsberg Wine Estate, Paarl

Travel safe and party responsibly!

Izzy
xxx

Haezer Rage Tour February 2011

Join South African electro/trash DJ, Haezer on his first tour to Australia in 2011!

For more info on DJ Haezer, visit his MySpace page or visit http://www.griet.co.za/.

WIN! Tickets To DOGBOX Foam Party!

Ola people!


Finally the time has come for the annual DOGBOX foam party!

When: 4 February 2011
Where: Hotbox Studios
Damage: R50... unless you email me your name before midnight tonight, which will land you a set of double tickets! (Click on the yellow word, damn it!)
What to expect: Foam, good sound, lazers, beer garden, Cream Soda Cane!
Line-up: Liver (CT), Moejoe, Matt Suttner, Sassquatch, Doctor Khumalo, Oliver Twisted and Professor Mystery.
Photo booth by Justin McGee

This event is brought to you by Griet and Hotbox.

Check out to promo video here and the video of the previous Griet Halloween Party here.

Izzy
xxx

RAMfest V

As summer hits its peak so does the festival circuit. Yes, it's time for RAMfest again!

This year, RAMfest boasts three venues in three cities over five days... across 6 stages. That's right! RAMfest will be visiting three major cities in 2011! This helps to cement the event's reputation as one of South Africa's Ultimate Rock Festivals.

Funeral For A Friend

This year's line-up includes two international bands: Alkaline Trio (USA) and Funeral For A Friend (UK). Die Antwoord, Van Coke Kartel and Zebra & Giraffe are the local acts that will be performing at all three RAMfest events. John Vlismas will be the host for RAMfest all round in all three the provinces.

Alkaline Trio

The dates for RAMfest V are as follow:

Cape Town: 4 - 6 March at Nekkies Holiday Resort, Worcester
Durban: 9 March at Wavehouse
Johannesburg: 12 March at Riversands Farm, Fourways

RAMfest has left a permanent footprint on the live music scene. Celebrating five years of Rock 'n Roll, the festival is set to raise the bar yet again. Not only will there be music that we all love, but there will also be some new genres that deserve showcasing.

Prepare yourself for a bigger dance stage, more and better camping facilities and a couple of surprises! Fasten your seatbelts for the thrills that are about to jolt you right out of your seat and into the most super-rad party mood!

Calling all fearless warriors, emotionally stunted, corporate sucks, Internet tycoons, recently single ready to mingle, goody-two-shoes, rebels with and without a cause, black sheep, white sheep and even the little green men out in space (if they can hear us): Come to RAMfest with us!

Cape Town Line-up

Main stage:
Alkaline Trio (USA), Funeral For A Friend (UK), Die Antwoord, Gazelle, Zebra & Giraffe, Van Coke Kartel, The Revelators, Blk Jks, Ashtray Electric, Desmond & The Tutu's, Mr. Cat & The Jackal, Stepdog, Pretty Blue Guns, The Great Apes, Tumi, Ree-Burth, Dance! You're On Fire, The Sleepers, Isochronous, Not My Dog, Lonely Dave Ferguson, Wrestlerish, 7th Son, Bittereinder, Mix 'n Blend.

Alternative stage:
Down On The First, Moment Of Clarity, Knave, Mind Assault, Contrast The Water, The Broken Result, Infanteria, Haggis & Bong, Symphonic Schizophrenia, Juggernaught and many more.

Electronic Stage:
Jam Jar, Psydstep, Bruce Willis?, P.H. Fat, Niskerone, Counterstrike, Hyphen, SFR, Mr. Bong, Fletcher, Sedge Warbler, Toby2Shoes, Kennedy, Battle Beyond The Stars, Ill Tastic, El Gordo, Enough Weapons, Haezer, Tom Deluxx (FRA), Double Adapter, Liver, B-Team and more.

Beach Party:
Haasbroek, Tommygun, FunaFuji, Mr. Saitumi.

Johannesburg Line-up

Main stage:
Alkaline Trio (USA), Funeral For A Friend (UK), Not My Dog, Die Antwoord, Zebra & Giraffe, Van Coke Kartel, Pestroy, Dance! You're On Fire, Isochronous, Knave, Pity The Fool, Blk Jks, Desmond & The Tutu's, The Shadowclub.

Dance stage:
RudeOne, Deeziak, CutKeyLow, Tasha Baxter, Ambush, Bittereinder, Benson.

Durban Line-up

Alkaline Trio (USA), Funeral For A Friend (UK), Die Antwoord, Zebra & Giraffe, Van Coke Kartel.

Facilities
Entertainment Area: Stages, bars and stalls will be inside a fenced-off entertainment area.
Beer Garden: Large tented bar areas with tables, benches and parasols.
Parking: First come, first serve. Click here to see gate opening times.
ATMs: Will be places around the entertainment area.
Market: We strive to bring you the best in festival foods, affordable yet healthy and delicious. Catering for everybody's needs, clothing and other festival paraphernalia also. A merchandise stand with credit/debit card facilities will also be there. To book stalls, contact mari@ramfest.co.za (CT) or ingeborg@hilltoplive.co.za (Jhb).
Medics: There will be professional medics on site, with all necessary emergency equipment. Take your own headache tablets and PARTY SAFE!
Green: Please try to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Take rubbish bags to keep your area clean. All rubbish bags will be collected by cleaners and sorted into the relevant recycling bins. PLEASE LEAVE GLASS AT HOME!
Snow Cafe Multimedia City (Cape Town only): Snow Cafe is a multimedia tented area offering various forms of entertainment. Drop in, relax and blow off some steam. The friendly staff will make you feel right at home and will ensure you are energised for that next round.
What is on offer: Lost & found, information centre, cellphone charging, slush & snack bar.
Camping & swimming (Cape Town only): RAM is a full weekend camping outing, so take your tents, caravans and camping gear. It's HOT that time of the year so take extra shade i.e. Gazebos, sun hats, umbrellas. There is a river and swimming pool for cooling off - don't forget your inflatables! NO OPEN FIRES WILL BE TOLERATED.
Kreef Hotel (Cape Town only): Pre-pitched bow tents with mattresses & locks. Secure parking, lighting & 24-hour security. Luggage porters (to help you rest your case), daily breakfast, Coffee on tap, cellphone (cameras, laptops) charging facilities and even a private little bar just for you. Clean toilets (a ply within) & hot showers exclusively for Kreef guests. All this and more super service crawling distance from the RAMfest stages at a price to fit your pocket. Rock hard, sleep soft. The calm thing is to remain important. Book NOW!

Tickets available from Ticketbreak.

STRICTLY NO: Under 16s. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult over 21. Glass bottles, littering, fireworks, domestic animals, Graffiti, bad attitudes, weapons, independent sound systems or illegal substances. Don't drink & drive!

RIGHT OF ADMISSION RESERVED. Entry is entirely at your own risk. The promoters accept no responsibility whatsoever for injury, death, loss or damage of any nature to persons, vehicles and belongings. This applies even to negligence of any kind by the promotors, venue and contractors. All rights reserved.

Beautiful, Beautiful Piano

South Africa's favourite pianist, Rocco De Villiers, does it again!

In March 2011 Rocco will release a double CD on the EMI label with the most beautiful piano music ever. This is Rocco's long-awaited big production album and by far his most beautiful.

Where were you when you heard My Heart Will Go On - the Titanic theme song - for the first time? Can you remember the theme song from the TV series Murder, She Wrote? And of course you know You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban - but have you heard it with bagpipes? Did you also cry when you saw the movie Forrest Gump?

These are just a few of the jewels on Rocco's new album. Memory from Cats, Don't Cry For Me, Argentina from Evita and I Dreamed A Dream from Les Mis are just a few of the beautiful, beautiful tunes you can look forward to! And don't forget the 8-minute ABBA medley! And what will this collection be without the classic, classic Ballade For Adeline, Sleepy Shores and The Music Box Dancer?

All this music is also now live on stage played by Rocco in a stage presentation ideal for theatre, corporate and women's events. Rocco tells all the tales that moved him to record the tracks and memoriesaround all the music since he was a little boy in the Free State.

Beautiful, beatiful - head to toe; inside out. In a world where we are constantly reminded of horror and fear, sometimes all we need is beautiful, beautiful piano music!

Album Review: Captain Stu - Free Music

Hey peeps,

Happy Tuesday! I hope you've all been having an easy week so far! I have to say, this weather is making it difficult for me to get up in the morning... I do rise, but heavens know I refuse to shine!

Anyhoo, I thought I'd share with you a review I did on Cape Town ska outfit Captain Stu's EP, Free Music.

Now, let me first say, having suffered from seriaas post-holiday blues (returning to Jozi after 3 weeks at the coast is no joke) and starting a new job, I was not the happy camper most of you know me to be. That was until I popped Free Music into the CD player on my way to work this morning...

Tempo - the opening track of the EP - immediately made forget about everything (including the impending traffic jam on the M1 and the fact that my car is way past its due service date). The lyrics, "Tell me do you like it / Fast or slow" replaced thoughts of warfare triggered by the taxi trying to squeeze into the 30 cm-space between myself and the car in front of me. I make a conscious decision to lose myself in the music and forget about everything else.

With a slow-spreading smile and fingers tapping on the steering wheel I wait for the next track. Han Solo tells the story of a love lost and it takes me back to a time where I didn’t have to pay my own rent – a time when puppy love was the most important thing in the world.

By the time I finished listening to all the tracks, I was bobbing my head (resembling those scary looking toy dogs your uncle had in the back window of his Ford Cortina) and had unconsciously let my window down to spread the Captain Stu-love to everyone who would listen.

You see, the thing with Captain Stu's Free Music (all their music, for that matter) is that it's fun, bouncy and just as quirky as the posts on their blogsite. Seriously, do yourself a favour and check it out - you'll be hosing yourself before you've finished reading the first page!

That said, I'm looking forward to the drive back home this afternoon - Captain Stu will without a doubt be on high rotation in my car for weeks to come.

Izzy

xxx

Chromium Reveal New Single & Artwork For Upcoming Album

The start of 2011 has been quite a stellar one for internationally renowned hard rock/metal group Chromium. Just having completed the crowd vocals for their upcoming third release, Chromium is on a path for great things this year. Fans got a first glimpse and listen to the new album this past week and the reaction was astounding.

Another noticeable and unbelievable aspect of of the the upcoming album is that world renowned artist and bassist for Grammy nominated band Killswitch Engage, Mike D'Antonio, had his hand in developing the artwork for the album. Mike D brought a totally different edge to the band's image with his masterful skill in the artwork for the album.

My Perfection, the first single off the album, has been premiered on the band's official MySpace page and fans worldwide have been praising the new sound of the band. The song will be hitting radio airwaves soon so keep your ears pricked! Produced by Chromium's very own Jared Gunston, the album promises to surpass any expectations and please fans around the world with its extensive attention to detail and brutal power behind the music. The introduction of Justin Du Preez on vocals has really brought a powerful and clear approach to the already unique sound of the band.

Chromium will be going on a full South African tour in support of the upcoming album which promises to be one of the most energetic and entertaining stage shows to grace local venues this year.

Confirmed shows for 2011 for Chromium so far are:

27 January: Cool Runnings, Benoni, Jhb
04 February: Thornfest, Jhb
25 February: Memphis Rock, Potchefstroom
26 February: The Doors, Edenvale, Jhb
05 March: Cool Runnings Fourways, Jhb
09 March: Tings an' Times, Hatfield, Pretoria
25 March: The Bohemian, Melville, Jhb
02 April: Cafe Barcelona, Pretoria
08 April: The Black Dahlia, Boksburg, Jhb
09 April: Tin Cup, Witbank
16 April: Fracture Fest, Bloemfontein
07 May: Memphis Rock, Potchefstroom
13 May: Rockabilly's, Jhb
25 June: Die Bos, Pretoria

More dates to be announced soon!

500 To Celebrate As Smirnoff Be There Presents A State Of Trance 500 Tour

Smirnoff is bringing the world's Number One DJ to 500 fans on March 17, 2011, for one exclusive night in Cape Town to celebrate the 500th show of Armin Van Buuren's A State Of Trance 500 Tour. This will be followed by the official South African performance in Johannesburg.

From March 19 to April 18, 2011, Armin Van Buuren's A State Of Trance 500 Tour will continue its travels to five continents, five cities, hosting five of the hottest nights on the 2011 calendar from South Africa to Europe, USA, South America and Australia.

Adrian Peterson of Smirnoff South Africa says, "Working with the world's Number One DJ as he reaches this epic milestone is a huge honour for us. We are proud fo having South Africa chosen as one of the destinations of A State Of Trance 500 Tour, and we look forward to hosting the 500th showing in Cape Town."

Boasting high-speed ADSL, ISDN2 and satellite connections for radio and video streaming, the show will be broadcast across the globe from a soundproof, air-conditioned radio studio space built exclusively for the event.

In celebration of this milestone show, Armin Van Buuren's A State Of Trance 500 Tour is asking their fans to let them know who their favourite DJs are. A State Of Trance lovers can vote for their favourite star to be part of the line-up. Fans can log on to Facebook for more information.

Tickets to the official show in Johannesburg on March 19, 2011 are available from Computicket.

To stand a chance to win tickets to the Cape Town exclusive event, purchase a bottle of Smirnoff Triple Distilled, a six pack of Smirnoff Storm of Smirnoff Spin for more details. Terms and conditions apply.

Not for sale to persons under the age of 18. Drink Responsibly.

D'Aria Summer Concerts

Nicholis Louw and Ray Dylan will be performing at the annual D'Aria Summer Concert Series on Saturday, January 29. The beautiful wine farm D'Aria is situated in Durbanville and the shows are held on the plush green lawn in front of their magnificent wine cellar.

Nicholis Louw and Ray Dylan are two of South Africa's most popular and successful Afrikaans pop artists. Fans will be delighted to know that they will be in Cape Town performing their top selling singles and more at D'Aria.

Both Nicholis and Ray are known for numerous hits from their respective double platinum and platinum albums and when they perform live, fans can expect to be on their feet and singing along.

Take your picnic basket and blanket! There will be a range of award winning D'Aria wines on sale, as well as delicious food and a variety of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Please note: own alcohol will not be allowed.

You are also welcome to take your own umbrella or gazebo, but visitors are asked to take it down before the show starts in order for everyone to see the band clearly. People who take their own chairs are asked to please sit at the back and on the sides, where they will not affect the rest of the crowd's view.

Also look out for the following upcoming concerts in the series:

Sunday, February 13: The Parlotones
Time: 17h00
Tickets: R160

Sunday, February 27: Kurt Darren
Time: 17h00
Tickets: R120

Tickets for Nicholis Louw and Ray Dylan are R120 per person and children under 12 get free entry.

Tickets available at www.webtickets.co.za or at D'Aria: 071 415 6985.

Gates open at 16h00 and the show starts at 20h00.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled...

...and your ears pricked for a red-hot album and music video hitting the scene in February!

Mr. Cat & The Jackal's second studio album - Sins & Siren Songs - has taken nearly 13 months to complete. For this album, they built brand new instruments, deleted nearly half the tracks, toured twice, fought many times, used more than 50 lighters, smoked the equivalent to a small garden's grass, got a tattoo, gained some weight, lost some friends, gave a brother to God, increased the team, starved a lot, had transcendental experiences with an orb and somehow failed to capture any of the experiences on camera. Yet, through some miracle of the Grand Organised Design, it bled onto the studio microphones.

Sins & Siren Songs was produced by Abrie Du Plessis and MCATJ. It contains 16 tracks and was recorded at Fresh Meat Studios from January 2010 to January 2011. Several modified objects and instruments were built and used specifically for this album, including a banjo-lapsteel guitar, box o' rox, garden saw, human skull, noisy toys, bottles, swords and many more. The album is currently being mixed by SAMA winner Darryl Torr. The album is set for release in February 2011.

"The album's themes include a discussion on social paranoia, an anecdote on the direct influence of the 'great flood' and some hymns on heart-shaped holes. Each anthem, aria, ballad, canticle, carol, chant, chorus, ditty, lyric, melody, refrain, tune and verse has been very meticulously crafted to sculpt the audio landscape for you to take home and wander in," says Mr. Cat & The Jackal.

The first music video for the single The Devil Always Wants To Dance from Sins & Siren Songs, will also be released in February. The video was shot in one take on location in Phillipi and was directed by Thomas Ferreira (who has made music videos for the likes of aKING, Die Heuwels Fantasties and Jax Panik).

For more information, stalk them on Facebook and/or Twitter.

Weekend Gigs

Hey peeps,

Happy Thursday!

Just a quick update on music happenings during the weekend...

Thursday, January 13
What's Up: Pieter Smith
Where: Firkin, Centurion, Pretoria

What's Up: Asylum
Where: Tings an' Times, Hatfield, Pretoria

Friday, January 14
What's Up: Hog Hoggidy Hog
Where: Zula Sound Bar, Cape Town
Line-up: Includes 7th Son

What's Up: The Dead Will Tel
Where: The Black Dahlia, Boksburg
Line-up: Includes Kill The Messenger

What's Up: Voodoo Child
Where: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Johannesburg

Saturday, January 15
What's Up: Jason Hartman
Where: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Johannesburg

What's Up: Lindsay McGuire
Where: Silverstar Casino, Krugersdorp

Sunday, January 16
What's Up: Jack Parow
Where: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town
Line-up: Includes Francois Van Coke

Have a rad weekend!

Izzy
xxx

Get Ready To Be Dazzled!

For the first time in South Africa and direct from their smash UK tour, the adrenalin-driven Strictly Tap Dance Fever takes to the stage exclusively at The Mandela @ Joburg Theatre from February 15 to March 6 2011.

Brought to you by Spirit Productions (the people that brought us two of Joburg Theatre’s highest-grossing and most popular shows of the past decade: Spirit Of The Dance and Le Grand Cirque) - the internationally renowned cast in this tap dance sensation takes the audience on a whistle stop roller-coaster ride of the greatest tap dance moments in show business history.

Making a nightly guest appearance will be South African singer and African Tap and Modern Dance Champion for seven straight years, the very glamorous Amor Vittone.
To date, Amor has released six albums: Wild Cherry Kisses (1998), Dance In Colours (2000), Young Forever (2002), amor (2005), Voluit (2006) and Glo Altyd Aan More (2009). The Voluit Afrikaans album enjoyed Gold Status in South Africa.

In 2007, Amor was nominated for a South African Music Award (SAMA) in the category ‘Best Afrikaans Pop Album’. She was nominated for People Magazine’s Crystal Award in the category ‘Hottest SA Artist’ in 2007, a Tempo Music Award in the category ‘Favourite SA Female Artist’, and Voluit Lewe was nominated as ‘Favourite Song of the Year’. At the Vonk Musiektoekennings in 2007, Amor was nominated as ‘Best Female Artist.’ As a seven-time South African Tap and Modern Dance Champion, Amor is looking forward to returning to her dance roots, which served her well in Girl Talk and West Side Story.

"I am very honoured and excited to be part of this show," says Amor. "I started off my career in theatre, so returning to my first passion, which is tap dancing, is wonderful. I’m looking forward to be working with an international choreographer and director and appreciate the opportunity I have been given to get back on the stage where I belong."

Amor is also currently presenting her own radio show on Jacaranda 94.2fm, between 10am and 2pm on Sundays.

Acapella tap sounds can be heard as the show opens and - as the taps build - so does the energy and spectacle. Soon you discover there is so much more than tap in this show: swing, jive and sensational singers add to the cocktail of pure showbiz heaven.

Featuring fantastic musical classics mashed with modern day beat, these taps build with the energy and spectacle to a cocktail of pure showbiz heaven.
Starting in the era when Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were the stars of the day, the show tap dances its way through history, thrilling and exciting audiences with the vibrant tap dance styles that entertained generations through the ages.

Tickets are from R170 and are available at Computicket.

To whet your appetite, view a taste of what to expect HERE
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Happy New Year...

...and all that jazz! I hope you all had a fabulous holiday and kept out of trouble! I know I've been MIA for a while, but I intend to make it up to!

Herewith some gigs to look out for during the coming weekend. As I'm still learning the whole blogging-via-BlackBerry-thing (forgive me for being a technologically challenged), you'll have to excuse the lack of links and pics...

Thursday, January 6
What's Up: Elvis Blue
Where: Firkin, Centurion (0861 FIRKIN)
Damage: R60

Friday, January 7
What's Up: Mean Mr Mustard
Where: Firkin Centurion
Damage: R30

What's Up: Chromium
Where: The Black Dahlia, Boksburg (082 654 7912)
Damage: R40

What's Up: Easy Tiger
Where: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Jhb (011 658 0277)
Damage: R60

Saturday, January 8
What's Up: Asylum and The City Is The Desert (In Disguise)
Where: Cool Runnings, Victory Park, Jhb
Damage: Only R10!

What's Up: Lonehill Estate
Where: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Jhb
Damage: R60

There is also a Battle of the Bands at The Black Dahlia in Boksburg for a slot on the Dahlia stage at Thornfest 2011. Starts at 18:00.

Sunday, January 9
What's Up: The Parlotones
Where: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, CT

In other music news: a little birdie told me that newcomers ADAM have finished writing songs for their debut album... We can't wait to hear it!

I wish you all a party-filled weekend!

Izzy
Xxx