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Arts Alive comes to Newtown
31 August 2004
There's a strong African component to this year's Arts Alive International Festival, with Koffi Olimede from the Congo and Senegal's Cheikh Lo - along with local stars Suthukazi Arosi, Busi Mhlongo and Jabu Khanyile, among others - set to turn Newtown, Johannesburg into a buzzing cultural village from 2 to 5 September.
American rap sensation 50Cent is this year's international star, while big name South African artists like Arno Carstens, Watershed, the jazz trio of Nana Coyote, Steve Kekana and Joe Nina, and Wonderboom will also be performing at venues across the city.
Audiences can expect a festival that is cutting-edge, innovative and professional. It runs over a more intensive period this year - for four days, from 2 to 5 September.
The festival organisers are hoping to attract diverse audiences by offering a wider range of music and arts styles.
The majority of events will take place in venues in the core Arts Alive village in
Newtown. This will help to dispel negative perceptions about the city centre, showcasing the regeneration projects that are under way in Newtown and its surrounds.
Events will also be held in satellite venues in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg.
Arts Alive again features the hugely popular Jazz on the Lake at Zoo Lake, from 10am to 5pm on 5 September. This year's free outdoor concert boasts an impressive line-up, including Sakhile and Thandiswa Mazwai.
The programme line-up includes:
A comedy show at the Newtown Music Hall from 8pm till 11pm on 2 September. Some of the country's top comedians - including David Kau, John Vlismas, Riaad Moosa, Tshepo Mogale and Krijay Govender - take to the stage to get the Arts Alive International Festival under way. Tickets are R50.
Freedom to Dance at Carfax from 10pm on 3 September. This is a cutting-edge youth cultural event to celebrate 10 years of democracy in SA, with a line-up including Frankie
Feliciano from New York and Cut Killer from Paris, along with DJ Fresh, DJ Monde, Vinny da Vinci, DJ Naked, DJ Ready D, DJ Waxxy, Pitch Black Afro, Tumi and the Volume, Squatta Kamp and Amu. Tickets are R60.
Jozi Rocks at the Newtown Music Hall from 8pm till midnight on 3 September. A collection of South Africa's finest artists - Arno Carstens, Watershed and Wonderboom - celebrate rock the Jozi way.
Carstens, former lead singer for the Springbok Nude Girls, is the 2004 Sama award winner for best rock album. Watershed has emerged as one of the most commercially successful SA rock bands in the last five years, while Wonderboom has played extensively locally and internationally. Tickets cost R80.
Africa Unites at the Turbine Hall in Newtown from 8pm till midnight on 3 September. African artists representing some countries in the Diaspora include Koffi Olimede, Cheikh Lo, Jabu Khanyile, Busi Mhlongo and Suthukazi Arosi. Tickets cost R150.
50 Cent For
Jozi at The Dome in Northgate from 8pm till midnight on 4 September. A concert featuring 50 Cent, Zola and Kabelo. 50 Cent first
made waves on the hip-hop scene in 1999 when he released the song "How To Rob"
that took verbal shots at all the big names in rap. Tickets are from R150.
Jazz on the Lake at Zoo Lake from 10am until 5pm on 5 September. This will be an all-day music concert, featuring The Trio of Nana Coyote, Steve Kekana and Joe Nina; Sakhile; Louis Mhlanga; Thandiswa Mazwai; Prince Kupi; Swazi Dlamini and Tribe. Entrance is free.
Arts Alive International Festival of Dance at The Dance Factory in Newtown on 3-5 September (Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm, Sunday at 2.30pm).
There will also be an innovative dance programme featuring Sylvia Glasser, Mxolisi George Khumalo, Sello Pesa and PJ Sabbagha. Tickets cost R25 to R50.
Biro by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine will be at the Market Theatre at 8pm on 4-5 September. This multi-media solo
performance piece is based on the true account of an HIV-positive African's journey through Uganda, Cuba and America. Tickets are R40.
Johnny Boskak is Feeling Funny at The Market Theatre at 7.30pm on 3-4 September. This acclaimed Grahamstown hit is a one-man tour-de-force showing off Greig Coetzee's writing and vocal delivery skills. Tickets are R40.
Visual Arts in the inner city will include CowParade and the Jo'burg Art
Bank at the Johannesburg Art Gallery from 10am to 4.30pm on 3-5 September.
There will also be activities at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre: These include the Naledi award-winning Big Band Blast, Harry Sideropoulos's spectacular musical starring Ian von Memerty, Ilse Klink and Jolette Odendaal, which will play at the Civic Theatre until 5 September.
The South African Ballet Theatre's Swan Lake will also be playing at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre during the course of the festival.
The Arts Alive Festival, now in its 13th year,
has huge potential and capacity to expand and grow as the premiere cultural event in both global and local terms.
Says organiser Nomahlubi Simamane: "In celebrating our 10 years of Democracy
and to effectively utilise the budget allocated to Arts Alive in 2004, we have shortened the duration of the programme from 10 to 4 days.
"The programme promises an incredible local and international line-up. We plan to turn Newtown into a cultural village over the four days and to contribute to the creation of a buzz within the inner city."
Booking for all events is at Computicket.
The City of Johannesburg is the host, main sponsor and key stakeholder of
the event.
Source: Arts Alive website
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Senegalese superstar Cheikh Lo makes another trip to Johannesburg's Newtown Cultural Precinct |
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