Developing musicians will quite literally take to the stage at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre this December, January and February, in a new-format series of Take the Stage performances at the V&A Waterfront.
Run as a competition previously, the 2015/16 Take the Stage programme takes a more relaxed approach, focusing on providing a platform for emerging South African musicians and musical ensembles to showcase their talent.
Held on weekends until the end of February, V&A Waterfront visitors can look forward to rocking, popping, jazzing entertainment for months to come.
ISO: Friday, 18 December 2015
Pop rock band ISO will perform at the V&A Amphitheatre as part of the Waterfront’s Take the Stage series on Friday, 18 December 2015 from 7 to 8pm. ISO’s impressive live performances often incorporate advanced sound and lighting technologies, enhancing their unique sound in a manner that has brought them critical praise. Their staggering local and international evolution puts ISO a step ahead of the rest.
Cherry Vynil: Friday, 1 January 2016
New Year’s Day at the V&A Waterfront welcomes Cherry Vynil, a talented Cape Town–based band, to the Amphitheatre stage in the first Take the Stage performance of 2016. Known around town for their regular performances at local hotspots such as Zula Bar and Jackson Hall, Cherry Vynil will perform some of their most popular songs, including those from their debut album, Busking in Cape Town, from 7 to 8pm.
Early Hours & Deslynn: Sunday, 3 January 2016
Two familiar local musical acts take to the stage at the V&A Amphitheatre on Sunday, 3 January, to keep spirits lifted in the New Year. First up from 5.30pm is Deslynn Malotana (popularly known as just Deslynn), a locally-known young singer-songwriter. From her early years playing the recorder and singing at her local church, Deslynn later enrolled at the Campus of Performance Arts in Cape Town, honing her vocal abilities to an impressive end.
Following on at 7pm is Early Hours, a young four-piece band from Cape Town that is known for its fresh blend of Brit-pop and Afro-rock, and has opened the V&A Waterfront’s New Year’s Eve performance line-up in previous years.
Cardboard Carousel & the Josh Hawks Band: Saturday, 9 January 2016
Musical duo Cardboard Carousel makes their debut at the V&A Waterfront on Saturday, 9 January, opening for the Josh Hawks Band at 5.30pm. UK-born Richard and Calliopi Dawson met and grew up together in South Africa, and will return to South Africa after an extensive stint playing around South East England. Their indie-folk sound, which is characterised by beautiful melodies and smooth harmonies, is born of their eclectic, international roots.
Freshlyground bass player Josh Hawks, long-time Johnny Clegg Band drummer Barry van Zyl, and talented guitarist Chris Bakalanga have joined forces to form an impressive new power-act known as the Josh Hawks Band. Performing at the V&A Amphitheatre on Saturday, 9 January from 7 to 8pm, the band will entertain audiences with a mixture of sounds from Pan African Worldbeat and electronica, to punk and classic Beatles-like rock n roll.
Gerald Clark: Friday, 5 February 2016
Accompanied by a band, Gerald Clark will perform his signature mix of acoustic blues and love songs, with a dash of folk sounds, at the V&A Amphitheatre on Friday, 5 February from 7 to 8pm. Clark’s performances merge low-down, old-school blues with a fresh style of beautiful Afrikaans love songs, creating a distinct sound that he has carried as far abroad as Europe, and into his debut album, Sweepslag.
Jo Kunnuji Experiment: Saturday, 20 February 2016
The season’s final Take the Stage performance belongs to none other than the Jo Kunnuji Experiment, which will perform at the V&A Amphitheatre on Saturday, 20 February, from 7 to 8pm. Joseph Kunnuji’s search for a new sound has led to blends of jazz harmony, African rhythms, and Ogu music (among other styles) for the Jo Kunnuji Experiment, which currently consists of a vocalist, four-man horns section, and a rhythm section consisting of piano, drums and double bass.
