Star-studded music shows
16 May 2013
Estelle Sinkins
FRESH from winning three South African Music Awards (Samas) for her debut album, Due Drop Deluxe, Toya Delazy will be performing at this year’s Royal Show student concert at 6.30 pm on May 25.
Delazy, who has just been nominated for a BET award for best international act, took home the awards for newcomer of the year and best pop album at the Samas, held in Sun City on May 11. Jax Panix scooped the best producer award for his work on her album.
The singer has enjoyed a string of hits with songs like Heart, Pump It On and Love is in the Air since she burst onto the local music scene in 2012.
Sharing the stage with Delazy at Pietermaritzburg’s Royal Showgrounds, will be eclectic rockers Lonehill Estate (Gangstar, Technoband, DAANS! and Zombie Apocalypse) and The Graeme Watkins Project (Music Affair, Bloodshot Eyes and Fight When We’re Young).
These three acts are among a host of musicians headed to the city to perform at the Royal Show this year.
On May 24, you can catch singer-songwriter and 2009 Idols’ winner Jason Hartman and maskandi star Thokozani Langa, also known as “uSomnandi”, and winner of a Sama and a South African Traditional Music Award (Satma) for best maskandi song in 2010, at the Royal Show’s official opening ceremony.
During the event, which starts at 5 pm, Pietermaritzburg’s 175th anniversary celebrations will be formally launched.
In addition to the musicians, visitors can look forward to an aerobatic display by Eqstra Flying Lions, demonstrations by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and a celebratory fireworks display.
Classical music fans should diarise 11 am on May 26 for the Royal Symphony Concert in the main arena, featuring the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists soprano Zanne Stapelberg, baritone Federico Freschi and guitarist James Grace.
It will be followed at 2.30 pm by the RSG concert, featuring 2010 Idols’ winner Elvis Blue, who won a 2013 Sama for his album, Journey, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Nadine and Ray Dylan.
On June 1 at 6 pm, Bollywood fans can enjoy the Radio Hindvani Royal Bollywood Extravaganza. Organised by Tansen Nepaul, the event will feature Hoosen Vally, one of SA’s most respected singers, composers and film actors, Bollywood cabaret artists Oriental Fire and the crazy duo, Vee Gani and Anesh Dusrath, from the Tamasha aur Masti show.
The Royal Show closes on June 2, with the annual Ukhozi FM concert, which starts at 10 am.
Other entertainment highlights include:
• an international tent-pegging competition between teams from SA and Pakistan;
• the Eqstra Flying Lions aerobatic demonstrations;
• skydiving stunts by SANDF paratroopers, demonstrations by the SANDF Navy drill team and performances by the SANDF military band;
• an FMX motorbike demonstration, incorporating stunts never been seen in SA, and performances from the Pro Rally motor vehicle drifting team; and
• dog agility championships and a host of equestrian competitions.
Away from the main arena, visitors to the Royal Show will be able to visit KZN’s largest funfair, halls filled with exhibitors, and the cattle and sheep arenas, where four national competitions will take place for the Angus, Ile de France, Hampshire Down and Suffolk breeds.
Entry to the show is R50 for adults, and R35 for pensioners and children under 12. A special entry of R35 per person applies on May 29.
• For more on the Royal Show, see the official programme and the leisure section of Weekend Witness on Saturday.
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