POSTPONED - Concerts in the Park: ZOLANI THE ONE WHO SINGS + THE FEMININE FORCE, PJ POWERS, YOUNGSTACPT & THE RUDIMENTALS

ABOUT

CONCERTS IN THE PARK Presents ZOLANI THE ONE WHO SINGS + THE FEMININE FORCE, PJ POWERS, YOUNGSTACPT & THE RUDIMENTALS

Join us from 10am on Sunday 12 March 2023 at the CBD’s favourite park and one-and-only band stand. Bring your friends, family, dogs and selves (no drinks) and let’s come together in De Waal Park with live music and safe and serene surroundings.

CONCERTS IN THE PARK rocks Cape Town’s live music scene, showcasing world-class local talent in the Mother City’s historical park – for everyone!

It’s about coming together – nation building – around community, around music, around nature.

In the competition of the local high school bands, the Waldorf School band will also be performing.

Kids under 13 have free entry - no ticket needed.

*** Please note NO ALCOHOL, glass or beverages are allowed to be brought into the event ***

_________________

ZOLANI THE ONE WHO SINGS + THE FEMININE FORCE

Former lead singer of the critically acclaimed pan-African supergroup Freshlyground, Zolani Mahola is The One Who Sings. The band was together for 17 years and produced 6 albums and most famously collaborated with Shakira on the song “Waka Waka” in 2010 and is known for uniting audiences across the world across boundaries of race, age or gender. In her work with Freshlyground, Mahola has shared and opened stages for greats such as Stevie Wonder, Hugh Masekela, Shakira, Johnny Clegg, BB King and many others.

In 2019 she officially announced the launch of her solo career as a musician, storyteller and public speaker. In her own words: “Our world is changing. The old stories have worn thin. We are telling new stories now. We are creating new realities: ones which inspire and give us true power.”

The beginning of 2020 saw her  collaborate with Grammy Award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma and October 2020 saw her share a bill with legendary musician  Dave Matthews. She also released the anthemic and patriotic song “Because We Are” with long-time collaborator Aron Ha’Levi. The song saw the feature of over 30 artists across the South African music scene, including legends and popular artists such as Yvonne Chaka Chaka, J Something, Karen Zoid, Amanda Black, Vusi Mahlasela, Arno Carstens, Francois Van Coke to name but a few.

Mahola won the prestigious Fleur Du Cap award as “Best Actress” for her 2019 self-written critically acclaimed one woman play based on her life entitled “The One Who Sings. November 2020 saw her stage the multimedia work “You Need To Say It” at the Baxter theatre in Cape Town.  The show included elements from Mahola’s debut solo album entitled “Thetha Mama” which was released in November of 2021. The album won best produced album this August at the South African Music awards and The One Who Sings is currently working on a follow-up album and three upcoming film projects for release late 2023 and 2024 respectively.

The Feminine Force is a roving band of femme musicians led by the pint-sized powerhouse that is The One Who Sings AKA Zolani Mahola. The band is her womb-child after the end of a highly successful 17-year partnership with her previous outfit: the internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning pan-African supergroup Freshlyground. The Feminine Force is what you hear and feel when women - or those socialized as femme people - gather to sing together, to grieve together and to joyously celebrate the exhilarating heartbreak that is life. Stylistically and intrinsically non-binary, the music is at once uplifting, sacred, rocking and deeply rooted in the indigenous feminine force of our land eMzantsi.

The music is written by The One Who Sings and is expressed by the highly skilled and impassioned band in six part harmony. It is fueled by folk guitars and powerful traditional Xhosa instruments. The band includes queer African instrumentalist, percussionist, marimba maker, songwriter, and singer Sky Dladla. Cal Thompson is a highly accomplished bass player and pianist, music education pioneer and founder of the Mobile Music Academy. Genevieve Lee studied opera at UCT music college and a student of the Amazonian tribe Huni Kuin’s traditional medixine music. Another talented roving member of the collective is Ntombe Halam, a recent graduate at UCT Music College in African music. Chante Phillips is an acolyte of the great Mozambican drumming legend Frank Paco and fiercely leads the bands rhythm section.

Zolani Mahola is passionate about children and youth as well as the natural world and our undeniable connection to it. As such she is an ambassador for the Seachange Project which released the ground-breaking documentary “My Octopus Teacher”.  The team which produced the Oscar award-winning film is currently working on a feature film on the artist based on her connection to the ocean.  She sits on the board of Zip Zap Circus School which empowers children of all walks of life with essential life skills. She is an the ambassador for the Morris Isaacson Centre for Music in the Johannesburg township of Soweto where music education is used as a tool to foster self-belief whilst creating world-class classically trained musicians in the process. She has also recently taken on ambassadorship for the Earthchild Project - an NPO which uses yoga, mindfulness and connection to nature to nurture children from under-resourced communities.

_________________

PJ POWERS

South African music legend PJ Powers “Thandeka” is an award winning musician with 12 gold discs, four platinum and a gold CD. Her career started in 1980s as the lead singer of Hotline, and her solo career flourished during the 1990s and 2000s with hits such as “There is Answer”, “Feel So Strong”, “Jabulani”, “You’re So Good To Me” & “World in Union” which has become an iconic rugby world cup song.

Her most recent hits include chart topping singles such as ‘Destiny*, *Stay* and a rework of There is An Answer*, a collaboration with Sfiso Ncwane. PJ also teamed up to sing a hip hop version of “Jabulani” with HHP (Hip Hop Pantsula) in 2010. In April 2017 PJ produced, re-recorded and released “Home to Africa”, a chart topping collaboration with Ugandan RnB artists Radio & Weazel in Uganda and South Africa.

PJ Powers has shared the stage with many local and international stars such as Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel, Hugh Masekela, Sibongile Khumalo, the Mahotella Queens, Youssou N Dour, Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte and more recently The Corrs & Mike and the Mechanics.

She has also performed for Queen Elizabeth of England, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands as well as collaborating with Yvonne Chaka Chaka and M’du Masilela on an international United Nations music video. In 2003 she was asked to write the official 85th birthday song for President Mandela, which she sang to him and a host of luminaries such as Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton and many other world leaders and presidents

during the international broadcast.

PJ Powers has received a number of honours and awards over the duration of her career. PJ has received the award for Peace and Reconciliation, the Bull and Bear awarded by the JSE, The SOS Humanitarian Award, The Luminary Award presented to her by Michael House, The Living Legends Award and the Top 100 Outstanding South Africans award to name but a few.

_________________

YOUNGSTACPT

With 30 mixtapes, 2 albums, numerous EPs and multiple accolades under his belt, Wynberg boy Riyadh Roberts, better known as YoungstaCPT, has been regarded as one of the most important South African emcees of his generation since launching his career in 2010. He describes his music as quintessentially ‘Cape Town’ and there’s no doubt that his music aptly captures the spirit of aspects of the Mother City.

His achievements are multifold: South African Music Awards Nominee in 2020, Album and Music Video of the Year at the SA Hip Hop Awards in 2019, Mixtape of the Year at Slikour Awards in 2018 and Lyricist of the Year in 2017. Apart from livening up the local music scene in Cape Town and South Africa, YoungstaCPT has toured extensively further afield to Australia, Switzerland, Dubai and Namibia. He’s opened the stage for numerous international acts, like Lil Wayne, Meek Mil and Nas.

_________________

THE RUDIMENTALS are a 10-member musical outfit from Cape Town, South Africa, known for their explosive live performances.

The band finds their inspiration from a wide range of musical genres, including roots reggae, ska, dub, hip-hop and electronic music. Over the years, they have had multiple successful releases and toured extensively, winning fans and critical acclaim with their catchy hooks, upbeat rhythms, and positive message. The band is proudly Capetonian made up of diverse cultures and nationalities including Zimbabwean, Jamaican, American, Italian and of course South African. This is a big part of their unique sound. There have been many changes in style over the years, but they have always kept true to their music and good vibes. The band has been dynamic in embracing popular musical styles and has incorporated them to remarkable success earning a 5fm no.1 Top 40 followed by no.2 on the

same chart 3 months later.

The Rudimentals have performed alongside The Wailers and UB40, Lucky Dube, Johnny Clegg, Freshly Ground and Mango Groove.

_________________

On the day the quaint bandstand under the trees of De Waal Park will be warmed up by the youthful sounds of the super talented WALDORF SCHOOL BAND.

DIRECTIONS