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Published by KayEye Publication (pty) Ltd. Printed by Sun Media. MD: Nick Kruger, Editor: Danielle Illman. Content Coordinator: Kirstin Geldenhuys.
DISCLAIMER: No part of Urban Edge Mag may be reproduced or transmitted electronically without the written consent of KayEye Publishing (pty) Ltd. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of KayEye Publishing (pty) Ltd, its management, editor, or advertisers. Images not credited are used in fair use. Images credited where used with a creative commons license for attribution
Contents
WHATS BEYOND THIS PAGE
“Local is lekker if it is LEKKER not just because it’s local.”
“The excitement builds as the doors begin to open...” - pg 21
- pg 09
image by Adriaan Louw
Is Local Really Lekker, or is it just a phase forced onto us by various tourism campaigns? This is a hot topic we’ve approached with this issue – if we were to take away the stunning beaches and coastal roads, glorious gardens and notlong-forgotten ‘claims to fame’, would Cape Town still be the beautiful destination city we’re so regularly reminded of? Well, I’ll leave that answer to you, but to give you a little nudge in the right direction, we’ve got some great reads on the debate. From Lekker Local Trends in The Trend Report, to Top Ten Lekker Local Specials, there’s a little something for everyone. We feature impressive electro-pop group GoodLuck, and we agree with them, “Local is lekker if it is LEKKER not just because it’s local.” Our fashion argument is also definitely worth a read, as we offer the debate to international and local fashion buying. We’ve got some great music pieces to look out for, including reviews of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and The Parlotones and an impressive profile on 21 year old photographer Kent Andreasen. Our ‘Re-Inventing South African Classics’ recipes will have you drooling. Also, with such a popular theme last issue (How to reduce your carbon footprint), we’re very excited to have The Eco Diva Column in the coming issues – Nicole Sherwin, founder of The Green Lounge Experience and editor of Simply Green Magazine. She takes us through 5 steps on how to live a more sustainable life without losing a luxury lifestyle. This issue is an exciting read, and we promise many more to come! Thanks to all our collaborators for giving us one of the best issues so far. We’re massively amped for the journey that lies ahead.
EDGE CONTENTS
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- pg 28
“There can be no sympathy for these selfinflicted wounds; in fact skaters are probably masochists…”
image by Kent Andreasen
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Regulars
Features CT JAZZ FEST
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INTERVIEW: GOODLUCK
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TOP TEN LEKKER LOCAL SPECIALS
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REVIEW: CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH
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ARTIST PROFILE: TWITCHSTARR
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PHOTOGRAPHER: KENT ANDREASEN
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FEAR AND LOATHING IN YOUR ‘HOOD
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COLLABORATORS OPINION NEWS/ INTEREST TREND REPORT HEALTH/ BEAUTY FASHION EVENTS EVERSON’S CIDER GIG GUIDE REVIEWS MUSIC TRAVEL FOOD CHARITY MAY 2012
4 5 6 7 12 13 16 18 20 24 30 31 34
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sma Kelly ThuynPIECES: Review: Avicii (pg20)
ur
Meet o
COLLABORATORS
ond Angelique RedmPIECES: Opinion: ‘Is Local
Really Lekker’ (pg5), ‘The Most Sincere Form Of Mutilation’ (pg5), Music: ‘The Stellas’ (pg25). IS LOCAL LEKKER?: Local is lekker, check out why in my opinion column. GET IN TOUCH: angelique.redmond.1986@ gmail.com
n Grace McMahoPIECES: Trend Report:
‘Lekker Local Trends’ (pg7), Artist Profile: Bboy TwitchStar (pg26) IS LOCAL LEKKER?: “Lovin’ how Cape Town is seeing a rise in cyclists, reducing our cities carbon footprint and aligning it with the world when it comes to green transportation initiatives. It’s the first step towards a greener city, plus its a fun way to get around the city.” GET IN TOUCH: consumethis.co.za, @ trendytitbits, LinkedIn: Grace M Mcmahon
Jackie Cockshott
PIECES: Music: ‘The Parlotones’ (pg24) IS LOCAL LEKKER?: “Table Mountain, one of the new & wonders of the world...need i say more?”
GET IN TOUCH: @onlyjacqui, gilmoregirlworks. co.nr, facebook.com/gilmoregirlworksphotos
uizen Janine OosthPIECES: Review: ‘Karma’
(pg20) IS LOCAL LEKKER?: “Of course local is lekker. If you disgree, you’re in the wrong city, or you’ve never experienced winter abroad.” GET IN TOUCH: janineoosthuizen7@gmail.com
hoeven Katherine VerPIECES: Fashion: ‘Lekker
Fashion’ (pg15) IS LOCAL LEKKER?: Yes! Our diversity and local talent is something we should cherish everyday! GET IN TOUCH: verkat01@ gmail.com
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IS LOCAL LEKKER?: “Definitely! If you’ve experienced the “gees” during a Stormers game at Newlands - you”ll understand why!” GET IN TOUCH: kellythuynsma10@gmail.com, @kellythuynsma
Kimberleigh Muller
PIECES: News/Interest: ‘Data For The Nation (pg6) IS LOCAL LEKKER?: “I’m torn. There are certain things that should be proudly South African forever, and some to which I shout IMPORT PLEASE! But... nothing on earth tastes like local food! The flavours melt into each other like our fantastic rainbow nation” GET IN TOUCH: flutterbybabybutterfly@gmail. com, kimbochops.blogspot.com, @kimbelina87
Melissa KellyPIECES: Music: GoodLuck
(pg9), Louise Carver (pg22), Parlotones (pg24) IS LOCAL LEKKER?: “We as locals to Cape Town & South Africa have some of the most beautiful opportunities, places, people and artists of all trades, we should be proud of this & support this in full force. local is more than ‘lekker’ - its a privilege.” GET IN TOUCH: @iammelkel, gilmoregirlworks. co.nr, facebook.com/gilmoregirlworksphotos
Robert VolkerPIECES: Review: ‘Clap Your
Hands Say Yeah’ (pg21) IS LOCAL LEKKER?: “...You can respect anyone who makes an effort to performand entertain. There are some great acts in South Africa and they inspire new brands to achieve and create. South Africa also allows people to celebrate their culture” GET IN TOUCH: roberthvolker@gmail.com
Robyn Jacka PIECES: Food (pg31)
IS LOCAL LEKKER?: “We are able to experience a world of different cultures and cuisines in our backyard! “ GET IN TOUCH: robynjacka@ hotmail.com
llardice Seamus APIECES: Sports: ‘Fear and
Loathing In The ‘Hood’ (pg32) I’m currently in my second year of a Masters project focusing on Student Preparedness for Academic Writing in the English Department at Stellenbosch University. seamusallardice@hotmail.com
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OUR TEAM
Nick Kruger MANAGING DIRECTOR
IS LOCAL LEKKER?: We all come from somewhere, and one should always be proud of their local heritage. GET IN TOUCH: nick@ urbanedgemag.com, (021) 821 9896,
an Danielle IllmEDITOR
IS LOCAL LEKKER?: There’s a lot of lekker exciting things happening in South Africa in the next few years - a very exciting time to be living here! But I also encourage travelling - it’s only by stepping out of your own country that you realise just how amazing South Africa really is! GET IN TOUCH: dani@urbanedgemag.com, (021) 821 9896, @danzibaar
enhuys Kirstin GeldCONTENT COORDINATOR
PIECES: Fashion Section (pg13-15), Photographer Interview: (pg28-29), Food Section (pg31) IS LOCAL LEKKER?: “South Africa is truly an emerging nation, we are able to learn from the developed world’s mistakes, by adapting them an implementing them to an extreme point of opportunity” GET IN TOUCH: kirstin@urbanedgemag.com
How To
CONTACT US
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EDGE OPINION
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THE MOST SINCERE FORM OF MUTILATION
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder or beauty is only skin deep. These popular phrases seem to have no place in today’s modern world. With the large emphasis that is placed on youth and beauty having grown and spawned an industry where mutilating yourself is common practice, I am of course referring to plastic surgery. words Angelique Redmond
{ IS LOCAL REALLY LEKKER? } Cape Town, also affectionately known as the mother city, but how lekker is it being a local yokal here? Is Cape Town a great place to live when you take away the beach and the ocean and the breath taking views? My answer is yes. words Angelique Redmond
The reason why I say yes is easy, location aside, Cape Town does still boast a friendly city, where people are happy to help and take an interest in their fellow human beings. And with a range of diverse and wonderful people making up this city, tolerance is everyone’s right, and while no one has a perfect formula I think ours is almost there. People may mock about the hippies and the laid back lifestyle but it’s very true, we are by nature laid back and easy going and it shows in the demeanor of the inhabitants who are happy to let everyone simply be. One very large reason I say this is a show I watched very recently featuring Louis Theroux and America’s Most Hated Family, the Westborough Church, a blight even in America where the 1st amendment keeps many bigots warm in their blanket of self content and hatred for people they see as different, and while every country has haters, these people take the cake. Their level of bashing on anyone, any religion and any culture that is not theirs was an eye opener, as they picketed soldiers killed in Iraq’s funerals spreading their message that God celebrates death and it is his judgment for a slew of sins, it made me sick that they belonged to the same race of species. To live in a city that not only tolerates but also celebrates people’s differences and their uniqueness, whether you are gay, straight, pink or purple, is phenomenal. Cape Town is not just the mother city but also the city that does not judge. During my time as a student in Cape Town I really saw how true that was, people reached out beyond differences, became friends made lasting bonds, no matter their colour or sexual orientation. So when people ask me if local is lekker, I don’t tell them about the beaches, or the crime rate, about the mountain views or the nightlife. I say yes, local is lekker because Cape Town is a plethora of difference and we celebrate it.
The statistics in America provide a mirror for South Africa, where no official stats exist, with over 12 million procedures performed, the most popular include liposuction, boob jobs and botox. 91% of all procedures were performed by women and 9% by men. So when did society start to value beauty above all else? Perhaps when TV began to promote plastic surgery, with shows that show and actively promote the idea of plastic surgery. Nip/Tuck, Extreme Makeover, Dr 90210, all these shows promote the idea that in order to improve your life and be beautiful you must submit to the knife. Google plastic surgery and 108,000,000 results are returned in 9 seconds. And these days you can travel to countries that tout themselves as a Medical Tourist Destination, for less expensive plastic surgery and a beautiful place to recover. So do we blame TV or pop culture perhaps with the superfluous images of celebrities airbrushed on covers, celebrities who seem never to age and have the all too noticeable frozen smile, which denotes botox. Or do we look at the fact that we live in a society that values appearance above all? Would you take a car that is in perfect condition, beat the hell out of it with a baseball bat in order to change the colour? I am guessing probably not. So why have pieces of your flesh cut open, stuffed with saline bags and endure pain and the possibility of deformity or infection, to fix something that was fine to start with? While I recognize that the decision to undergo plastic surgery is a very personal one, I wonder how many people know that plastic surgery first began to fix genuine problems such as cleft pallets, disfiguration and burns? Now you can have bigger boobs, a straight nose, lift your eyelids, sculpt your vagina, buttock implants and botox. An interesting fact about botox, Botulinum toxin A is the active ingredient of Botox injections. This is a neurotoxin made by Clostridium botulinum. The toxin is known for its ability to attack the nervous system: it can cause paralysis, and even death. Physical Beauty really is only skin deep and just as society worships beauty now, so too did they once worship mythical beings and gods. Perhaps as we continue to change and adapt people will start to value what is on the inside more than the outside. MAY 2012
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CAPE TOWN
surpasses 250 000 facebook fans
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DATA FOR THE NATION
words Kimberleigh Muller
The Cape Town fan page allows residents and visitors to share their favourite Mother City experiences, photos and videos, whilst Cape Town Tourism shares advice about where to go and what to do, as well as great deals on Cape Town activities; having recently partnered with collective-buying site UbuntuDeal. According to social media and digital analytics company Social Bakers, I Cape Town gains momentum in the digital brand space with a growth rate of just over 2 000 Facebook fans per month. JoburgRSA has 117 Facebook followers, Dublin has 8 856 followers and Auckland, New Zealand has 85 213 Facebook followers. Cities such as London and Buenos Aires have in the region of 300 000 followers, whilst established urban tourism centres such as Berlin, Australia and New York have well over one million fans on Facebook. Cape Town Tourism recognises the power of social media in communicating personally and instantly with a diverse audience and the organisation continues
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to interact with fans on facebook and twitter, strengthening the brand through the use of social media networks. Skye Grove, Cape Town Tourism PR and Communications Manager, comments: “The online world has significantly changed the way that we gather information and make buying decisions when it comes to travel. Social media sites have become trusted sources of information as friends and family have begun advising on travel recommendations. In this day and age, it is absolutely vital to be active online and interacting with potential travellers, but at the same time these platforms are kept alive by our fans and creates an element of nostalgia for both South Africans abroad and for people who have visited us and would like to return one day. Cape Town Tourism is proud of our reputation as one of the most connected destination marketing organisations in the world and we are committed to being a leading voice in e-marketing and social media for the tourism industry in South Africa.”
Fraiche Food is more than just another recipe or cook book. It is a bouquet of sixty recipes from the restaurant Fraiche Ayres garnered along the road of discovery. Mother and son duo, Pam and Kyle Miller have produced a book that is at once intimate and revealing, while giving a fresh approach to traditional fare. The book is illustrated with delightful family photographs chronicling the journey, and that, coupled with Alain Proust’s superb food photography, makes this a great read.
As we move into the age of technology, the way we work, study and even live is daily affected. From Facebook and Twitter to more business orientated social network sites like Linked In and Bizcommunity, our world is fast becoming digital. And the only way these websites can make millions of dollars in profit each year is through their databases. For those who are wet behind the ears, data is the foundation of the very large and layered economy we live in. Every direct mail you receive, every spam email, every MMS telling you that you’ve won an extraor-dinary prize – is thanks to data solutions. Now before you think of data providers as the menace of society, think about this: how did you find that long-lost friend on Facebook? How did Google know exactly where to go when you searched for Justin Bieber? How did your mom get that call offering her a contract phone? That’s right. Data. Data solutions companies spend their time compiling information based on things like the census, social network new comers, RSS feeds and even fashion and business trends. And the corporate world pays dearly to access this information. Take your shoes for example. Who said they were cool and where did you get them? On a regular basis, scouts are sent to find out what’s trending. This info is then passed on to Nike, Reebok and the likes, and your trainers become available on the mainstream market – and become the centre of attention! In South Africa, firms such as SESHA have access to each individual’s ID or cell phone number and with it, they can track exactly what you’ve bought, written on your blog, and done digitally. It’s a scary thought, but absolutely necessary for police to track criminals, for example. Technology has no doubt changed the way we view life. The future seems bright and exciting with ‘the world at our fingertips’. But are we really willing to pay for this modern lifestyle with our privacy?
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LEKKER LOCAL TRENDS words Grace Mcmahon
HOME BREWED LEKKER GOLD
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AND THE LOCAL BEATS GO ON... Over the last year local acts like Die Antword and Goodluck have exploded onto the international music scene putting SA on the proverbial map. And now we are seeing a lot more totally local groups making a name for themselves, not only via Youtube but with a little help from the RedBull Sound Studio team. Already aiding a number of top SA acts, like genre busting groups Jamm Jarr and ill Skillz, reach the billboards. It seems they been the driving force behind the music industry’s transformation over the last year. Hopping on board the music mission, Hansa and Hennessy have also set about to innovate the industry with respective Music Academies and Roadshows nationwide. With so much vested interest in our local music maestros it would seem that there’s no limit to their success here and abroad. And we can’t wait to see more brands and backers hop on board the SA music development train, and help grow our creative musical talent to the full beauty of beats it’s so capable of reaching.
So it’s well known that Beer is as intertwined into our SA culture as Virgin and Vida. But until recently local brewers have been making golden waves across Draughts glasses across the country. Non so inspiring as the Cape Town crafted Brewers&Union. These Capetownian brew masters, and co-founder of both B&U and Vida e, have set about to develop authentic lagers that set the industry bench mark of fine quality and raw taste. They successfully have created a range of locally brewed beers that use the fresh Western Cape grown ingredients and are now available at most fine outlets and restaurants nationwide. A tasty extra is their innovatively designed site which further enhances their stylish approach of raw quality with a dash of Cape Town cheek. With local Beers brands on the rise this is the trend I know all the guys are “Cheersing” to.
THE EVER GROWING MOTHERCITY GREENISPHERE Cape Town is set to start looking a little greener, with locally engineered Roof-top gardens cropping-up all over the city. With other initiatives like the Parlotones induced Carbon free that has seen a new park sprout in the Jozi city centre creating a green space for the benefit of all. The Cape now sees another spritely initiative pop-up, the inspiring “Touching the Earth lightly”. They aim to create roof-top gardens throughout the city. Accompanied by environmentally friendly water solutions, free utensil and seed sheds set-up for all locals to use. Atop a select number of buildings throughout our city you’ll see them cropping up, so look out in the up and coming months, visit a booth on info in how to get your green thumbs going to feed the city for good. Check out www.touchingtheearthlightly.com
DESIGNER COFFEE WITH AN EXTRA SHOT OF INNOVATION Ten Years ago you couldn’t get your mitts on a cup of gourmet coffee if you tried, apart from Vida which is an internationally bound coffee success with a hint of Portuguese espresso Bar style, until the next link in the coffeevolution chain arrived, Origin. They revolutionized the local produce market by introducing African coffee authentic from bean origin to Baristas. Providing Cape Town and now hundreds of outlets nationally with passion roasted barista coffee everyday. Not only have they established the Speciality Coffee Association of South Africa (SCASA) and set-up the SA National Barista Champs further instilling a sense of honour to a developing locally roasted industry. They didn’t stop there, in true Cape entrepreneurial spirit they also created Nigiro a quaint Tea house glazed in glass and water that boasts a host of exotic and national teas to calm and tantalise all discerning palettes. They are true SA industry pioneers and its thanks to them that home grown and roasted coffee is on the up and available at over 500 outlets nationwide. MAY 2012
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CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL I have been lucky enough to attend two jazz festivals before this one - the first being in 2004 and the last being in 2009. I would say then, although not physically attending every year, I have tried to keep as up to date as possible of the artists who came through, as well as the feedback about the event. This year was my turn to be media- the voice of the festival. Nerves got me- I must say, for this gig. words and photography Yvette Adams
In 2004 , when I got to see the great This little observation obviously meant that South Africa as he swooned the crowd by Jonathan Butler live- I was amazed that the City of Cape Town, the event organizers playing the national anthem – one way one festival could bring me closer to artists and the Western Cape Department of to win our hearts! He had a number of one would never imagine meeting. In Education, amongst others, were investing crowd favourites like “You make me smile” 2009, I saw ‘The Stylistics’. 2012’s festival more money, tightening the rules and (according to him we’re the only crowd had me excited from the second I saw that upping their game – in all forms. People that sings to the song by making saxophone Dave Koz, James Ingram, Jill Scott (who were promised better event management noises) and of course the song he usually was later replaced by Lauren Hill), Hugh and great artists. Whether or not they does with Bebe Winans, “The Dance”. Masekela, Hip Hop Panstula (HHP) and delivered still remains a hot topic, issues Another artist to mention is a big one, numerous other ‘big names’. What was such as the tickets being sold out many Lauryn Hill. People were expecting drama – good drama, as in an also an attraction were younger explosive performance. After and also less established artists “Steve Dyer (South Africa) said that he loves an exhaustive wait, she made from around the world, not to her way onto the stage. The mention, various experimental music because it has the power to evoke sound was terrible and all variations of the genre itselfemotion in people and influence how they the songs were remixed to be live on stage. As one would think about certain things. Gatherings like the rock-a-fied. Whatever that is. imagine, or at least hope, I am I was a fan, back in the day, an avid jazz fan – and this I know CT International Jazz Festival are extremely but the bad media around is in my blood! The Jazz festival powerful in bringing people together. “ her performances had me means many different things worried. The odd times I for different people. For me, a could actually hear her voice, young jazz fanatic it meant an opportunity to meet and hear artists I’ve days before the event because numbers I could tell she still has it. listened to when I was really young, meet were to be limited (for safety reasons) I realised many things at The Cape Town the new artists in the undustry, and just get meant that many people could only attend International Jazz Festival 2012, but most importantly, that The Jazz Festival is not out and party (like goofy young people do). the free concert before the festival. For Cape Town and the country, it’s an Overall, the Jazz Festival was run well. Four only about Jazz - it’s a meeting of minds, a opportunity to show that we can host stages running various shows concurrently place where people of all walks of life gather these events, a form of foreign income - a great feat I must say. This also made to enjoy the good memories of the pastand also (hopefully) an opportunity to get seeing ALL the artists very difficult - one had reflect on the deep history of cultures and the people in the country all happy in one to choose who to see and hurry to get great pain passed- all this looking forward and place- forget about our troubles, as it were. front row views - if that’s your thing. If you embedding richness in the music and minds It was not surprising then, bearing all this don’t mind the crowds, the pushing and of the future. in mind that a WHOLE lot of people wanted shoving then hey - welcome to dreamland. this event to go down well, of course Dave Koz (saxophonist) was one artist I Deep. improving on the previous years’ events. wasn’t going to miss. This man really loves 08
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if you’re making it for a commercial business that you and your band mates want to make money from. If it’s a business then know exactly who your market is and how you’re going to appeal to them. Keep at it, you can make a name for yourself just by sticking at it long enough – the Parlotones are a great example of that with 15 years of obscurity before cracking the SA market! I don’t think there are many big obstacles for bands trying to break into the SA music scene other than self doubt in the local industry. Its such a small scene that you can pretty quickly (and I mean this in context to how long its takes overseas) achieve some success here. The only thing I think maybe dis-illusions some artists is that they fail to see whether their product actually has a market or not. You cant run a successful band and have full time members on pay-roll if you don’t have a big enough group of people who want to listen to and buy your music. I think (the internet) is a brilliant way of distributing music – and I think its only a short time before we figure out how to make it a financially viable format for the consumer and the industry. As far as illegal downloads go – the technology needs to improve and the way in which music is sold needs to become more attractive to a market who currently are quite happy to steal, before it can change.
The electro swing/popular house band ‘GoodLuck’ has been making some noticibly impressive waves in the South African music scene recently, with performances at The Cape Town International Jazz Fest and nominations at the MK Awards and The South African Music Awards. This is what they have to say. questions Melissa Kelly photography Hareth Tayem (harethtayem.com), Nicoll Photography, Adriaan Louw GoodLuck was offically born in early 2009 when we started the act as an electronic off-shoot of our (then) full time project jacSharp. Little did we know that GoodLuck would grow to become the main focus of our musical careers! We added Raiven as a full time member of the live act from 2009 as well. Three words to descirbe Goodluck would be Live Electronic Love. Our favourite gig thus far is a tough one as we have performed over 400 times in 3 years… But I would have to say a toss up between our first gig in Holland (Summer Jazz Festival) and Splashy Fen 2011. Our local inspirations first and foremost are the Fishies as they have inspired a live electronic trend which is starting to boom in this country, also great tight bands like Bed on Bricks, Prime Circle (who have an international level of performance), Crazy White Boy (for their great production), Pascal and Pearce… Wow I could go on for a long time! Advice for fellow bands would be to decide in the beginning if you are making music purely for yourself or
We’ve got a really exciting project that we’re developing for release at the end of the year – its based on the success of our Lucky Packet events we held at Trinity in Cape Town last year. In conjunction with our record label Just Music we are releasing a compilation album called the Lucky Packet MixTape – we’ve taken the old idea of making a mixtape for your girlfriend and taken it a step further – we’re remixing some of our favourite tracks to make the ultimate compilation of electronic music. Fortunately our label is connected to most of our favourite artists so we’ve compiled a list with them and its gonna be really awesome! We’ll be releasing the album along with the return of the Lucky Packet parties which will be syndicated around the country.
“Turn off the TV, get in your car and go explore the peninsula – its right next to us and we just seem to ignore the amazing spots that surround our city – through surfing adventures I’ve found loads of amazing “hidden gems” that overseas visitors would die for and we have access to them everyday!”
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Top Ten
LEKKER LOCAL SPECIALS
10. Spur Monday night 2 for 1
This one should actually be classified as a national special, but all of us look at Spur with fond memories. Very similar to The Ninja Turtles on Saturday morning KTV. I’m sure most of us would agree that we once sat in Spur as a young child on a birthday and had Chico the Clown sing to us with sparklers in full abundance. We therefore decided that the choice of a chicken or beef burger on a Monday night, accompanied by another burger free of charge should make our list. The nostalgia of a good Spur beef burger is enough to take us back.
6. Jamaica Me Crazy R17 cocktails all Saturday
Perhaps you’ve found a sure thing to a hangover cure, but the rest of us are still searching for that eluding med to make a Saturday worth living. One thing that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea is just getting back onto the booze train. If your remedy revolves around this tactic then there’s only one watering hole for you on a Saturday, Jamaica Me Crazy. Cocktails usually go down pretty easily, and the Caribbean themed venue churns them at for R17 each all day.
9. Trenchtown Twosdays
5. Clay Oven free beer
Trenchtown has to have one of the most awesome venues away from the seafront in the entire peninsula. It’s not so much the large size but just the relaxed ambient environment that the restaurant kicks out. Add some killer specials to all this and we’ve got a winner. Instead of Tuesdays we’ve got Twosdays, where you can get 2 chicken or beef burgers + chips + onion rings all for the tender price of R48. A scrumptious enticement for a Tuesday evening.
If you enjoy a jam on Long Street your sure to need some sustenance at some point in the night. Yes, eating is cheating, but the wise choice really is to line your stomach before you head out for a fun filled night of alcohol. A restaurant that is perfectly placed for all to get a night going is The Clay Oven. The pizzas are fabulous, and are accompanied by a free Castle Draught with every pizza bought on a Friday or Saturday. If your girlfriend doesn’t drink beer then you’ve scored.
8. Mondays & Tuesdays @ JAVA Cafe
4. Best Of Asia 2 for 1
Being a student town means Stellenbosch isn’t really short on meals made affordable. One place in the Winelands dorp that buzzes for nearly every hour its open is JAVA Cafe in Ryneveld Street, and it has some pretty mean specials. Mondays you buy a large pizza and you get the same pizza in a small size for an extra 10 bucks. Tuesdays are Chicken or Beef burger night for only R29.00. Definitely the place to graze in Stellenbosch on a Monday or Tuesday.
7. Comedy Special at Jou Ma Se Comedy Club
We all love a bit of comedy. With the hard work lecturers and management throw at us it’s important to have a good laugh every once in a while. Jou Ma Se Comedy Club, hosted at the River Club in Observatory, remains one of the most popular forms of entertainment from Cape Town to Stellenbosch around, and entrance sets you back R70, unless you’re a student where you receive entrance for the modest price of R35. Check it out for some of the best local stand up comics making waves in the scene.
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Seeing that people today are Sushi mad, there is no shortage of restaurants that specialise in the Japanese cuisine. Most of them provide specials so this might look like we’ve picked one out of a hat, but we must say that at this present time Sushi Zone on Kloof Street is heavily impressing us. The sushi pieces come out on a conveyer belt, and the deal is you buy 2 plates of any colour, and you get a third plate free. The standard prices are more that reasonable and the sushi tastes fantastic. Great place to get your sushi fix.
3. Saints Burger Joint 2 for 1 Thursdays
Like sushi, burgers are also a common meal which restaurants create specials around, although very few actually give a buy one get one free who aren’t part of a national franchise, and that’s why Saints makes our list. On Thursday nights you buy a classic burger and receive another one free of charge. Another fact we like here are the bottomless soda’s, although the fact that you’re saving on the meal might mean spending that little extra on alcohol. Did we mention that the burgers are delicious?
2. Beleza Breakfast
While some of us can’t stand the sight of food the morning after going all out, others would chase down a cow to get their hands on some grub. Breakfast very well could be the most important meal of the day, and Beleza provides a very hearty cooked breaky for the unbelievable price of R14. Bacon, 2 eggs, tomato and white toast goes down like a homesick mole when you’re craving it, and at R14 Beleza grabs our vote as the no. 1 breakfast spot.
1. Society Bistro & The Labia
As far as local goes, none get much more local than the Society Bistro on Orange Street, Central Cape Town. Not only is this a fantastic restaurant, but it is held in high regard by the locals, who consider it one of their gems. In very close proximity is the Labia Theatre, which might not have 3D facilities, but gives you a movie on a big screen. For R90 you get a splendid meal at Society and a movie at The Labia. Good evening out and as local as it gets.
EDGE HEALTH/BEAUTY
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THE ECO DIVA:
{ Cool, Green Tips From The Eco Diva A global citizen and entrepreneur, having worked and lived in England, South Africa and the USA, Nicole Sherwin has become a trailblazer in the areas of environmentalism, wellness and social responsibility inspiring people to make more conscious choices for a healthier, more sustainable life. Through her online tv show celebritysoul. com, Nicole interviews the ‘soul’ behind the stars to find out how they are making a difference in the world and inspiring others through their charity work and environmental activism. Nicole is also the editor of Simply Green Magazine, South Africa’s premier green lifestyle magazine and is also currently working on her first book: How to be an Eco Diva - a cool guide to living a more sustainable life without losing a luxury lifestyle. Nicole has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood and In Los Angeles in 2009, founded The Green Lounge Experience, a carbon-neutral Buddha Bar style eco ultra lounge expo and conference. Positioned as the most exclusive, trend-setting global green event, convening industry leaders, government officials, celebrities, international media, consumers and social entrepreneurs, Nicole is bringing the world to Cape Town in 2013 to identify clean technology, energy access and sustainable lifestyle opportunities for the African continent. 12
URBAN EDGE MAG
MAY 2012
GREEN TIPS /ECO-AWARENESS
}
Being environmentally aware does not have to be boring or tree hugger-esque. The good news is with new products, brands and inventions, there are many cool and fun ways to be green from energy saving to fashion, food and waste management to skincare, transportation to innovation and travel, not to mention cleaning and greening school and college campuses. We’ll discover all these areas each month, but first we’ll start with the basics. Eco-Awareness - “Eco” found in both economy and ecology, means household or family in ancient Greek, the basic unit of organized life. “Awareness” means a clear inner and outer perspective, consciousness and vision. Eco-awareness is a clear vision and perspective on what is implied to keep your house or organization in order and ready for the future. Getting started on the path to sustainability is first about awareness, and then comes action. So here are some simple tips to get you started at home:
1. PLUGS
4. CLEANING
Make sure you unplug all your plugs when you are not using them. This conserves energy and helps reduce your electricity bill.
Most conventional cleaning products have toxic chemicals in them that are not only harmful to you, but to your pets and the environment. Knowledge is power, so become aware of the ingredients in conventional cleaning products, research them and convert to organic, natural brands. There are many to choose from.
2. ENERGY Look at purchasing an energy-saving device. They not only help conserve the planet’s finite resources by decreasing overall electricity consumption, they also improve the efficiency and the power factor of the electricity consumed by appliances in your home, thus saving you money.
3.WASTE Have two different waste bins in your kitchen, one for recycling (glass, plastic, tin) and the second one for other waste products. Ensure the city collects your recycled bag or look for recycling depots to drop off your waste. There are also wonderful new inventions like indoor composting bins that come with what looks like sawdust but is made up of powerful enzymes that can break down food waste, paper and even bones. Then you have some healthy compost for your indoor or outdoor plants.
5.WATER Try to limit your showers to 3 minutes. It’s easy when you have a routine. When brushing teeth, don’t leave the taps running as this is wasteful. Install water saving devices on all your taps. They aerate the water as it passes through the nozzle. This can yield up to 50% savings of water used when compared to a traditional delivery system.
FOLLOW NICOLE @ecogreenlounge www.greenloungeexperience.com Get the ‘Simply Green Magazine’ app for iPad
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EDGE FASHION
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AT THE in STELLENBOSCH MARKET photography Kirstin Geldenhuys
s
Las n r e h t u o The S
News
MISSIBABA
OPENS CAPE TOWN SHOP
Following a hugely successful Missibaba pop up event at Kirsten Goss’ Holland Street shop the proudly South African designers realised there was a huge opportunity to join forces and open a Cape Town store. Missibaba designer, Chloe Townsend, has always dreamt of owning a ‘hole in the wall shop of delights’ and after time spent in London she realised just how well her and Goss’ pieces work together. The shop has found a home in bustling Bree Street, Cape Town, and the designers hope to have to open in the month of May. Watch this space! To shop online visit www.missibaba.com
Grey Bear
DILIGO ONLINE Having returned from London with a serious online shopping addiction Diligo co-founder Lauren Graham spotted a gap in the market for an online fashion retailer with a difference. After many a glass of Sauvignon Blanc with longtime friend Kimberley Wood, Diligo was born and the team set upon the task of making their dream a reality. Graham and Wood are exceptionally proud of Diligo’s move towards supporting local industry with their A/W 2012 collection. The team was thrilled when they realized that the style, design and quality of their garments improved after the switch from international to local suppliers while their pricing remained the same. All fabrics are sourced from local fabric wholesalers in Cape Town and Johannesburg and production takes place in Cape Town. To shop online visit www.diligo.co.za
MAY 2012
URBAN EDGE MAG
13
EDGE FASHION
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Equestrian
Belt Woolworths R180
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Felt Tote Bag Trenery R699
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Blouse JCrew R790
Hat Forever New $39.99
As we approach winter, this trend has shown its pretty little face again, due to its timeless nature.
Jacket Forever New $79.99
Handbag Mr Price R119.99
Boots Rage R479
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Jacket Mango £59.95
Gloves Forever New $39.99
Blouse Country Road R399
Shoes Shoe City R229.95 Pants Edgars R299
Jacket Country Road R1,799
Blouse Woolworths R499 Hat Woolworths R180
Jersey Forever New $69.99
TRENDS
Jeans Mr. Price R119.99
Androgynous
A clean-cut and classic look inspired by the strength and simplicity of a masculine wardrobe.
Pastels
Shorts bankfashion.co.uk R275
Although very much a Spring/Summer 2012 trend, these chalky tones can look fabulous layered in South Africa’s colder months too.
Necklace House of Harlow R355
Lovely-rite Clutch Missibaba R3,200
Blouse Woolworths R499 Blue Blouse Cheap Monday R315
Top Edgars R129
Tribal
Jersey Forever New $79.99
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URBAN EDGE MAG
MAY 2012
Show off a bit of colour with African and Aztec inspired prints, seen everywhere from Burberry to Donna Karan.
Shoes Zara £69.99
Shoes Topshop R505
Skirt Topshop R505
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EDGE FASHION
{ LEKKER FASHION } The local vs. international fashion buying argument words
g n i c u d intro
POLYVOR words Kirstin Geldenhuys
POLYVORE is the leading community website for online style, where users are empowered to discover their taste and set trends around the world. The site allows users to mix & match pictures from all over the web to create very creative, unique, stylish and artistic “sets” or pages. Trendsetters and shoppers alike come to POLYVORE to discover the hottest brands, products, trends and looks. POLYVORE appears on Time Magazine’s list of 50 best websites of 2011 and fastcompany.com’s 50 most innovative companies in 2012. The company was founded in 2007 by ex-Yahoo employees Pasha Sadri, Jianing Hu, and Guangwei Yuan. The current team consists of 7 former Yahoo and Google employees and is headquartered in Mountain View, CA, USA. POLYVORE has seen massive growth and venture capital from Benchmark Capital, DAG ventures, Harrison Metal and diversifiable financial services from Goldman Sachs. The site, which recently ended its first profitable year, attracts 13 million unique visitors each month – a 114 percent increase since January 2011 and reaches beyond the traffic of any magazine. Its users create more than 1.5 million “sets” each month, although many just come to browse the sets that others have created. The company collaborates with prominent brands such as Calvin Klein, Diane Von Furstenberg, Net-a-Porter, Gap, and Coach. Its user generated fashion campaigns have been judged by likes of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. It is obvious with the above background and study that POLYVORE is an extremely successful innovation with 13 million unique visitors each month! The founders saw the gap in the market and the window of opportunity and exploited it to its full extent. It appeals to men and women of all ages and tastes as the categories to browse and create under run from “Bohemian and Hipster” to “Vintage and Grunge”. You can further categorise your browsing experience by Trend, Occasion and Brand. The platform is user-friendly, so even the not-so-computer-literate person can enjoy its capabilities. It really turns the average “fashionista” into a fashion editor with absolute ease.
Katherine Verhoeven
From cheap, imported t-shirts to luxury Louis Vuitton handbags, South Africa’s clothing market has been flooded with foreign products in recent years. The well known American clothing giant Gap has even launched its first store in Johannesburg this March and plans to open many more in the coming months. With an increasingly saturated market, one has to wonder where Proudly South African brands will fit in. One of our major downfalls is that South African produced clothing is far too expensive for the most South Africans to be able to afford. This is why many people turn to cheaper, imported alternatives from places such as China whose output is much less expensive than ours is. This is because many manufacturers in South Africa do not have the machinery or technology to produce products at a fast rate. Another contributing factor is our labour laws. Because we cherish our workers rights, they are not subjected to the extreme working conditions that workers in China are subjected to. While this is great for the ethical treatment of labourers, it is not so great for the South African market that cannot compete with the prices of international retailers. This has never been more evident than with the recent uproar over the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s decision to use a Chinese clothing supplier, rather than a local one, to make the South African uniforms for the 2012 Olympic Games. This apparently was due to lack of sponsorship from South African brands. Chris Gilmour, an investment analyst at ABSA, says that the country’s wealth is distributed so unequally that there is not much left over for the fashion industry. On the other side of the of the scale, recently international luxury brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch have been looking to release stores in South Africa. This does not bode well for local retailers. According to market research, people see locally made clothing as being of poorer quality than upmarket international brands such as Gap. This is why, even though they may be selling for the same price, consumers will often choose globally established brands over local ones. South African companies are therefore competing either with inexpensive, low quality clothing from China or with overlyexposed, high quality foreign brands. This paints a grim picture for the country’s fashion industry. If we are going to make space in the market for Proudly South African clothing we must make it something truly unique to the African experience. We need to offer buyers something that no one else can. That is why brands such as 466 64 have been such a success. Through their charitable giving, novel designs and link to our heritage they have given us a reason to want to buy their products. In the future we hope to see local businesses becoming more innovative with their brands so that they too may have success. We love to see South African companies thrive because local truly is lekker!
MAY 2012
URBAN EDGE MAG
15
EDGE PHOTO DIARY
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{ PHOTO DIARY KDAY 31 March 2012 Photography: Danielle Illman
TOFFIE POP FESTIVAL
30 March - 01 April 2012 Photography: Kirstin Geldenhuys
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MAY 2012
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MARCH APRIL
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EDGE EVENTS
@Urban_Edge_Mag
MAY
LISTINGS
MARKETS PAN AFRICAN MARKET, Long Street, Every Friday CITY BOWL MARKET Hope Street, Every Saturday WELLNESS NATURAL AND ORGANIC MARKET Gardens, Every Saturday FRENCH MARKET Alliance Francaise, CBD, Every Friday NEIGHBOURGOODS MARKET Woodstock, Every Saturday BAY HARBOUR MARKET Hout Bay, 31 Harbour Road, Every Saturday, Sunday and Friday evenings BO-KAPP FOOD AND CRAFT MARKET Bo-Kaap Civic Centre, Whale Street, Every first Saturday of the month CAPE QUARTER VILLAGE MARKET The Square, Cape Quarter, Every Sunday 10am-3pm EARTH FAIR MARKET St. Georges Mall, CBD, Every Thursday, 11am-4pm BLUE BIRD GARAGE FOOD AND GOODS MARKET Muizenberg, Every Friday, 4pm-10pm CONSTANTIA WALDORF MARKET Constantia Waldorf School, Every Friday, 11:30am-3pm KIRSTENBOSCH CRAFT MARKET Kirstenbosch Stone Cottages, Last Sunday of Every Month, 9am-3pm WILLOWBRIDGE SLOW MARKET Willowbridge Lifestyle Centre, Every Saturday MILNERTON FLEA MARKET Marine Drive, Saturdays, Sundays 7am STELLENBOSCH FRESH GOODS MARKET Oude Libertas, Saturdays 9am-2pm BLAAUWKLIPPEN MARKET R44, Sundays 9am-3pm
THEATRE RUBY WAX-LOST IT Theatre On The Bay, Link Street, Camps Bay, 11-28 April DOODSNIKKE Baxter Flipside Theatre, Main Road, Rondebosch, 12 April-3 May, 7pm, R110pp LINE Little Theatre, Orange Street, 18-28 April, R80 BULLETS OVER BISHOPS LAVIS Golden Arrow Studio, Baxter Theatre, Main Road, Rondebosch, 23 April-12 May, 8:15pm, R90 KAT AND THE KINGS Fugard Theatre, cnr Harrington & Caledon Street, CBD, 1 May, 8pm, R100-R150 LA BOHEME Opera House, Artscape, DF Malan & Foreshore, 5,9,11,16 May, 7:30pm
COMEDY JOU MA SE COMEDY CLUB The River Club, Observatory, Thursdays, R70pp/R35pp students COMEDY ON LONG Zula Bar, Long Street, Mondays, R50pp/ R40pp members, R30pp students FUNNY BONES COMEDY CLUB Purple Turtle, Long Street, Tuesdays (9pm), R40pp COMEDY NIGHT The Armchair Theatre, Observatory, Sundays SOLI PHILANDER, ‘TAXI NIGHTS’ Kalk Bay Theatre, 52 Main Road, Kalk Bay, 18-23 & 2528 April, 8:30pm, R85 FUNNY BUSINESS Theatre on the Bay, Link Street, Camps Bay, 2 May-9 June, Tues-Fri 8pm, Sat 5pm & 8pm, R100-R160
OTHER ELVIS ROCK ‘N ROLL TRIBUTE Roxy Revue Bar, Grandwest Casino, 6 April-2 June, 8:30pm, R67pp DAVID BROMLEY ART EXHIBITION Everard Read Gallery, 3 Portswood Road, V&A Waterfront, 19 April-3 May, MonFri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-1pm, FREE TANISHA BHANA ‘TRANSIENCE’ EXHIBITION The Lovell Gallery, 139 Albert Road, Woodstock, 24 April-19 May, Tues-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-2pm FREE DECOREX CAPE TOWN CTICC, 26-29 April, Thurs, Fri, Sat, 10am-7pm, Sun, 10am-6pm, R65 SA CHEESE FESTIVAL Sandringham Farm, Stellenbosch, 27-30 April, 10am, R110 CONSTANTIA FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate, Spaanschemat River Road, 5-6 May, Fri 11am-9pm, Sat 11am5pm, R120 GET LAID MUSIC FESTIVAL West Coast Ostriche Farm, Van Schoorsdrif road, Philidelphia, 5 May, R150 GIPCA’S EXUBERANCE PROJECT UCT Hiddingh Campus, Orange Street, Gardens, 11-13 May CAPE TOWN MARIMBA FESTIVAL Baxter Theatre, Main Road, Rondebosch, 12 May, 7:45pm, R80 NEILL WRIGHT EXHIBITION The Lovell Gallery, 139 Albert Road, Woodstock, 22 May, TuesFri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-2pm, FREE DANCE: AFRICAN FOORPRINT Artscape Theatre, DF Malan & Foreshore, 21 May - 12 June, Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm and 8pm, Sun 6pm, R125-325 GOOD FOOD AND WINE SHOW Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, 24-27 May, 10am-8pm, R50-R95
Email your listings to info@ urbanedgemag.com
MAY 2012
URBAN EDGE MAG
17
27 APR
LEE GELDERBLOEM & CAN SKYLARK DOUBLE BILL MOJO, OBZ
THE CADILLACS – CCR TRIBUTE SHOW DORPSTRAAT TEATER, STEL
FAKING IT TRINITY, GREENPOINT
GRIMEGODS - DUBSTEPIN CAPETOWN CLUB AMBITION, EDWARD STREET, DURBANVILLE
JUNGALA FESTIVAL 2012 BUFFALO DRIFT, RUIGETVLEI FARM, GOUDA
30 APR
01 MAY
STUDENT NIGHT SPRINGBOK PUB
TUES
THE GODS OF METAL ZULA BAR, LONG STR
SIXGUN SESSIONS FEAT. THE RED UNDERGROUND + WITH DAWN + BARRACODE MERCURY, ZONNEBLOEM
2 FOR 1 NIGHT SPRINGBOK PUB, NEWLANDS
FLIRT.....TRAFFIC LIGHT PARTY TIGER TIGER, CLAREMONT
MON
KOMBAT FUDGE THE BRASS BELL, KALK BAY
“STAND UP” - AN EVENT IN SUPPORT OF RHINOPROTECT: fEAT THE WAILERS TRINITY, GREENPOINT
29 APR
“THEN AND NOW ENSEMBLE” IBUYAMBO MUSIC AND ART EXHIBITION CENTRE
SUN
THE HEAT PRESENTS RICARDO DA COSTA, DEAN FUEL, CHRIS JACK TRINITY, GREENPOINT
FANGTASIA MOJO, OBZ
LONESOME DAVE FERGUSON’S “ESCAPE TOWN TOUR” GRAND DADDY HOTEL, LONG STR
TONY COX LIVE THE MELTING POT
DISCOTHEQUE PRESENTS MARK KNIGHT THE ASSEMBLY, CBD
FRI
05 MAY
HOMEGROWN DRUM & BASS MERCURY, ZONNEBLOEM
HUNTER’S PRESENTS SCOUNDRELS (UK) THE ASSEMBLY, CBD
ORGANIK ~LOVE PROJECT~ OUTDOOR FESTIVAL *see facebook for details
ROCKING FOR RHINOS - THE HIGGINS FUND HILLCREST WINE ESTATE, DURBANVILLE
LIANDI FRANKEN DORPSTRAAT TEATER, STEL
SAT
DAVE FERGUSON THE MELTING POT, MUIZENB.
THE SURE THING THE DRAGON ROOM, CBD
MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS FEAT THE MYSTICCS, GOODNIGHT WEMBLEY, EASTERN ARCHES MERCURY, ZONNEBLOEM
MCCREE AND WILDLIFE SOCIETY OBVIOUZLY ARMCHAIR BACKPACKERS AND PUB, OBZ
10 MAY
11 MAY HOTEL IRIS AND JOSH ROXTON OBVIOUZLY ARMCHAIR BACKPACKERS AND PUB
BRANDON OCTOBER DORPSTRAAT TEATER, STEL
FRI
IT CAME FROM THE JUNGLE FEAT NISKERONE AND FRIENDS FICTION BAR, LONG STR
TECHNO OVER MATTER THE MELTING POT
JUG NIGHT SPRINGBOK PUB, NEWLANDS
THE BLUESTOWN SESSIONS MERCURY LIVE, ZONNEBLOEM
THURS
DUBSTEP, D&B, HIP HOP GANDALF’S, OBZ
LIVE BAND KAREOKE MOJO, OBZ
OPEN MIC NIGHT THE MELTING POT, MUIZENBURG
PSY-WEDNESDAYS BY URBAN DECAY IBUYAMBO, CBD
14 MAY
15 MAY
16 MAY SEE YOU NEXT WENESDAY THE ASSEMBLY, CBD
GRASS ROOTS ZULA BAR, LONG STR
WED
JAZZ NIGHTS TUESDAYS TRINITY, GREENPOINT
ACCOUSTIC TUESDAYS ARMCHAIR THEATRE, OBZ
F#CK THE RECESSION GANDALF’S, OBZ STUDENT NIGHT SPRINGBOK PUB, NEWLANDS
TUES
SENTIMENTAL MONDAYS ASOKA, GARDENS
MANIC MONDAYS AND SIXGUN SESSIONS MERCURY LIVE, ZONNEBLOEM
2 FOR 1 NIGHT SPRINGBOK PUB, NEWLANDS
AKOUSTIK SESSIONS PURPLE TURTLE, LONG STR
MON
19 MAY
SUN
20 MAY
FEZRAY AND THE LINTIL COLLECTIVE OBVIOUZLY ARMCHAIR BACKPACKERS AND PUB, OBZ
ExPeRiMeNtAl StOmPeRs III PSYBEROPTIX *see facebook for details
LIVE MUSIC @ HQ HQ RESTAURANT, CBD
LOOPED STAURDAYS THE LOOP NIGHTCLUB, CBD
CHRIS TOKALON & STEVE NEWMAN THE MELTING POT, MUIZENB.
LABYRINTH - PSY TRANCE TRINITY, GREENPOINT
SAT
CLAUDE COZENS JAZZ EXPERIENCE THE MELTING POT, MUIZENB.
MARION HOLM DORPSTRAAT TEATER, STEL.
HOMEGROWN COLLECTIVE MOJO, OBZ
28 APR
WED
ACCOUSTIC TUESDAYS ARMCHAIR THEATRE
EDUARD CAMPBELL DORPSTREET TEATER, STEL
THE BONE COLLECTORS + THE FUTURE PRIMITIVES + BEACH PARTY THE BRASS BELL, KALK BAY
TALESWAPPER + MILES SIEVWRIGHT ARMCHAIR THEATRE, OBZ
FREECULTURE MERCURY, ZONNEBLOEM
STATUS VODKA AND ROX ENERGY DRINK PRESENT A NIGHT OF FUN @ HANOVER STREET GRAND ARENA, GRAND WEST CASINO
DRESS TO IMPRESS WITH TAZZ ZEVOLI’S, SOUTHERN SUBURBS
03 MAY
04 MAY
SANDILE STOMP 2012 SANDILE’S REST, STUTTERHEIM
FRI
IT CAME FROM THE JUNGLE FEAT NISKERONE AND FRIENDS FICTION TECHNO OVER MATTER THE MELTING POT, MUIZENB.
SLUMBER PARTY AND LINGERIE RUNWAY SHOW TIGER TIGER, CLAREMONT
JUG NIGHT SPRINGBOK PUB, NEWLANDS
FREE THURSDAY DORPSTRAAT TEATER, STEL
THURS
COPYRIGHT (UK) FROM *DEFECTED 02 MAY IN THE HOUSE, HOSTED BY MICKAEL AGARLA GRASS ROOTS THE LOOP NIGHTCLUB ZULA BAR, LONG STR VIPARTY CRUISE WITH TUNE 4MIDABLE RAIDER AND BRUCE DORPSTRAAT TEATER, STEL RADDISON BLU, GRANGER BAY PSY-WEDNESDAYS BY URBAN STRATEGY 8.0 ORGASMATRON DECAY CLUB AMBITION, EDWARD STREET, IBUYAMBO, CBD DURBANVILLE EQUINOX WEDNESDAYS DEVASTATION vs DANSVILLE FICTION, LONG STR ZULA BAR, LONG STR
SAT
06 MAY
07 MAY
08 MAY
09 MAY
SEE YOU NEXT WEDNESDAY THE ASSEMBLY, CBD
GRASS ROOTS ZULA BAR, LONG STR
EQUINOX WEDNESDAYS FICTION BAR, LONG STREET
WED
F#CK THE RECISSION GANDALF’S, OBZ
STUDENT NIGHT SPRINGBOK PUB, NEWLANDS
ACCOUSTIC TUESDAYS ARMCHAIR THEATRE, OBZ
TUES
2 FOR 1 NIGHT SPRINGBOK PUB, NEWLANDS SENTIMENTAL MONDAYS ASOKA, GARDENS
MON
COLD TURKEY AMADODA’S, WOODSTOCK SUNDAY JAZZ TABLE BAY HOTEL CHRIS TOKALON & STEVE NEWMANTABLE BAY HOTEL THE MELTING POT, MUIZENB.
SUN
12 MAY
13 MAY
THE RIVERTONES (REGGAE) SOTANO, MOUILLE POINT
SUN
RUBADUB: DOCUMENT 1 “TAINTED LOVE EP TOUR” MERCURY LIVE, ZONNEBLOEM
THE RED UNDERGROUND AND BLACK DOG OBVIOUZLY ARMCHAIR BACKPACKERS AND PUB, OBZ
SAVANNA PRESENTS HELLO TECHNO FEAT. PHNTM TRINITY, GREENPOINT
MERI KENAZ THE MELTING POT, MUIZENB.
SAT
MOTHER CITY MOJO FEAT. JAMIE JUPITER AND CO. THE MELTING POT, MUIZENB.
MUTHA FM FRIDAYS @ LA VIE LA VIE, SEA POINT
FAKING IT TRINITY, GREENPOINT
MUNGUS FUNGUS PURPLE TURTLE, LONG STR
GREENPOP REFOREST FEST 2012 PLATBOS FOREST, NEAR GANSBAAI
PEACHY KEEN - EP LAUNCH MERCURY LIVE, ZONNEBLOEM
17 MAY
18 MAY
BLACK MOSCOW, WILD EASTERN ARCHES & THE SLEEPERS MERCURY, ZONNEBLOEM
MILES SIEVWRIGHT AND DAVE KNOWLES OBVIOUZLY ARMCHAIR PACKPACKERS AND PUB, OBZ MUNGUS FUNGUS PURPLE TURTLE, LONG STR THE SURE THING DRAGON ROOM, CBD FAKING IT TRINTY
FRI
JUG NIGHT SPRINGBOK PUB, NEWLANDS IT CAME FROM THE JUNGLE FICTION BAR, LONG STR
ACCOUSTIK SESSIONS MOJO, OBZ
THURSDAYS LADIES NIGHTS GANDALF’S, OBZ
THURS
STUDENT NIGHT THE LOOP NIGHTCLUB, CBD OPEN MIC NIGHT THE MELTING POT, MUIZENB. PSY-WEDNESDAYS BY URBAN DECAY IBUYAMBO, CBD EQUINOX WEDNESDAYS FICTION BAR, LONG STR
21 MAY
22 MAY
23 MAY
24 MAY OPEN MIC NIGHT MOJO, OBZ
THE BLUESTOWN SESSIONS MERCURY LIVE, ZONNEBLOEM
THURS
LIVE BAND KAREOKE MOJO, OBZ
OPEN MIC NIGHT THE MELTING POT, MUIZENB.
PSY-WEDNESDAYS BY URBAN DECAY IBUYAMBO, CBD
WED
CRIMSON HOUSE BLUES BAND MOJO, OBZ
ACCOUSTIC TUESDAYS ARMCHAIR THEATRE, OBZ
TUES
SENTIMENTAL MONDAYS ASOKA, GARDENS
2 FOR 1 NIGHT SPRINGBOK PUB, NEWLANDS
MON
CONCIOUS MARIMBA FUNDRAISING FOR GRAHAMSTOWN ARTS FESTIVAL THE MELTING POT, MUIZENB.
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EDGE REVIEWS
KARMA
words Janine Oosthuizen photography Andy Smith
11 April, Dorpstreet Teatre in Stellenbosch, hosted the lead singer and brain behind Henry Ate, KarmaAnn Swanepoel. A childhood favourite, Henry Ate’s ‘Just’ was one of my favourite songs and I’ve long wondered why they’ve been so quiet on the SA music scene! My first time at this very special venue, the small theatre was filled to capacity with Karma fans and many were curious to know what’s been keeping her so busy these past few years. Once she picked up her guitar and approached the mic to charm the crowd with her folksy acoustic sounds, it was quite clear that the stage is where this girl belongs. The source for her confidence and relaxed presence on stage is obvious once realising that she has been a performer for more than 15 years. Even though the combination of Karma’s unique voice and passionate guitar playing is mesmerizing, it’s really her songwriting-skills that make her remarkable. Not only can Karma play melodies that are very touching and at the same time uplifting, she is also a wordsmith in her own right and writes lyrics that every listener can relate to. Something I have to point out is the brilliant bass performance by Schalk Joubert. Although this is only the second time that Karma and Schalk have played together they ‘jelled’ together like astros and oreos in a McDonalds McFlurry. Karma shared some of her new material with the crowd - playing ‘Zero Miles’, which she wrote when she was homesick in America, and another new song called ‘Saturday’, which she wrote over a series of Saturdays. The gig obviously also included some old favorites like ‘Just’, ‘Henry’ and ‘Hey Mister – which her talented sister eagerly joined in on. Toward the end of the show, drummer Kevin Gibson and Schalk Joubert (bass) left the stage to allow the crowd to experience the unique bond between Karma and her guitar and it was quite clear that this truly is a talented lady that hopefully we haven’t heard the last of. 20
URBAN EDGE MAG
MAY 2012
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AVICII’S THUNDER CITY words Kelly Thuynsma photography Justin Williams After driving around for about 45 minutes in search of the venue we arrived at the huge hangar at Thunder City where we were greeted with familiar sounds of Pascal and Pearce - Partygoers dancing, celebrating and having the time of their lives. The atmosphere at Thunder City seemed somewhat explosive and overwhelming and immediately we forgot all about our distressful 45 minute adventure. The venue was faultless as it accommodated ample bars, food stalls and of course enough space for dancing and letting loose to the Swedish phenomenon and his supporting acts. It was extremely difficult finding fault since everything was working in full steam – the lighting and sound were very impressive and security was on top of their game.
“Words alone cannot explain the insanity of the evening and I’m sure I speak on behalf of everybody that attended” After scoping out the venue, we headed into the “party” area where we danced to the likes of Goldfish and DJ Fresh. I could not even begin to explain how amazing Fresh’s set was – the absolute perfect build up to Avicii! The 22 year old Swiss DJ/ Producer opened up with his ever-famous hit ‘Levels’, which got the crowd blazing with excitement along with the amiable pyrotechnics. Tim Bergling, known professionally as Avicii stated his music career at the age of 18, and was ranked sixth on DJ Magazines Top 100 DJ’s in 2011. There is no doubt that he is the man of the moment/ DJ of the now. His sweat-breaking beats got each person dancing, screaming and or singing along to the enjoyable and familiar sounds. Each track that was played entered like an explosion into the crowd – everybody went insane. Avicii’s set was impeccable and he continued for 40 minutes longer than scheduled, proving that he’s all about the music and the fans! I’m sorry to say, but if you’ve missed out on this one – you’ve missed out big time! Words alone cannot explain the insanity of the evening and I’m sure I speak on behalf of everybody that attended. I have to agree with Justin from City Lifer: Avicii really did bring the Thunder to Thunder City!
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SAYING YEAH
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EDGE REVIEWS
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words Robbie Volker photography Adriaan Louw
Clapping along to International Indie band ‘Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’ It’s Friday night and cars start arriving outside Wittebome Civic feel-good presence. One thing I really enjoy about Beach Party is Center in Wynberg just after 19:00. People begin to sit and stand they have very good choruses. Strong hooks prime their surferaround the steps. There is a light air of expectation as time moves rock melodies. Lead vocalist Danny Video puts on a very good towards 20:00. The venue is host to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s first performance. The band finished strong and did a good job of setting South African show. Initially the location seems a little misplaced. It a positive atmosphere for the rest of the night. sits at the edge of suburban houses, a bit of a distance from Town’s Spoek Mathambo was up next. His performance is highly energetic, nightlife. It almost reminds me of the old Cape Town gigs of the his confidence and presence on stage draws people in. The set mid 2000’s in school, church or town halls. The taxi’s and cars start was a bit rushed. This hampered the atmosphere slightly although pulling in and a ticket line gathers it did push the intensity. The at the door. The excitement builds strongest aspect of his set is “For the most part I am sure there weren’t as the doors begin to open but it is brief afro-gothic moments too many people for whom Clap Your Hands the only a steady hum that is forming of his dance hip hop. The amongst the crowd. Say Yeah is an all time favourite band, but for cover of ‘Control’ perhaps best All fears of inadequate venue captures this. everyone there, there was at least a sense of are completely put to rest the Now everyone was buzzing admiration and excitement...” moment you go inside. The from the Bos and Vodka venue looks completely engaging, special. The crowd gathered in anticipation of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The set began and along the roof hang large illuminated blocks branding “CLAP YOUR immediately everything fell into place; perfect venue, perfect HANDS SAY” across the four parameters of the roof. The stage has a supporting acts. Of course the self-titled album was perhaps the drawn curtain. The blue, pink and green lights of the blocks give the album that most of the audience had listened to. Yet even songs impression of an ice skating rink. For the most part I am sure there unfamiliar to some from their ‘Hysterical’ album, were given a weren’t too many people for whom Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is an warm reception. The set kept the audience dancing with songs from all time favourite band, but for everyone there, there was at least a each of their three albums. Front man Alec Ounsworth seemed sense of admiration and excitement of watching a very influential noticeably appreciative of the warm response of the audience. The band in terms of indie music. The New York indie band has released best song of the set was ‘Home on Ice’, the crowd fell in sync with three critically acclaimed albums, Hysterical released recently in the melody, the attitude and the beat of the song, bubbling along 2011. The hum amongst the crowd continued to simmer. Just after 21:00, singing and dancing. The band returned for a two song encore after a guitar could be heard from behind the curtain. The curtain opened ‘Heavy Metal’. After the show a sense of contentment settled over to the Beach Party set. The band danced into their set with their the Civic Centre, a night well spent.
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EDGE REVIEWS
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POPSKARR, MOVING HOUSE + GAZELLE words and photography Nadine Van Eeden After being wowed by Gazelle on a small elecropop to be. This isn’t necessarily a bad and dancehall and reggae vocalist Seven stage in Mystics in Stellenbosch almost two thing but as a consequence the feel and Raggasoulja. Xander Ferreira is a true years ago I promised myself that I would not sound on some of the slower tracks didn’t crowd pleaser complete with ray bans, a miss them anytime they came to the Cape. come across as very different to Ashtray leopard print hat and patterned blazer. Not being one to break promises I made Electric which is an easy trap to fall into Nick Matthews, better known as DJ sure to catch them at The Assembly on the considering how distinct Andres vocals invisible, was clad in a traditional Lesotho 5th of April (conveniently before the long are. Overall their performance was very hat, visor and keytar and threw out dance weekend). On arrival at Assembly Popskarr polished and they put bands that excuse moves that had me in fits of laughter and had already started their set and they were a welcome breath of fresh air. The electro- “Gazelle pulled out all the stops for this show from their kitsch pop three-piece entertained a sparse crowd African décor including flamingos and fake elephant tusks...” including one or two serious fans that were crazy dancing in front of the stage. Having waiting months for a live performance shaky performances on the basis of it being beats that got the crowd moving. Gazelle by Andre Pienaar (Ashtray Electric) and Rob their first live show to shame. The full band, are truly an audio-visual experience and Davidson’s (ex Zebra & Giraffe) new project, which included bassist and back up vocalist each time they play popular favourites Moving House they finally played their first Jacques Du Plessis and drummer Sheldon such as ‘Chic Afrique’, ‘She Did Me In’ and show at Assembly in Cape Town. At first the Yoko, was constantly in sync, professional of course ‘Die Velore Seun’ they change or add something new to the song and their turnout was quite disappointing but as their and, most importantly, having fun! set progressed the crowd started to fill out. Next up was Gazelle and to say I was show at the Assembly was no exception. The only songs that I had heard before were excited would be a serious understatement. Jacques Du Plessis joined Gazelle on stage the synth layered 80s electropop tracks Gazelle pulled out all the stops for this for ‘Die Velore Seun’ to add some serious ‘The Best Sex’ and ‘You Knew’. I came to show from their kitsch African décor shredding to the dubstep version of the the show expecting more of this so I was including flamingos and fake elephant tusks track. Their ‘Limpop’ style had everyone in surprised when their music ended up being to their guest performers which included the crowd on a Gazelle induced high that more intense than one would usually expect guitarist André Geldenhuys of Machineri wouldn’t fade for at least a day or two.
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Resta
THE BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB
We recently dined out at Madam Zingara’s ‘The Bombay Bicycle Cub’, situated on Upper Kloof Street. When entering the venue the first thing we notice is the ambient decor. We’ve been to a few restaurants that have tried their hand at using an out-of-thebox approach to the interior decorating of their establishments, but none have been quite as striking as the destination of this night. What really stood out was the selection of seating used for one of the tables. Instead of using traditional seats, swing chairs are used with the ropes attached to the ceiling, like the type you’d come across in a playground. Ornaments and pictures flood the walls, accompanied by a massive beaded tiger hanging from one part of the ceiling. After taking in the scenery we proceeded to our table, nicely tucked away in the upstairs section, where again you can’t help but become mesmerised by the wacky and creative decorations. From being 22
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so entertained by the atmosphere we forgot how hungry we were. For starters we shared an amazing pan fried haloumi, a flavoursome cheese dish. The two mains consisted of a prawn curry, new to their menu - a great mild curry, and a Greek-themed lamb dish which came in a generous size and delicious flavours. All we could muster for desert was ice cream and chocolate sauce which we ended up fighting over. There’s no doubt that we’ll return to what is now one of our favourite venues in Cape Town. The service was great, the food was delicious and there are still a few nooks and crannies that we’d like to examine to see what entertaining sights we missed. Re-opening 5 May, The Bombay Bicycle Club is “The oldest gentlemans club in the world”. Visit Bombay Bicycle Club: 158 Kloof Street, Cape Town - Telephone number 021 423 6805. www.thebombay.co.za
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LOUISE CARVER AT RHEBOKSKLOOF WINE ESTATE
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EDGE REVIEWS
“Emotions fuel my melodies and lyrics. Without that ability to feel deeply and to analys those feelings, I would not be able to write.” My music changes every time I bring out a new record. The only consistent thing on each of my albums are my vocals, strong melody lines and lyrics that are raw and revealing , coming from a very personal but ultimately universally human place.
If I had any super power, I would want to be able to put protection bubbles over the people I care about, and all our animals particularly the rhino. These bubbles would just miraculously appear when the person or animal is in danger Urban Edge Mag caught up with songstress Louise Carver at the peaceful and nothing but air can penetrate them. Just call me bubble Rhebokskloof Wine Estate in Paarl on 23 March. Rhebokskloof’s sprawling girl! lawns, overlooking its picturesque dam, make for the perfect setting for the estate’s ‘Theatre on the Lake’ concerts. SA’s popular contemporary If I could choose any artist ever (still together not, dead or pop artist amazed us with her latest chart-topping singles ‘How You Gonna alive) to collaborate with, I would choose Sting. Do It’ and ‘Days Go By’ which are included on her fifth album, a fusion between live instrumentation and electronic grooves, set for release later My immadiate music career goals are to release my new single entitled, ‘How You Gonna Do It’, followed up by the album this year. and then a national tour. Start travelling abroad with the new interview and photography Melissa Kelly/ Gilmoregirlworks album and get it signed in to a couple of territories overseas. I started songwriting at eleven and recording my music at fifteen, which Grow my record label, Evergreen Music. was the same time I got on stage and did my 1st rock show. The club was a dingy, truck drivers stop over called ‘Steamers’ on the N2 Somerset On ‘Is Local really Lekker’: To be honest, I hate that phrase. West, and for the entire year my poor mum had to drive me there on a I think it ‘s derogatory to SA artists. When I’m in London, the Wednesday evening to sing a few songs. My record labels’ idea was to radio dj does not add, after playing a Coldplay song, …’and basically throw me out there and see if I would sink or swim. I think the that was local band,’Coldplay’ so why should we do it here. I crowd just felt protective over my little self, so luckily I didn’t have beer think that phrase is now redundant - all artists are international cans thrown at my head…tough love! citizens of this playpen we call Earth!
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THE PARLOTONES The skies were black, the air icy and not a glimpse of clear sky appearing any time soon, but that did not stop The Parlotones from rocking our socks off at the The Old Mutual Summer Sunset Centenary Fundraiser at Kirstenbosch Gardens on Easter Sunday. by Gilmoregirlworks words Jackie Cockshott
photography Melissa Kelly
The threat of pneumonia didn’t scare their dedicated fans either, as hundreds of people filled up the arena with anything from massive umbrellas and waterproof blankets to bright yellow full body rain suits. Nothing was going to stop these people from seeing these crazy guys perform before their American tour. We have a new found respect for Parlotones fans. This band never fails to amaze and bring something new to the table with each live performance as they rocked the arena with some sneak previews into their new album which will be released in May. If this wasn’t enough to get our blood flowing; the guys have obviously noticed the latest trend of electronic music becoming massively popular
“The chills through our bones was not going to stop anyone from acting like a bouncing ball-lunatichoolahooping megafan while dancing their faces off. “ because they have now tweaked a few of their old songs with some teasing electro beats into the background of the ‘olds and faithfuls’, it wasn’t an over bearing difference from the original versions but it gave the songs a new feel, a new excitement and something to attract a new kind of audience, these new tweaks had people bouncing all over the park. The chills through our bones was not going to stop anyone from acting like a bouncing ball-lunatichoolahooping megafan while dancing their faces off. Khan entertained the crowd on epic proportions with his uniquely, over the top and uniquely Kahn dance moves and this concert saw the return of the megaphone, which is the first time I’ve seen them don in a live performance, and this was a whole new game, the effect it had on the song was reminiscent of a Greenday song and it brought out a much harder, old school sounding rock vibe, and the audience soaked it up. Come rain, wind, cold, hail or high water, it should not have been missed. Clearly hundreds of people felt the same. 24
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questions Urban Edge Mag
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EDGE MUSIC
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photography Sasha Cambell
If I could describe Juke Royal in 3 words, they would be Hashtag omg lol Juke Royal’s all about a few guys who have been playing music together for as long as we can remember. We’re not out to be anything or anyone else. Juke Royal is pretty much the passion and love for energetic, soulful, real music from four Cape Town kids.
words Angelique Redmond
photography Leigh Taylor
On their mix of genres: All of us enjoy different music. If it were any other group of guys, the sound wouldn’t be what it is. We want to keep it natural and unforced. The writing process is very workshop orientated with all band members contributing to the overall sound and crafting of the songs. We really don’t want it to be too produced for a certain type of listener. We’d rather be stoked and love the music we’re making, and hope other people are enjoying it as much as we are. On their upcoming album: We’ve played in other bands in Cape Town and gigged across the country , but we’ve never approached a studio album with so much care before. We want it to be a reflection of what Juke Royal is to us. A new sound that is born and bred in Cape Town, humble and unfamiliar. The band has contacted an old friend & artist Justin Poulter in England whom is on board for illustration of the Album’s artwork. We’re all really excited. We are hoping to have the album out for Summer 2012. On inspirational local artists: We’ve all been big fans of Bed on Bricks for some years now, their take on original music inspires all of us. Other local acts we enjoy range from reggae acts like our good buddies 7th Son to the more electronic sounds of Mix and Blend . Hot Water’s Live performance is epic as well as Zebra & Giraffe. Another band to keep your eyes on is Woodstock Mafia, they are doing things the right way. I think we’ve got a lot of respect for SA bands who don’t sound like international bands. Its easy to sound like someone else, but a challenge to express yourself honestly through your craft.
Having formed in 2008 and become a more permanent name on the Joberg event scene in 2009, the Stella’s are rowdy, raunchy rock n rollers. Combining down and dirty rock n roll with clean strong sound that is a blend of retro dirty rock with a hint of punk. Their stage presence dwarfed only by their image which hails back to the days when rockers rocked, drank booze, swore and the lifestyle really was sex, drugs and rock n roll. Having known each other from school, The Stella’s are made up of Jim Hazard on guitar, Stu Sleaze on vocals and guitar, Pano Roller on bass guitar and Ben Veitch on drums. Besides being musicians (and one would be forgiven for thinking models), they study arts and skateboard, Stu is a master chef, Jim is a ventriloquist, Pano is a mechanic and Ben is an eagle. Before the gig there are drinks and a word or two with the rock ‘n roll gods, who clearly favour these four leather clad, long haired rockers. Since starting their career it has been breaking down on tours, sleeping on the beach and getting banned from venues with a sound that has evolved to be fuller and louder with a lot more roll. Their debut video, ‘Get Going’, made it to number 2 on MK’s top ten. What can you expect from The Stella’s in 2012? Look out for their new LP Live Charge, music videos and an upcoming tour of the country. To see more of these cheeky rockers check out their Facebook page or catch them on twitter: @TheStellas_RnR
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EDGE ARTIST PROFILE
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B boy
TWITCHSTAR
Catching-up with local, self-taught Cape Town breakdance sensation TwitchStar, proves once again that you gotta have more than raw talent to succeed in the professional dance industry. words Grace Mcmahon With his passion for dance fueling him all the way to industry acclaimed success, he began his journey dancing his way around before he could walk. After years crafting his creative talent, tirelessly everyday, he headed to Jozi to launch his already acclaimed career and transform the SA dance scene as we know it. Why the name and how’d get into the industry? My love and hunger for stage and inspiration for the professional industry has to come from Big Bounce Dance Studio and owner , mentor and friend Duane Jouquin. From day 1 of me becoming a professional dancer any questions or even good old advice its been my go-to place. The name itself comes from the fact that I twitch whenever doing a backflip, and so TwitchStar was born...
“Versatility is key in this industry. Be open minded to dance as a whole, incorporating all genres. If you don’t have passion don’t dance, but most importantly never be a Cunctator…look it up.”
As the competitive dance and performing industry can be so competitive what’s the one motto that keeps you inspired? “As long as there’s a smile on your face everything falls into place.” Since you’ve made a name for yourself what’s the move you’ve become famous for? The Head Hollow Back Push-up! We’ve been seeing a lot of your mugg around lately what are some of the more recent shows and events you’ve danced at? Wow, well this year you’ll see me take on a different role in a local Ghoema nominee in the film “Cry of love” set for release this year. Just finished off a great contract at Carousal Casino and last year I took on So you think you can dance, crazy games and ETV music moves. As well as a host of high-end events like the Samsung roadshow and Vodacom Royal Durban July. Also if you happen to be in the Ukraine or Russia you might just spot me heading up a local Energy drink campaign too. Great to see you keeping the dream alive. But with so many performances under your belt which stands out to you? My most memorable memory is performing for the Prince of Saudi Arabia in the Seychelles. “But also the many hours of rehearsals over a 3 week period and the amount of fun, creativity and laughs shared are unique to dancers. And there’s no tickets open to public to see that show and that’s what I cherish most too. Apart from you apparent good lucks, totally lovin’ the tattoos, is the Lion a symbol of something to you? Well I would have to say the pride leader As a Leo by star sign its also a reminder of how to approach life every day. Its evident from his funky stage name to quirky persona that when it comes to revolutionizing the SA dance scene this man is well on his dancing way. With his uninhibited passion, evident talent and diligent hard work fueling him, he’s a true homegrown mix of awe inspiring moves, good looks and an optimistic attitude that’ll see him succeed, spreading his sweet moves around the world as he goes! 26
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“My future career plans revolve around creating a unique dance platform for the next generation, to take the industry to new levels. As well as move into choreography and possibly production.: But anymore info and I’d be giving away my million dollar secret. So watch this space!”
EDGE PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographer of the month
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interview Kirstin Geldenhuys
I don’t necessarily have a favourite subject; I just like to take my camera everywhere, because of the feeling of missing out. But on a professional level I’d say (my favourite subject to photograph is) fashion photography.
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KENT ANDREASEN The first time I really picked up a camera was in September 2009. I went on a family trip and had access to a bridge camera and decided to take a few snap shots, and yeah, I guess it just evolved from there really. I just enjoy the feeling of taking a photo and having something to show to other people I suppose. It is completely different to anything I have ever experienced, whereby everything is forgotten day-to-day, but with photography you have your life archived.
“I think with South African photography, there are people doing some terrible stuff, but at the same time we have some extremely talented people. I think just with our demographics and dayto-day influences, the need for photographers to feel driven to get out there and stand up to international standards has bred some really great photographers so that’s why I think local is the way forward.”
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I don’t know what it is, I kind of just got into (fashion) by mistake. I am at AFDA and we have lots of stylists there, and one of their main projects is do to shoots for portfolio based work and I kind of got into it with one of my best friends, Roxy, who does all my styling. So she got me into it, and it evolved and I started enjoying it more and more and it just kind of progressed. When we started it was really bad, the grading and composition were terrible and the colours were bad, but now it’s grown. I have a few favourite photographers: Sam Haskins was just a pioneer, he did all his work on film and it was mainly black and white. He did some in-camera montages which were really interesting. He shot for some really big brands and added a really creative, almost abstract aspect to his photography which was way ahead of his time. Another photographer, Misha Taylor, I love how he puts his stuff together, he has clever concepts and he just executes it nicely. I have favourite tumblr based blogs, like Brown Mountain. Holy Ghost Zine and Not Common People are also two of my favourites. These are all film based. I was lucky enough to be featured on both. Theo Gosselin is also great, he shoots with really nice film. Carlos Nunez shoots film based fashion stuff which is pretty sweet.
“Light really excites me, it’s a strange thing. I know it can offer - I don’t want to say magic (cause it sounds a bit contrived), but it gives you something amazing to play with.” I don’t think you can say there is a movement from film to digital as they are two very different mediums. Film is very calculated, when I use my film camera it’s a thought out process where I get very minimal shots while digital allows me the freedom to snap away. They are completely different experiences, like painting and sculpting. I was going to study photography but then I thought about maybe adding the film aspect to my work, they both come hand-in-hand, because in essence, films are made up of lots of small frames, and I just thought being diverse in what I do, having film editing and cinematography, just as a background to fall back on, when it comes to my photography, can’t do any harm, cause it is all visually based. If I could photograph any person, it would be David Attenborough straight up, he is one of my biggest idols. Annie Leibovitz would also be quite cool to shoot. Maybe Terry Richardson, not that I like his work, but what he has done and his controversy. I’m currently working on improving my work in fashion. I just got underwater housing, so I want to develop that more (surf photography). Just pushing the boundaries, both commercially and in my fashion photography. I am wanting to get more technically sound, so that I am more able to shoot more structured, product based but at the same time push the boundaries on a personal level when it comes to making more abstract shoots, making the styling more absurd, more unique for once-off pieces.
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“...you are never too good to shoot for certain people, always be friendly, you never know who you are talking to, don’t burn bridges, don’t be scared to put your work out there, don’t be insecure about it... Rejection is part of the course, at some time you’ll get rejected, and you just need to take it as a sign to improve.”
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EDGE TRAVEL
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Image by Andre Van Rooyen
HIDDEN GEMS OF THE COAST Oudekraal
words Urban Edge Mag
On the Route between Camps Bay and Llundadno lies a secret beach that not many people know about. Best known by divers who descend into Justin’s Caves, a rocky outcrop less than a ten-minute swim from the shore, where canyons covered with pink china coral await at a depth of 45 feet, Oudekraal’s golden sands, glassy waves, and perfect tidal pools is a stunning place to have a private and romantic picnic.
Image by loiphin
Image by j.knutzen
Crystal Pools
Kleinmond
Beside Palmiet River. On the coast road from Gordan’s Bay to Hermanus, is a rewarding hiking trail that leads to Crystal Pools – a number of hidden cooling pools with impressive jumps and cliffs. Forming part of The Kogelsberg Biosphere Reserve, Crystal Pools is home to lots of wildlife – including baboons – and can be a dangerous hike if not accompanied by someone who knows the trails and pools. R15 at the Sunbird guest lodge beside the entrance buys you a permit for this amazing experience.
Kleinmond lies on a lagoon at the small mouth of the Botriver on a narrow strip of land hugged on the one side by the Palmiet Mountain range and on the other by the Atlantic Ocean. Traditionally a retirement village, the town comes alive during holiday season and is renowned for large numbers of lobster in summer and whale watching in winter.
De Hoop Nature Reserve Image by ka.phi
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Approximately 34000 ha in size and one of the largest natural areas managed by Cape Nature Conservation, The De Hoop Nature Reserve is a favourite destination for hikers, cyclists, bird watchers and during the winter and early summer months, whale watchers. According to sa-venues. com, “The entire length of the De Hoop coast is a marine protected area, one of the largest in Africa. Fishing is not permitted in this area and visitors may not disturb or remove marine organisms. The marine protected area extends three nautical miles out to sea and at De Hoop you are likely to see the finest examples of inter-tidal ecosystems in the Western Cape.”
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EDGE FOOD
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{ RE-INVENTING SOUTH AFRICAN CLASSICS } recipes Robyn Jacka
photography Kirstin Geldenhuys
Bobootie Spring Rolls Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pan. Sauté 1 finely chopped onion, 1 clove crushed garlic, ½ teaspoon finely chopped ginger, 1 tablespoon curry powder, 1 teaspoon turmeric and 1 teaspoon brown sugar in the pan. Add 250g mince and brown slightly. Add 2 tablespoons raisins and 2 tablespoons chutney, 1 tablespoon apricot jam, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon Worchester sauce, 1 tablespoon tomato paste and 2 tablespoons slivered almonds. Simmer for 10 – 15 minutes and leave to cool. Once cooled, place 4 tablespoons mince onto a piece of springroll paper, fold in the sides and roll into a cylinder. Brush the end with melted butter to keep the pastry closed. Repeat with the rest of the mixture. Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a pot and fry the springrolls until golden brown. Drain on paper towel and sprinkle with freshly ground sea salt and coriander. Serve immediately with chutney. Serves 4.
The Ultimate Boerie Roll For the chakalaka, heat a pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pot. Sauté 1 finely chopped onion, 1 finely chopped bell pepper, 1 grated carrot, 2-3 red chillies, 2 cloves crushed garlic and 1 teaspoon curry powder. Add 1 can tinned tomatoes and 1 tin baked beans and simmer for 5 – 10 minutes. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat a pan and add a piece of boerewors. Cook, turning every 2 minutes for 10 minutes. For the caramelised onions, heat a pan with 2 tablespoons butter. Add 2 sliced onions and sauté. Once soft add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and allow to caramelise for 2 – 3 minutes. To assemble, cut open 2 large hotdog rolls and place a large piece of the boerewors on each one. Spoon the chakalaka and caramelised onions over the boerewors. Serve hot with an ice cold beer. Serves two.
Milk Tart Ice Cream Scald 500ml cream in a pot with 2 cinnamon sticks, rind of 1 orange and 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence. Whisk together 4 egg yolks and 100g castor sugar. Remove the cinnamon sticks and slowly pour the cream over the egg yolk mixture while whisking. Once all the cream is incorporated strain the mixture. Place the mixture in a container and place in the freezer. Whisk the mixture after an hour and again after another hour. Leave the mixture to freeze for a few hours or overnight. Serve sprinkled with ground cinnamon and serve. Serves 4.
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EDGE SPORTS
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FEAR AND LOATHING
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IN YOUR ‘HOOD
way though. On closer inspection they might not be that different. After a day of hitting the books or the keyboard they don’t head out to the driving range, or hit the streets for a jog. But is it really that different? Come make up your own mind; watch the members of the Stellenbosch Longboarding Club do their thing, pretty much every weekday after five pm, on Unie Street, in Uniepark Stellenbosch. If you like what you see you too can join the growing number of people riding the urban wave.Get a longboard and cruise town or campus. It’s more eco-friendly than driving, quicker than walking, skateboards “There can be no sympathy are harder to steal than bicycles and it’s for these self-inflicted wounds; safer than you’d think. Plus longboarding is a pretty inclusive scene, there’s a in fact skaters are probably denomination for everyone from cruising masochists…” to racing, so there’s no excuse not to get involved.
THE SKATERS ARE AT THE GATES words Seamus Allardice photography Eric Palmer
Few activities still insight such radical reactions in some polite, middle class, suburban folk as a hooligan on a piece of maple – with four urethane wheels attached to it – racing down a hill. They look upon these youths with expressions of similar disdain as they roll past, as one might look upon a junkie shooting up H on a quiet neighbourhood street corner. The bizarre animosity is palpable. No amount of smiling, or courteous greeting can change the views of some. Skaters are scum. And it serves them right when they come-a-crop, skidding across the asphalt, grating away layers of skin and flesh. Who else would bomb down hills, clinging precariously to the very edge of balance and control? Then as the inevitable wobble strikes, throwing out a hand, slamming it into the tarmac and simultaneously whipping the board perpendicular to the slope, arresting the hurtle towards destruction with a four wheel slide. Urethane chatters as it disintegrates destroying the neighbourhood silence; of lawnmowers, crying children and inconsiderately loud stereos. Suburbanites are right to be distrustful, fearful, who can associate with these animals? Can a normal, moderate man find a common ground upon which to debate? Talk them down from the ledge; bring them back into the fold of civilised society? Probably not. Let them be then. Lock away your daughters. Put your pets inside (they might turn to burnt offerings next). Look the other way, as they pass-by. Dangerously close. Counter culture flying in the face of your norms. There might be another 32
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him an offer he can’t refuse”? 12. Which one hit wonder is Don McLean famous for singing, later to be redone by Madonna? 13. What sea lies south of Cuba? 14. What city fell to the wooden horse? 15. What South African became goalkeeper for Manchester United? 16. How old was Steve Jobs when he died?
17. Who plays Damon in the hit television series The Vampire Diaries? 18. What was the name of the rat in the Ninja Turtles? 19. Car’s with a CA number plate are registered in Cape Town. Where is CZ? 20. What year was the Table Mountain Cable Car first operated? answers at urbanedgemag.vom
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n w o T Cape
{ CHARITY DIRECTORY } AC LIFESKILLS FOUNDATION
Established in August 2009, AC Lifeskills Foundation focuses on youth development and community empowerment. Contact person: Achmat Adams Phone: 021 633 6510 charitysa.co.za/ac-lifeskills-foundation. html
ACTIVE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE
Every child has a hidden potential that is worthwhile being discovered! The Play & Learn Programmes of the Active Schools Initiative, established in March 2007, aims to strengthen the personal, social and emotional development of young South Africans and enable them to deal with challenges faced by children growing up in communities most affected by violence, substance abuse and/or HIV / AIDS. Contact person: Dayana Dreke asi.org.za
AFRIVERSITY
Afriversity, established in June 2009, offers a practical and individualised entrepreneurial development programme that combines hands-on business education, training and incubation, designed to help budding entrepreneurs. Contact person: Athan Malambo afriversity.org
ANIMAL ISSUES MATTER ORGANISATION
Established in July 2009, Animal Issues Matter Organisation (AIM) is a Non Profit Animal Welfare Organisation which specifically focuses on core problems and essential enterprises within the animal welfare industry by creating and updating legislation and providing more efficient concepts and opportunities that can better utilize existing welfare and governmental resources in dealing with animal welfare problems. Contact person: Dee Terblanche Phone: 072 583 2990 animalissuesmatter.com
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CAPE TOWN YMCA
It is our mission of the Cape Town YMCA, established in August 1865, to empower those most at risk in South Africa through the development of leadership, education, and communication skills Contact person: Llowellyn Syce Phone: 021 447 6217 ymcacapetown.org.za
CARING LIGHT
The main focus of Caring Light, established in 2001, is to provide educational and experiential three-day seminars on Dying, Death and Grief and host weekend retreats for Home Based Carers and community based health care workers. Contact person: Jim Thorne Jnr Phone: 083 436 9363 caringlight.org.za
CHANGE A NATION
Changing the lives of young people through sport and mentoring. We raise up people within the community to start playing sport with the children around them in streets or in parks. Children with potential to become future athletes are identified and guided to help them on their way. We believe that by raising up mentors in the communities the children will become safe. Contact person: Hannes van der Westhuysen Phone: 082 629 7385 changeanation.co.za
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL TRUST
The Children’s Hospital Trust was founded in 1994 as the Independant Fundraising Arm of the Red Cross Memorial Children’s Hospital when the hospital was threatened with closure due to funding. The Children’s Hospital continues to assist the hospital by raising funding for to address the many pressing needs at the hospital. The Trust will also be expanding its funding reach beyond the hospital’s doors within the Western Cape Contact Person: Phillippa Douglas childrenshospitaltrust.org.za
DANCE CREW
Dance Crew, established in June 1993, is a classically trained dance company that was started to create work for dancers, develop new audiences and choreographic work of our time and place in society. The school and company have outreach assistance programs in Tulbagh, Piketberg, Saron, Grassy Park, Athlone, Heathfield, and retreat where the teachers trained at this school currently teach. Contact person: Amy Gould theatreonmain.co.za
DREAMWORKER
Dreamworker, established in September 2008, is an organisation dedicated to helping unemployed people in the lower end of the economic spectrum fin work. We engage, inspire, empower, mentor the unemployed, register and place them on our database and then link them to appropriate work opportunities. Contact person: Ronald Bownes dreamworker.org.za
HOLY CROSS CHILD AND YOUTH CARE CENTRE
The Holy Cross Child and Youth Care Centre, also fondly known and remembered as the Holy Cross Orphanage, situated in Parow Valley was established in Parow in 1918 in response to children being orphaned during the dreaded ‘Spanish Flu’ of 1918. Contact Person: Sr Cheryl-Anne Ziervogel Phone: 021 934 6435 charitysa.co.za/holy-cross-chil-and-youthcare-centre.html
NEW AGE MUSIC ACADEMY
The Academy, established in April 2006, brings formal music training to the youth on the Cape Flats. The education and subsequent testing curriculum is internationally recognised and accepted as one of the world’s best Contact: Adnaan Morris www.charitysa.co.za/new-age-musicacademy.html