ZOLANI THE ONE WHO SINGS + THE FEMININE FORCE, PJ POWERS, YOUNGSTACPT, THE RUDIMENTALS and the WALDORF SCHOOL BAND
Concert = “a Musical Performance Given in Public, typically by Several Performers”. And we’re bringing you a masterclass in musical storytelling, brimming with epic girl power and supported by dudes who most certainly can hold their own when it comes to creating titillating tunes.
Imagine this: one bandstand, two of the most iconic female voices in South Africa, a stoked audience inhaling the sounds of this incredible coming-together of legends, stunning De Waal Park on a blissful summer’s day… You get the picture. So – we at Concerts in the Park have actually pulled it off, we’ve created that moment in music history, the bringing together of the two lionesses of the South African music scene: the inimitable Zolani Mahola The One Who Sings and the phenomenal powerhouse that is PJ Powers and Cape Town’s King of rap, YoungstaCPT. And as if things aren’t electrifying enough, Zolani is flanked by an arsenal of powerful femmes aptly named The Feminine Force.
Former lead singer of the critically acclaimed pan-African supergroup Freshlyground, Zolani Mahola is The One Who Sings. Over 17 years the band produced 6 albums and most famously collaborated with Shakira on the song “Waka Waka” in 2010. In her work with Freshlyground, Mahola has shared and opened stages for greats such as Stevie Wonder, Hugh Masekela, Shakira, Johnny Clegg, BB King and many others. She collaborated with Grammy Award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma and shared a bill with legendary musician Dave Matthews in 2020. She released the anthemic song “Because We Are” with long-time collaborator Aron Ha’Levi, featuring over 30 artists across the South African music scene, including legends Yvonne Chaka Chaka, J Something, Karen Zoid, Amanda Black, Vusi Mahlasela, Arno Carstens, Francois Van Coke, to name but a few.
Mahola won the prestigious Fleur Du Cap award as “Best Actress” for her 2019 self-written critically acclaimed one-woman play based on her life entitled “The One Who Sings”. “You Need To Say It” followed at the Baxter theatre. The show included elements from Mahola’s debut solo album entitled “Thetha Mama”(Nov 2021). The album won best produced album this August at the South African Music awards and The One Who Sings is currently working on a follow-up album and three upcoming film projects for release late 2023 and 2024 respectively. Super exciting stuff!
The Feminine Force is a roving band of femme musicians led by the pint-sized powerhouse that is The One Who Sings AKA Zolani Mahola. The band is her womb-child after the end of a highly successful 17-year partnership with Freshlyground. The Feminine Force is what you hear and feel when women – or those socialized as femme people – gather to sing together, to grieve together and to joyously celebrate the exhilarating heartbreak that life. Stylistically and intrinsically non-binary, the music is at once uplifting, sacred, rocking and deeply rooted in the indigenous feminine force of our land eMzantsi. The music is written by The One Who Sings and is expressed by the highly skilled and impassioned band in six part harmony, fueled by folk guitars and powerful traditional Xhosa instruments. Mahola is joined by 5 extraordinary women, each bringing their own magic to the stage.
Now, is there anyone in Mzanzi who hasn’t rocked to the ultimate feel-good anthem “Jabulani”? PJ Powers “Thandeka” is an award-winning musician with 12 gold discs, four platinum and a gold CD. Her career started in 1980s as the lead singer of Hotline, and her solo career flourished during the 1990s and 2000s with hits such as “There is Answer”, “Feel So Strong”, “Jabulani”, “You’re So Good To Me” & “World in Union” which has become an iconic rugby world cup song. PJ Powers has shared the stage with many local and international stars such as Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel, Hugh Masekela, Sibongile Khumalo, the Mahotella Queens, Youssou N Dour, Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte and more recently The Corrs & Mike and the Mechanics. She’s performed for Queen Elizabeth, King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands! In 2003 she was asked to write the official 85th birthday song for President Mandela, which she sang to him and a host of luminaries such as Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton and many other world leaders during the international broadcast.
And now for something totally different! Welcome to the bandstand Wynberg boy Riyadh Roberts, better known as YoungstaCPT! With 30 mixtapes, 2 albums, numerous EPs and multiple accolades under his belt, he has been regarded as one of the most important South African emcees of his generation since launching his career in 2010. He describes his music as quintessentially ‘Cape Town’ and there’s no doubt that his music aptly captures the spirit of aspects of the Mother City. YoungstaCPT’s achievements are multifold: South African Music Awards Nominee in 2020, Album and Music Video of the Year at the SA Hip Hop Awards in 2019, Mixtape of the Year at Slikour Awards in 2018 and Lyricist of the Year in 2017. Apart from livening up the local music scene in Cape Town and South Africa, YoungstaCPT has toured extensively further afield to Australia, Switzerland, Dubai and Namibia. He’s opened the stage for numerous international acts, like Lil Wayne, Meek Mil and Nas.
The Rudimentals (“The Rudis”) also need no introduction: a 10-member household-name band from Cape Town, known for their explosive live performances, finds inspiration from a wide range of musical genres, including roots reggae, ska, dub, hip-hop and electronic music. Over the years they’ve had multiple successful releases and toured extensively, winning fans and critical acclaim with their catchy hooks, upbeat rhythms, and positive message. They’re proudly Capetonian, made up of diverse cultures and nationalities including Zimbabwean, Jamaican, American, Italian and of course South African. This is a big part of their unique sound.
On the day the quaint bandstand under the trees of De Waal Park will be warmed up by the youthful sounds of the super talented Waldorf School Band.
We c-a-n-n-o-t wait, can you? But if you’ve been dozing and not bought those golden tickets yet, we politely suggest you drop whatever you’re doing right now and make a beeline for the Buy Tickets Page. Because there’ll be no place more vibey to be than De Waal Park on March 12th, 2023.
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Get your tickets here: Only R99 online and R120 at the door.
