Monday Blues News - 07 December

07/12 the “all together now” mood began, Ralph opened the stage with an amazing solo act guitaring (acoustic) and Jannous couldn’t help but join in with another acoustic guitar rigging harmonies. The poet Bheki laced some words over the music.

Sliq Angel with no hesitation went up did a super medley playing portions of Roots 2000 songs, skipping to Xhosa traditional songs… DOPE. Poetry extraordinaire Hlubi (First time on the Monday Blues stage), rendered a superb performance, there after followed Kabelo Mofokeng who blessed us with 1950’s poetry style by his acute vocab with that Sophiatown style emphasizing on words creating a rhythm at the same time adding a bit of modern poetry flow using Sotho, Tsotsi taal and the Queens language all at once! A true poetry evolution.

Sindi Simpson later came on and did a wonderful blues / poetry backed by a band: drums, base, acoustic guitar and keys. Candi Brown who’s also part of Dr Badela, also came on stage, freestyle singing and harmonizing… Jerome on basse, Asiah and Raphael jammed heavy sounds. Thuli the lead singer then did some already prepared four song set with Brett Alexander on basse, Asiah on drums and Raphael on lead guitar...SUPER!

To prove that Monday Blues is an integration platform, a non-stop Grande finale / jam session started, reflecting true musicianship among artists. Sliq Angel on electric guitar this time with Jerome on basse, Asiah on drums, Jannous on percussion and Sipho on keys… the arts were over flowing! Amazing!

So, don’t disappear in joining us at the next Monday Blues show… 14 December

Monday Blues Video Clips

Monday Blues Pics from - 30 November

One the line-up was:

Kgafela Magogodi

LesegoRampholokeng

Lefifi Tladi

Young Minds
Dimakatso
Jannous
Ralf & Thubi

Jam Session: Drums - Iziah, Basse - Bradley, Lead Guitar - Khosi........On vocals: Dice, Zweli, CIA

and more... it was a line-up to die for! Join us again 07 Dec @ Belavista for another wonderful line-up!

International Poetry Month hosted by Monday Blues @ Belavista

As it's International Poetry Month at Monday Blues don't miss the next session 23 November as the line up will be amazing!

A big thank you to artists that blessed us this past Monday:

Jannous - Solo Guitar
Sipho Mthiyane from the Onion Eaters - Solo Keybaord, joined by poets Jeisie and Bheki
Sliq Angel
King Daniel - Hip hop over a live band

Lastly, thank you to the crowd... this picture is not complete without you!
DJ: Zweli
Host: CIA
Founder: Peter Makurube

Belavista
Cnr Carnarvor & Bertrams (Next to Spar)
Troyville

yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

Monday Blues News:

From noticing the Monday Blues banner by the gate, it looked like the start of a good evening. Everything was set up at 20h00 the stage was ready for acts. The DJ ambiance music was themed on live recordings, Raphael Saddiq, Mirriam Makeba very exclusive live recording. Leaving us with the question “where does he get these?” …

First on stage, was Hyphen from Cape Town’s Archetypes (hip hop crew) rhyming over Paul Nice and Oh No’s beats doing justice on them. Howz that for dope beginnings?! Jannous later stepped up on base doing solo guitaring, amazing stuff… he had these paddles on the floor; one was a loop paddle so he played as if he was a trio. After was a three piece band, Khosi on lead guitar, Zulu on base and Smash on drums… playing a funk tune after a jazz standard after a hip hop instrumental they’re blessed with a variety.

Daniel ripped a cool performance with a live band. Twas like practiced, conscious rhymes and musical hooks over hip hop standard live beats. Next was the black psychedelic rock band called Organized Distortion. Showcased a couple of songs highly musical and with their art noise gained booking for a party soon to come!

Lastly was a jam session / grande finale, Jannous, Zulu, Khosi etc. The crowd was wonderful and to the venue, staff… BRAVO! Keep up the good service! C U Next week - 16 Nov @ BELAVISTA!!

Founder: Peter Makurube

Host: CIA

DJ: Zweli

Pic by: Lerato Maduna

Monday Blues now at Bellavista

It's that time again where Monday Blues moves to another area... Let's all meet this coming Monday at Bellavista, kick off this new journey on good, positive vibes...

Start Time: Monday, November 2, 2009 at 8:00pm

End Time: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 2:00am

Location:Troyeville

Street:Corner Carnarvan & Bertrams

yo African Experience

Dani Ndebele wrote

The very very very first gig I went to when I moved to Jozi was Monday Blues - Kofifi at the time. I was hooked on Jozi forever after...

Monday Blues News

Monday Blues 12 October, everything was on time. At 20h45 Lebo the percussionist and Smash the drummer, kicked off the stage … nice combination of the two, afro-soul kind of stuff. Sindi Simpson and the Onion Eaters stepped up and rendered a very matured, entertaining poetry over keyboards and percussion. Malvern from Cape Town, (currently a street kid in Jozi) collaborated with the Deep Vibe Man on guitar, it was splendid!

Stone from PE, four piece band, played cover versions, it was well rehearsed and made a big impact… big up! Later was the Monday Blues activist, Sliq Angel! He played great as usual but to top it, he invited other artists who were in the room to come perform. Problem Child came first, Sol, Natti B, Zulu Boy and more. It came off brilliant! Masello came in on vocals accompanied by percussion and drummer machine samples... nice one. We want to acknowledge and give respect to the Monday Blues by loving and supporting the artists. We had a sound glitch, the crowd over looked that and the show went on, it was ecstatic.

On the poetry session there was Ntsikelelo done in Xhosa and English. After this Tina came on, sang over keys… it was magical melodies. Look out for Tina. The last was the drum and base jam, Tenda the vocalist joined in… that was the end of performances. See you next Monday, 19 October.

Monday Blues.... your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

Below... artists that never fail to mention this legendary stage in their profile... click on their links to see their full profiles! As we celebrate Monday Blues birthday ths month, e-mail your story or experiences at Monday Blues for us to put up on the blogspot. meanzit@yahoo.com.

MXO eventually linked up with DJ Blaze and his Unity Recordings and before long was gaining recognition in Johannesburg by performing at venues like the Bassline, Horror Café, Monday Blues and other underground poetry and Hip-Hop spots including Jungle Connection, the Couch and Coffee, and more.

www.myspace.com/mxfunk

We are Blk Sonshine. We got together about 10 years ago in Yoeville which is a little suburb of Johannesburg in South Africa. We were both there playing our acoustic guitars at an open mic called Monday Blues. We went from doing little shows in South Africa to recording a CD in Los Angeles.

www.myspace.com/blksonshine

I (Ntsiki Mazwai) performed often at Monday Blues at the various locations it moved to, I later started hosting Monday Blues which groomed me for later gigs I would host..

www.ntsikimazwai.co.za/streetpop.php

Excuse me, I need some kwaito playing while I write this. Y mag had a soundtrack, abrasive in parts and with more than fragments of the toyi-toyi coming through, but it was largely kwaito that set the rhythm. Bennie was making us mal, Brenda was very much alive, TKZ were huge, Mdu was the man, Ghetto Luv and Ismael and Roots 3000 were nascent, blk sonshine were just jamming at Monday Blues and MXO was a little boy fresh from Dwezi (Ibayi) sleeping rough in a Mahala hotel, dreaming of getting onto that stage.

http://www.chimurengalibrary.co.za/

Monday Blues News

What a wonderful Monday, 05 October 2009. It was like a too good to be true scenario. We got to Ko’spotong a bit strapped of time; found a hand full of artists were already congregated with a reasonable audience. At 20h30 everything was set-up and Leero was ready to kick-off. DJ Zweli worked the mood right before the first performance. We had an impeccable line-up, with various genres’ and the good amount of first timers on the Monday Blues stage.

Leero dusted off the stage with two songs; later Zweli from Joy of Jozi did a solo performance playing some blues, rock and afro grooves. Sliq Angel went on after that, to no surprise a great reaction from artists occurred when Shaun joined in on the drums, base guitarists and some back-up vocalists jumped on stage to join in. Sliq’s music is known and it was like they rehearsed plus the crowd loved it. Tumisani Dlamini aka Crocodile, Chester courageously sang a Zulu song about his travels around the world making a good impact with some dance moves… excellent.
There was a couple a jam sessions giving authenticity to the day, Nqobile is easy to remember, surprised the room with educated yet cultural melodies with limitless ranges. Russere is Zim national, played Mbire and sang those with good ears heard his amazing work. Sizwe Vena later blessed the stage with three songs, doing it with a full on band as well as back-up vocalists, Aviwe Damane carried it to the last.

We closed with back tracks, Mzantsi a raga hip hop soul act, DOC Tswana / English rap and Ntsikelolo Xhosa poetry over beats. Appeasing, the show ended, thanks to the crowd, artists, venue and the Melville community at large. See you on Monday live at Ko'spotong, 12 October!!

Monday Blues Birthday Celebrations throughout October

This incorporation has been a special one in that Monday Blues was established 1991 October and Arts Alive in 1991 September. Both these companies have been running for years with nothing but drive and passion to uplift artists and the industry in South Africa. For the first time in both their existence, they joined forces and killed it!

So here's to a lifetime friendship between Monday Blues & Arts Alive!!

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This month we are celecrating this legendary stage's birthday, established October 1991 but Peter Makurube. It began in Hillbrow and has since been presented in various communities in Johannesburg. The format is based on performance of whatever art form and exhibitions of visual arts. It has staged live in music venues around the city and welcomes all cultural expression.

Yeoville has been our main base, starting in 1997. Our first home there was Jahnitos, where fantastic performers like JIMMY Dludlu, Zim Ngqawana and Sandile Dikeni played to full-houses every week. We then moved to Raymond Street, where Blk Sonshine was born. Both Neo and Masauko met there and formed this incredible group that went on to win many fans across the social and geographical barriers. Time Square, a few blocks up the road also provided some memorable events - Roots 2000 was born there (Sliq Angel/MXO). The two have since become big names in the music scene. We once again relocated to Orange Grove - this time to Club 206, where Victor Ntoni's career was revitalized. We also put a lot of artists on the map, among them, Waddy Jones(rapper) who ended up as a recording artist and television presenter. This venue attracted the biggest number of audiences for the movement. Other venues, Horror Cafe in downtown Joburg, Mega Music, Rosebank (Mama's) and many more followed.

The Monday Blues has been strong on poetry, music, film, dance art and comedy. Projects undertaken by the movement are varied and are aimed at improving relations between people both inside and outside South Africa. Our longest campaign is the anti-rape project - whose target is men who don't rape. The artistic approach toward discouraging and condemning this scourge has helped create awareness and breaking resistance from men in general. The idea is to encourage law-abiding men to beinvolved in combating rape. It went on for four years and we intend to keep highlighting this issue until there is no reason to do so anymore. We have also undertaken projects to eliminate other prejudices - homophobia, chauvinism and xenophobia. The latter project helped bring in refugees both political and economic into the mainstream of society in South Africa. To this day Monday Blues remains the most inclusive cultural movement on the continent.

So as we celecrate this beautiful creation throughout the month of October we urge all of you that have been to Monday Blues to share your stories and experiences at Monday Blues. Please feel free to put them up on the Monday Blues wall or e-mail them for us to put up on the blogspot. We know, groups have been formed, friendships started, careers revitalized, marriages formed, tell us all about it. CD's of MB recordings and T-shirts will be on sales at Monday Blues throughout the month so by all means, put that in your monthly budget :)

Lastly, a HUGE thank you to Peter Makurube for the initiative of creating such a beautiful stage. Not forgetting, thank you to everyone that has ever attended at Monday Blues show, whether it was to perform or to watch... Thank you all!

Monday Blues line-up - 21 Sept:

Joy of Jozi
Leero & Aviwe & Tenda
Makomele Manaka
Smerf
Sliq Angel
Ternielle Nelson
Siya B
Venus Fly & Lady Fly
Rusty Dusty
Sol & Hugh

Big yoselves up!

This coming week is the last week of the Monday Blues and Arts Alive 2009 Incorporation sessions, we doing it big! So, be part of the African Experience... 28 September @ Ko'spotong Melville, starts @ 20h00.

Monday Blues & Arts Alive Incorp - 14 September

Doors were open @ KO’SPOTONG MELVILLE , ALKA set-up sound in African time, well done…DJ Zweli selected tunes crate digging with mixing J Dilla’s recipes (the original tracks he sampled from) varying from Stevie Wonder, Worlds Worst bands etc.. for over an hour raising the bar for the artists and keeping the audience relaxed with good beats.

Up next was ZUMA FUNK songs of love, changing to praising the elders with “My Grandmother is a super hero”. DAMO MOKGATLA followed with heavy Sotho poetry edutaining. Masello Motana sang proudly three accapellas organic, refreshing and all. Next was Monday Blues own SLIQ ANGEL rocking the exclusive Monday Blues T-shirt performing a medley of his well known songs, he called randomly two back-up singers. It was as if they had rehearsed for it was airtight. He was followed by Nelspruit kings of funk JOY OF JOZI. They’ve been loyal to the Monday Blues stage and the crowd loves them, they know their music because LEERO joined in together with SIYA some nice R&B. After that was SIYA B (comic) he’s got material best way to describe it – it was a laugh out loud set! Back to back was SIZWE the KING RAT with poetry portrayed with harsh but loving still praising the devil in a dress, another lady blessed the stage AVIWE DAMANE singing accapella full of melodies that got everyone’s attention!

Then the Orlando West active muso all rounder S’PAMANDLA COSMIC blessed us with an acoustic pleasurable act, he sang beautiful original mellow but high notes blending with MCing rapping while playing guitar … what a dope one! He then was later joined by THUSI bass guitarist and SMASH the drummer… people requesting song cover versions, it was crazy! BONGEZIWE MABANDLA came up next with a band and started his own killer version of Jailer by Asa and went onto his Monday Blues well known original song GUNUZA. We continued with YOUNG J, first time on the Monday Blues stage, was forced to perform on guitar that was played by SLIQ ANGEL, damn was it nice! BADA BADA literally smuggled himself onto stage in the act doing a ragga (true story: someone in the crowd actually asked JUNIOR SOKHELE if BADA BADA (our own) was from Jamaica?...) Later was NTSIKELOLO xhosa poetry. As time was against us we had to cramp all 12 acts different art formed packed with motivation and knowledge into one memorable Monday Blues evening… your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE!

Monday Blues & Arts Alive Incorp - 07 September

The first Monday Blues & Arts Alive 2009 incorp show kicked off with a bang! The line-up grew longer and longer as the night progressed. The opening act was done a group of comedians, first time on the Monday Blues stage and they go by the name NO TV, NO SLEEP. Nice way to start the evening! Next, we had an acoustic act by LILLY MILLION, who had the crowd very silent, she performed for the first time on the Monday Blues stage on acoustic guitar accompanied by the most beautiful vocals. The live band performances had everyone dancing, big thank you to L8 ANTIQUE, DR BADELA, JOY OF JOZI, BONGEZIWE MABANDLA & THE FRIDGE next time you hear that these bands are performing somewhere, make sure you check them out you won’t regret it! The DJ kept everyone dancing in between performances, big up DJ ZWELI! We did run out of time unfortunately, SLIQ ANGEL, SAMU, TIME, RASTI DUSTI n more couldn’t perform however they have promised to bless us at the next Monday Blues & Arts Alive incorp show on Monday: 14 September. Don’t miss out!

Monday Blues & Arts Alive bringing a breath of Fresh Air

Monday Blues and Arts Alive have teamed up to bring you nothing but the freshest of poetry, jam sessions, open mics, live bands and so much more throughout the Spring month...Be sure to catch the first Monday Blues, Arts Alive show this coming Monday, 07 September @ Ko'spotong Melville. Starts @ 20h00, R30 gets you in!

Switch on to http://artsalive.com/ to keep up with events happening around Jo'burg brought to you by Arts Alive International Festival Johannesburg 2009!

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The month of August were we ran the Monday Blues Woman's Series was amazing thanks to the artists that performed and crowd that was always there till the very end! Big yoselfs up! Sliq Angel (Acoustic performance), Brother Moves On (Acoustic performance), Leero n the band (Band, vocals), Joy of Jozi (Live jazz band), Damo Makgatla (Poetry), Mac Manaka (Poetry), Inner Chi (Music, vocals, poetry), Bongeziwe (Acoustic performance), Dollar I (Poetry), Thomas & Siya B (Comedy), Samu, Aviwe, Marcia, jnr Mabokodo, Roger, King Daniel, Thusi, Mothofela, Sounds of Edutainment rep, Organised Distortion, Expresso feat. Purity, Dr Badela & Guests, Joy of Jozi, DJ: Zweli, Sound Alka..... The list goes on n on, you all know who you are that make this legendary stage live on with your contribution.

Host: CIA
Founder: Peter Makurube

Tribute to Mama Miriam Makeba - Last Session of the Monday Blues Womans Month Series - 31 August

This is the last Monday of the Monday Blues Womans Month Series, hence this coming Monday we pay Tribute to Mama Africa, mama Mirriam Makeba. This AMAZING woman, blessed the Monday Blues stage on several occasions back when Monday Blues was still starting up... she was very much a big part of the Monday Blues family... so come thru, bring your favorite song by mama Mirriam, blessed us with poetry in her honor....

Not forgetting that this is the last week to bring clothes, shoes or any items you don't need to donate to charity. PLEASE, make the time to go through your cupboards, someone out there is in dying need of all those clothes collecting dust, that you don't wear anymore.

See you next Monday, 31 August... and keeping logging onto our blogspot to check out what Monday Blues has in store for you for the month of September!

your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

Monday Blues News: 24 August

We NEED to firstly thank everyone that came through on Monday! I think it's accurate to say Mondays show was amazing! The line-up got longer and longer with each passing minute, the artist where geared up and so ready to bless the masses... thank you 4 such brilliant performances:

• Sliq Angel (Acoustic performance)
• Brother Moves On (Acoustic performance)
• Leero n the band (Band, vocals)
• Joy of Jozi (Live jazz band)
• Damo Makgatla (Poetry)
• Mac Manaka (Poetry)
• Inner Chi (Music, vocals, poetry)
• Bongeziwe (Acoustic performance)
• Dollar I (Poetry)
• Thomas & Siya B (Comedy)
• Jam Session: Samu, Aviwe, Marcia, jnr Mabokodo, Roger, King Daniel

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DJ: Zweli

Host: CIA

Founder: Peter Makurube

MONDAY BLUES NEWS

On the Monday Blues stage on Monday 17 August, we had amazing perfomances that had everyone holding their breath! Big thank you to the crowd for coming through:

Leero a loyal Monday Blues member, blessed us once again but this time accompanied by a three piece band! Dope!

Joy of Jozi, came of nice like they always do... beautiful jazz. Daniel was on drums, Gideon on base, & Dhina on keys.... amazing!!!

Had a band called Rent A Crowd, if you missed them this time around,be sure to catch them at the next Monday Blues, you won't regret it!

Jam Sessions at Monday Blues are always TOO NICE !! This past Mondays jam session was headed by Daniel on drums, Dhina on keys, Bradley on base THEN on vocals Levi Pon di Mic! & Samu! Make sure you're around for the next MB jam session!

DJ: Zweli

Host: CIA

Founder: Peter Makurube

MONDAY BLUES ... yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

Next session of the Monday Blues Woman's Month Series is 24th August, please remember to bring donantions in any form: clothes, toys etc. We have two more sessions in August before we have to take everything collected to homes for woman n children. PLEASE, take time to go through you're cupboards at home and take out items you don't need or use. Let's be giving good people.

THANKING YOU ALL IN ADVANCE!

Monday Blues - 03 August

Over all we had a great evening as usual, the energies were in the right place. Everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves. However, there weren't enough female artists so ladies please come in numbers this Monday, please also extend the invitation to other beautiful woman...

On the Monday Blues stage on the 3rd August we had:

Thusi
Damo Mokgatla
Bongeziwe
Mothofela
Sounds of Edutainment rep
Organised Distortion
Expresso feat. Purity
Dr Badela & Guests
Joy of Jozi

A BIG thank you to the artists that performed and the crowd for showing up. We'd once again like to remind you to please go through your cupboards at home and bring through anything you don't use or need anymore, at the end of the womans month we will donate everything to charity.

Next session of the MONDAY BLUES WOMANS MONTH SERIES is on MONDAY, 10th AUGUST...yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

This band definately had the crowd of their feet with Good Vibes!!

Rock band that gave an electrifying performance!

Beautiful performance from these two ladies, poetry and vocals... kind of like a floetry vibe.

MONDAY BLUES WOMANS MONTH SERIES

Woman’s day on 9 August has become a very significant day such so that it is a national public holiday. SA has elevated this day into the entire month of August becoming National Womans month. This month commemorates the national march of women 1956 to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry the "pass", special identification documents which curtailed an African's freedom of movement during the apartheid era. Monday Blues will run a series of Mondays in celebration of woman and the roles that they play in homes, communities and the world at large.

Monday Blues, in its current series of sessions that happen every Monday at Kospotong in Melville will run a Womans Month Series the entire duration of the Woman’s month:

• Monday the 3rd August 2009


• Monday the 10th August 2009


• Monday the 17th August 2009


• Monday the 24th August 2009


• Monday the 31st August 2009

We ask all you powerful woman to come through on Mondays be it you DJ, sing, write peotry, play an instrument, or you're a designer, or a painter.... we'd love to see you there!

Check out updates weekly on facebook or our blogspot to see what suprise guest we'll be bringing you through out the month of August.

Monday Blues.... your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

Monday Blues News - 27 July

We had a great evening at Monday Blues, the performances were amazing and the audience very pleasant.

Izwe, was on for the very first time on the Monday Blues stage. They are a live band, absolutely amazing!

• Daniel - guitarist
• Tuso - base guitarist
• Nobuntu - lead singer
• Linda - on keyboard
• Ade - on drums

Bongeziwe, gave a wonderful performance accompanied by a band


We then had a jam session headed by Smash on drums, Tauriso on electric guitar, Bradley on up-right base, Tuso on base guitar... this was completed by peotry . Poets that blessed us:

• Marcia
• Mac
• Smokey the Native Chef
• Breeze

Thank you all for coming...

Next Monday Blues is on the 27th July @ Ko'spotong in Melville, as we approach Womans Month we ask all sisters to grace us with your presence. Let's have this legendary stage have a line up of woman only these next five weeks. Bring an instrument, a poem, a song or just be there to watch and listen...
Until then, be sure to make it through this Monday, starts @ 8h00... Monday Blues, your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

Bradley on up-right basse n Frank from Kwani on drums... electrifying jam session!

Leero at MB - 13 July... he gave a brilliant performance!

If u missed last weeks line up, be sure to make it tonight to Ko'spotong... bring a friend, an instrument, a poem... starts @ 20h00, R20 gets u in... C U THERE!

Monday Blues news - 13 July

The line-up was amazing as usual, we had the following acts:

• Leero was on acoustic guitar accompanied by great vocals
• Bandile killed it on a poetry act
• Fiona who's an amazing guitarist and vocalist from Germany blessed us
• Joy of Jozi on jazz, they were FANTASTIC!
• Then an amazing combination on a jam session, Bradley on up-right basse, Frank from Kwani on the drums & Tspoon from Joy of Jozi on guitar... beautiful jam session!
• DJ: Alka
• Host: CIA
• Founder: Peter Makurube

The next Monday Blues is tonight in Melville @ Ko'spotong, be sure to join us as we have a great line up for the night!!! yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

the next MONDAY BLUES takes place on the 29th June 09, don't miss out... yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

MONDAY BLUES NEWS - 22 JUNE

DJ: Alka
Host: CIA
Photo's taken by: Khanyiso Ndinisa
Founder of MB: Peter Makurube

Once again we had a fat line up, we were all blessed by great performances on the legendary stage:
Johnny Fantastic
Thobile
Kantolomba
Juan & Jon
Zen (Mr Fu and Johnny Fantastic)
Baby T, Spitjo, Kweriez
Mack, Paulo, Bulelani
Ade, Bulelani, Tebogo

Make sure to catch the next Monday Blues on the 29th June 09...