IT’S time for the annual family day concert which boasts the best of our musicians. You’ve guessed it, it’s Durban Day. And this year, the line-up includes eight of the country’s hottest bands, with five of them performing at the concert for the first time.
Going down on Sunday at People’s Park, Moses Mabhida Stadium, the line-up will include Jimmy Nevis, BlackByrd (pictured), The Arrows, Mafikizolo, Gangs of Ballet, Freshlyground, The Parlotones with Khuli Chana and MiCasa.
Performing at Durban Day for the first time will be Capetonian all-girl trio, Blackbyrd, comprised of Samantha Heldsinger, Tarryn Lambard and Tamsyn Maker.
Lambard tells me how amped the group is about playing at Durban Day: “Oh my god. It’s very exciting for us. It’s our very first time in Durban at a public event. And we’re excited to play our songs. We’ll be coming with a live band as well and our shows are very interactive. We’ll be playing our tracks like All of Me and Bottom of My Heart.”
Lambard thinks the awesome line-up is the perfect selection: “It’s gonna be such a smash with the music and the balance they have in the show. It’s MiCasa, Khuli Chana and Freshlyground; it’s going to be crazy. And The Arrows are really awesome. So, along with them, we’re representing the females.”
The artist tells me BlackByrd are working on their second album which they plan to release at the end of the month.
“For most bands, the second album is make or break and there’s definitely a lot of pressure. As a band, we want to aim higher and the standard we set for the first album, we need to continue with that level. So yeah, we’re hoping to achieve that.”
So what can Durban expect from the all-girl group? According to Lambard, there will definitely be a few surprises.
“We’re going to play all of our songs. We’re also going to do a duet of Bottom of My Heart. But we’re not sure who we’re performing it with as yet. But there will be a live band with us and that just takes the music to a new level. The ladies and I are happy about the show. We want to have a good time and make everyone sing along and enjoy the music.
“And we’re so looking forward to coming to Durban more than anything. This is our second function with East Coast Radio so it’s all a new stage for us in terms of our relationship with them and the audiences in Durban. We’re looking forward to having a celebration.”
• Don’t miss ECR’s Durban Day on Sunday at the People’s Park, Moses Mabhida Stadium, from noon. R150 at Computicket. Free for under-12s. See www.ecr.co.za.
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Five double tickets for the East Coast Radio Durban Day are up for grabs. To win, sms Durban DN and your name to 33963 before 9am tomorrow. Smses cost R1.50 each and winners will be notified telephonically.