Legendary comedian, Tracy Morgan, has announced his 2020 No Disrespect world tour which includes three back-to-back shows around South Africa – Cape Town on the 29^th May; Durban on the 30^th May and Pretoria on the 31^st May.

Tracy Morgan is best known for his appearances on Saturday Night Live and his role as Tracy Morgan in seven seasons of NBC’s Emmy- and Golden Globe award-winning, 30 Rock, opposite Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin.  His film credits include Paramount’s rom-com film, What Men Want with Taraji P. Henson and The Longest Yard opposite Adam Sandler and he has also lent his voice to hit animations Rio, Rio 2 and the Oscar-nominated, Boxtrolls.   Across his career, he has had stand-up specials on Netflix, HBO and Comedy Central and has headlined comedy tours and festivals around the world.

Morgan can currently be seen in the second season of TBS’ The Last OG, which has recently been renewed for a third season.  He can next be heard voicing the role of Fox in Netflix’s Green Eggs & Ham, as well as Caption Caveman in the upcoming 2020 feature, Scoob.

Tickets for Tracy Morgan’s No Disrespect tour start from R350 and are available through Ticketpro.  The show carries a PG-18 age restriction.

Tracy Morgan: No Disrespect is proudly brought to South Africa by leaders in entertainment, Blu Blood in association with Comedy Central, East Coast Radio and KFM.

No Disrespect Tour Dates:

Friday, 29^th May, Grand Arena, GrandWest, Cape Town at 20:00

Saturday, 30^th May, Durban ICC, Durban at 20:00

Sunday, 31^st May, Sun Arena at Time Square, Pretoria at 18:00

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In a stand-up city, filled with stand-up people, 947, together with Blu Blood, are proud to announce the first annual Stand-Up Joburg comedy show – a brand new comedy experience committed to celebrating the ultimate local comedic talent in South Africa.

This no-holds-barred comedy spectacular will take place on the 23rd of September at Centre Court at Emperors Palace (the next day is a public holiday).

Whether they’re commenting on politics or crime or their own personal musings, South African comedians have no shortage of material.  They’ve also got an incredibly diverse and enthusiastic loyal following that enjoys celebrating their Southafrican-ness.

Laugh it out with the stalwarts of the industry to emerging new voices.  The very best in homegrown talents includes Riaad Moosa, Joey Rasdien, Sifiso Nene, Ndumiso Lindi, Schalk Bezuidenhout, Lindy Johnson, Lihle Msimang, Mpho Popps, Celeste Ntuli, Krijay Govender and Mo Vawda; with guest performances by Morgan Beatbox and some of your favourite 947 presenters and Djs.

Love to laugh – Stand-Up Joburg with 947 and Blu Blood.  Tickets from R180 now available through Computicket or retail outlets.

The show starts at 20h00 and is rated PG-16.

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They’ve just performed alongside other globally acclaimed artists in the anthem song for the ICC Cricket World Cup extravaganza and now South African audiences are soon to witness the magic of India’s ‘Fabulous Four’ when YouTube sensations, SANAM, return by popular demand for three concerts around the country on the 24^th August at Emperors Palace, 28^th of August at GrandWest Casino and 31^st August at Suncoast Casino.

The band rose to fame after composing renditions of classic Bollywood hit songs that they had grown up listening to and uploading them to YouTube and they have since recorded and performed songs in Hindi, English, Spanish and Gurarati including the likes of Main Hoon which was featured in the Hollywood blockbuster, The Amazing Spiderman 2 and which received rave reviews across its multi-language theatre release in India.  They are now YouTube India’s most followed independent music channel and India’s most successful digital artists.  Their music video for Gulabi Aankhen has a staggering 111 million views alone.

“We were never in it for the fame or where this would take us.  We wanted a place to share our videos with our friends and the industry and to revive these songs that we had such a special connection to and bridge the gap between these songs and today’s generations.  We didn’t have enough money to hire professional teams to shoot and edit our videos so we learnt how to do it ourselves.,” says frontman, Sanam Puri who shares the limelight with Samar Puri (lead guitar, vocals), Venky S (bass) and Keshav Dhanrai (drums).

Humble about their fame, the band describes their sound as refreshingly different – a mix of contemporary pop rock with their distinct blend of Omani and Indian musicians.  The band’s frontman, Sanam Puri, is the voice of Bollywood chart busters Dhat Teri Ki (‘Gori Tere Pvaar Mein) and Ishq Bulaava (‘Hasee Toh Phasee’).  The band has released 5 albums to date and other original singles, many of which have enjoyed number 1 spots on IndiPop charts and trending playlists.

Tickets for SANAM – Live in Concert are now available through Computicket online and retail outlets from R300 per person.

Another Bollywood extravaganza brought to you by the leaders in entertainment, Blu Blood in association with Tilley Doors, IBV Gold and Burger King.  Be prepared to be #SANAMized.

Sanam Show Details

24 August @ 20h00

Emperors Palace, Centre Court

64 Jones Road, Kempton Park

28 August @ 20h00

GrandWest Casino & Entertainment, Grand Arena

1 Jakes Gerwel Dr, Goodwood, Cape Town

31 August @ 20h00

Suncoast Casino, The Globe

Suncoast Boulevard, O R Tambo Parade, Durban

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The Penny Appeal way of doing charity is simple; They take small change and make a Big difference with it.  In a first for the organisation, they have announced their first South African comedy tour, Penny For A Laugh, to highlight and raise funds for some of their local projects.

Hosted by Riaad Moosa, the tour will feature an all-star line-up with Annalakshmi, Chris Forrest, Conrad Koch & Chester Missing, Farhan Esat, Mo Vawda, Ndumiso Lindi, Neil Green (Durban show only), Sifiso Nene (Cape Town show only), Simmi Areff and Tumi Morake.

Penny Appeal is a relief and development organisation providing aid to communities in need, while advocating and addressing the needs of marginalized groups.  Penny For A Laugh, progressed by Blu Blood, has been inspired with the intention of raising funds for Penny Appeal’s local projects and creating awareness about the various thematic areas of focus under which they work.

Proceeds will go towards various projects including Penny Appeal’s ‘Children of the World’ campaign. The campaign is focused on orphaned and vulnerable children, as well as marginalized communities across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Penny Appeal provides support to such groups by sponsoring orphans, building orphan homes, providing access to clean water, and ensuring that communities have an opportunity to transform themselves out of poverty. Proceeds from the tour will enable the OrphanKind Programme, which serves orphans and vulnerable children around the world and provide essential services including their mobile medical bus for South Africa.

Penny for a Laugh

Durban ICC – 12 July 2019

Cape Town ICC – 19 July 2019

Johannesburg, Vodacom World – 20 July 2019

Tickets from R200, available from Computicket.

For more information on Penny Appeal and how to donate to their cause, visit www.pennyappeal.org.za.

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Jonita Gandhi, the talent with the smooth, sensuous voice behind chartbuster hits like The Breakup Song (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil), Gilehriyaan (Dangal) and Sau Tarah Ke (Dishoom), has taken music lovers worldwide by storm and she’ll be heading to South Africa for the first time to perform locally.

Fans across the globe have come to know this Indo-Canadian songbird when she shot to fame back in 2011 on YouTube, with her covers of popular Bollywood songs which have gained her millions of views.

It was only a matter of time before Jonita was picked up by composers to sing Bollywood numbers and she has since grown as an award-winning playback singer. Now a full-time recording artist and performer, Jonita has several accomplishments under her belt.

Born in Delhi, India, Jonita moved to Canada at an early age.  She started performing on stage at the tender age of 4 and has managed to pursue an exciting musical career, while maintaining academic excellence at the University of Western Ontario.

She made her Bollywood debut in the title track of the 2013 blockbuster film, Chennai Express, starring megastars Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. She has also featured on MTV India’s Coke Studio Season 3 and released two songs in the film Highway, with music by A.R. Rahman.

Having grown up listening to – and learning a variety of musical styles, Jonita has become a true experimentalist in her art.  She enjoys taking opportunities where she can try out new styles and sing in different languages.  She also has training in Western Classical music.

Jonita Gandhi – Live In Concert is proudly brought to you by Blu Blood and Muzicorp. Osman Osman, MD of Blu Blood noted that they continue to bring world-class entertainment to South African stages and are thrilled to be hosting Jonita Gandhi for the first time in South Africa.  The concert  promises to be a super, power-packed and unforgettable show that is not to be missed.

Jonita Gandhi – Live In Concert

Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace

Sunday, 4 November at 18h00

Tickets available at Computicket, at R300

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Get your prescription of laughter with Riaad Moosa & Friends over Heritage weekend this September at Emperors Palace.  The prognosis is in!  ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ and Dr Riaad Moosa is insisting that it is your best course of medication!

Research has shown that laughter is good for your health; it relaxes the whole body; boosts the immune system, triggers the release of endorphins; protects the heart and burns calories!  Which means that it’s for your own good that you do not miss the second edition of Riaad Moosa & Friends: Heritage Weekend Edition at Emperors Palace on Sunday, 23rd September, 2018, especially since the Monday is a public holiday.

Joining Riaad Moosa for a top-notch night of entertainment are his good friends – and some of South Africa’s biggest comedy heavyweights – Dillan Oliphant, Joey Rasdien, Khanyisa Bunu, Loyiso Madinga, Muthu Murugan, Ndumiso Lindi, Robby Collins, Schalk Bezuidenhout and Simmi Areff.

With this royal flush of SA comedy giants, this is guaranteed to be a show of hysterical proportions.

Get your prescription of laughter with Riaad Moosa & Friendsas they take hilarity to the next level on 23 September at Centre Court, Emperors Palace.  The show is rated PG16.  Tickets are available from R185 per person and can be booked through Computicket or at the Emperors Palace Box Office.  Emperors Palace is located at 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park, Johannesburg. Show starts at 19h30.

Another great production brought to you by your friends at Blu Blood.  You’re welcome!  After all, what are friends for?  Visit www.blublood.com for more information.

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Where do you go when you’re trying to get away from your monster mother-in-law?  If you’re Annalakshmi, then it’s a different country and a different continent altogether!

Annalakshmi’s African Adventure is a hilarious musical comedy about being an Indian National taking refuge in South Africa.  This one-woman-show will take place for the first time on a Joburg stage on the 24th of March at the Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace.

Using singing in a variety of Indian vernacular, as well as old and contemporary English music, Annalakshmi tackles family, social, economic and political issues. She loves telling stories and giving candid commentary of her Indian take on things and her parodies are witty, funny and they hit home.

Anasia Govender – better known as her stage character, Annalakshmi – is a 42-year-old mother of 3 and an entrepreneur.  She is also the chef and owner of Chilli Kadhai Restaurant in Durban.  In fact, this was where it all started when her video advertising the restaurant went viral after she gave Ed Sheeran’s song, Thinking Out Loud, her own twist.

One of her comedy career highlights was being a semi-finalist on SA’s Got Talent 2017.  She has shared the stage with some of South Africa’s best comedians including Carvin Goldstone, Joey Rasdien and Marc Lottering, to name a few.   Kamz Govender, an exciting new up-and-coming comic, will be the opening act.  His clean, hilariously well-thought out one-liners, has him standing out on stage.

Annalakshmi’s African Adventure is entertainment for the whole family.  Tickets are available from R120 per person. Annalakshmi’s Adventures is poudly brought to you in association with Blu Blood.

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Take a trip through an authentic Indian market at the Festival of India, coming to Montecasino from 16 to 25 March.  A one-of-a-kind shopping experience, it promises to be an extravaganza of authentic Indian lifestyle, fashion, culture and cuisine. From performers and traditional foods, to authentic Indian clothing and genuine homeware, this vibrant festival offers to have something for the whole family.

The kaleidoscope of colours, cultures, goods and flavours on offer will take your breath away. See and buy an assortment of merchandise from across India including Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, Jaipur, Pakistan, Rajasthan, Gujarat and much more. It will truly be like stepping into India, as all exhibitors will be coming from India itself to display their wares and delight your senses.

The Festival of India is going to be an annual event that South African and African Indian communities can look forward to.  It is a lifestyle, food and cultural extravaganza with truly authentic exhibitors and performers.

Bollywood in Johannesburg is what you will experience fashion-wise at the Festival of India, as exhibitors will be showcasing some of the latest and most intricate of Indian fashion and jewellery designs. You’ll find intricately detailed and exquisite saris, perfectly cut and styled Punjabis, or even the bridal gown of your dreams. Walk the lanes of Montecasino, taking in the sights and sounds of true Indian fashions and accessories including prayer items, religious statues, astrological assortments, and much more.

Mike Page, GM of Montecasino, says, “Celebrating the exotic delights of all things India, including  the culture, fashion, cuisine, and lifestyle, is always popular with South Africans of all walks of life and age groups. Author Mark Twain wisely once said, ‘Our most valuable and most constructive materials in the history or man are treasured up in India only.’ The 10-day Festival of India in March promises to share some of those treasures – and we have no doubt it will be a truly great experience for all our visitors.”

Do not leave the festival without sampling the many authentically delicious foods on offer that will awaken your senses and have you going back for more. Spicy, flavourful and beautifully rich foods will be on offer throughout the festival to enhance the overall Indian experience of the festival.

From entertainment and fashion, to cosmetics and cuisine, no matter what your Indian influence and interest, you are bound to find it at the Festival of India.  This unique festival is open to the public and tickets cost R20 at the door.  Gates open from 11h00 to 21h00 daily.

Proudly brought to you by SISONKE and ENIGMA Events.  Powered by Blu Blood.

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Synonymous with bringing world-class Bollywood entertainment to South Africa’s stages, Blu Blood is proud to announce the return of music legend and international award-winning singing sensation, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, to Durban and Johannesburg on 20 and 21 April 2018.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has been mesmerising audiences around the globe for over three decades.  As one of the most popular Bollywood playback singers, he has released over 50 title tracks for TV serials, over 100 film songs and has released dozens of original chart-topping hits.

Having grown up in a musical family in Pakistan – whose hearts and souls were embedded in musical tradition – Rahat Khan is well-known for his Qawwali music and also performs ghazals and other light music.

Qawwali music is the explosive devotional music of the Sufis of Pakistan and the Indian subcontinent.  It originated in the 10^th Century as a blend of Persian and Central Asian poetic, philosophical and religious elements with North Indian musical expression.

He was tutored by his uncle and father from the age of three and performed for the first time at the age of nine.  He started travelling the world from the age of fifteen and gained recognition globally.

His music has captured the imaginations of listeners as far as the West, with Khan contributing to the soundtrack of the 1995 Hollywood blockbuster, Dead Man Walking.  He also worked on the soundtrack of The Four Feathers, in collaboration with American composer, James Horner.  In 2011, his vocals were featured on the soundtrack of Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto.   He has performed in the likes of New York, Los Angeles, Spain, Canada, Belgium and Tibet.

Rahat carries a message of love, peace and spiritualism through his music.  Don’t miss Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at the Durban ICC on 20 April and Centre Court, Emperors Palace, Johannesburg on 21 April 2018.

Tickets from R250, available through Computicket online and retail outlets and Johannesburg tickets are available at Emperors Palace.  The show is family friendly.  Both shows start at 8PM respectively (doors open at 19h30).

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Beautiful Creatures in association with Blu Blood are excited to announce the return of the award-winning children’s stage production, Beautiful Creatures, at the Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace from the 8th to the 18th December 2016.

Following on the huge success of their shows in 2010 and 2011, this fun, educational and interactive 60-minute show is back by popular demand and features some of Beautiful Creatures’ most loved characters.

The musical tells the story of the shy and quiet Imvubu the Happiest Hippo and how he got to be so happy.  We join him on his journey of self-discovery as he befriends Mafutha the Elephant, learns dance steps from Tallulah the Tortoise and finds his “inner roar” with the help of Lucas the Lazy Lion.

This popular South African children’s brand was created in 2004 by Alan Glass, Ed Jordan and Paul Choritz.

The last five years has seen them releasing seven albums which have achieved multi-platinum and gold album sales in South Africa, as well as four children’s books and a series of educational toys.  They have also received two SAMA nominations and received the Naledi Award for Best Children’s Production in 2010.

“In a world where parents and children have limited quality time, Beautiful Creature’s mission is to bring families together offering a uniquely South African brand with an educational and positive message,” adds Alan Glass.

The production is directed by esteemed director and actress, Gina Shmukler.

Tickets cost R85 and are available through Computicket

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