by Jenny Griesel

If there was ever a band that demystified Reggae and opened this genre of music to the rest of the world, it is without a doubt UB40. With their signature rootsy sound, and huge multi hit chart-topping repertoire, UB40 have been wow-ing music fans since 1979. After a brief pause, they reunited and re-entered the music scene in 2013.

Recently, Big Concerts brought UB40 back to South Africa, for their 25 Year Celebrations Tour. For the first time in the capital city, UB40, featuring founding artists Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue, performed to a full house at the Sun Square Arena at Time Square, Pretoria, on Saturday 19^th May 2018.

This iconic British band brought music fans of all ages and races together with a happy, cheerful vibe in the house. The atmosphere in the Sun Arena was jovial and relaxed. Fans had travelled from far and wide to enjoy this iconic band that crosses all boundaries, and there was a sense of adoration for their beloved Reggae stars on stage.

UB40 began their show with a bang and ended the same way as they pumped out their multiple big hits including I’m going to wear you to the ball tonight, Kingston Town, Cheerio Baby (the hit written by a teenage talent competition), Rat in my Kitchen and Many Rivers to Cross. They also treated fans to two songs of their brand new album. Two tracks, both She loves me now and How could I, present a modern take on their unmistakable iconic UB40 sound.

With a full seven piece band, the production was slick. They moved effortlessly from one song to another with minimal, but what seemed like just the right amount of introduction talk, to every third of fourth song.

After a brief false ending, UB40 returned to the stage to perform crowd favourites I can’t help falling in love with you and of course ended with Red Red Wine that earned a standing ovation.

For the thousands of Reggae lovers that came hungry for their heartfelt, musically rich UB40 hits, they got what they came for and left with full tummies. UB40 did not disappoint, and in fact left fans wanting more!

In their words “Until we meet again – Peace!”

[box type=”info” align=”alignright” ] [dropcap]J[/dropcap]enny Griesel is a good friend of Stage and Screen, and also the owner of Jenny Griesel Communications.

This review was voluntarily done by her, and acted purely as a trusted contributor to Stage and Screen. The views depicted in this review, are that of the contributor, but edited and published according to the established identity and standards of the publication. We thank Jenny for the contribution, and hope for many more collaborations to come.[/box]

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By Jenny Griesel

So often when we see a concert coming up by one of the more veteran artists, we dismiss it as a night that will be filled with nothing but golden oldies, both on stage and in the crowd. I couldn’t have been more wrong about this one, as Chris De Burgh showed us that he still has what it takes to fill an entire arena and captivate fans for hours.  I was fortunate to attend his concert at the Sun Arena in Pretoria, after a packed Grand West arena in Cape Town only two nights before.

Here are three things that I had forgotten about this legendary Irish performer, which would leave anyone who missed the South African leg of his A Better World Tour with envy.

His Repertoire is Energetic and Diverse:

Let’s face it, nobody that has been in the entertainment race for so many years can stay there with only a handful of number ones. Chris De Burgh reminded me of his extensive hit filled repertoire with songs like High on Emotion, Spanish Train, I love the night, Don’t Pay the Ferryman, Lady In Red, Diamond in the Dark, Fire on the Water and many others. The packed arena at Times Square in Pretoria, sang along to his umpteen beloved songs in an almost three-hour spectacular show.

His new material is heartfelt, and rich. One can’t help wonder if there are Celtic influences in some of the chords which add a rich dimension to the slower songs. The upbeat numbers are vibrant and contemporary and will no doubt go down like a treat with fans.  True to form, they deliver his signature musicality, narrative lyrics, great guitar work, and catchy melodies.

He is a Story Teller:

De Burgh’s songs are filled with rich stories that tell tales of courage, friendship, travelling, the godly realm, our human souls, love, loss and life itself. From the souls of the dead on the Spanish Train to the man bringing a message to mankind, Spaceman Came Travelling, this Irish performer captures your imagination in every song. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as he sang of the power of friendship in The Snows of New York.:

“And when there was just one set of prints in the sand, that was when you carried me. 

You have always been such a good friend to me.

Through the thunder and the rain, and when you’re feeling lost in the snows of New York,

Lift your heart and think of me..”

And to end it off, what would a Chris De Burgh show be without every crowd’s guilty pleasure – the tale of good old Patricia the Stripper!

He is a Performer Extraordinaire:

Chris will not only go down as one of our generation’s greatest songwriters but must be commended for his under-rated stage presence. Humble and unassuming, he is a performer extraordinaire.  Knowing exactly when to up the tempo after moving, heartfelt ballades, he effortlessly blended his new numbers with his all-time favorites. The ultimate gentleman, he recounted his day spent in Pretoria, and shared what he loves about the capital city. It’s not all serious though – this Irishman also has a sharp sense of humour!

To me, the test of whether an artist takes themselves too seriously, is whether they are willing to put their own material in the backseat for a few minutes, and do a cover of another artist’s song, for the sake of the show. He passed with flying colors! Chris De Burgh got the crowd on their feet as he belted out Toto’s Africa after an emotional show of gratitude for how consistently his music has been received here, since the early days of his career.

In what was probably the most anticipated moment of the evening, De Burgh left the stage and took to the crowd to be up close and personal with the audience as he crooned out Lady in Red. Un-phased by endless hugs and adoration by lady fans, he walked the aisles, all the way around the arena, connecting with as many people as possible during this special song that tickles nostalgia to like no other.

In short, a ticket to this show is worth every cent!

Chris de Burgh’s A Better World Tour, was Another Big Concerts Experience. Coming up in the next few months, are more Big Concerts spectaculars with Santana in April, with Special Guests, Mango Groove. In May, South Africans can get ready for UB4 for UB40 and The Script. In June, there is something for the little people, as the characters of Cartoon Network will be coming here. July, sees the inaugural concerts on SA soil from Katy Perry, and it is official, another date has been added, due to the demand. Please Click here to read more. 

[box type=”info” align=”alignright” ] [dropcap]J[/dropcap]enny Griesel is a good friend of Stage and Screen, and also the owner of Jenny Griesel Communications.

This review was voluntarily done by her, and acted purely as a trusted contributor to Stage and Screen. The views depicted in this review, are that of the contributor, but edited and published according to the established identity and standards of the publication. We thank Jenny for the contribution, and hope for many more collaborations to come.

The images in this review are courtesy of The Publicity Workshop and Big Concerts.[/box]

The post Chris de Burgh appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Dalk het hy al vir ‘n geruime tydjie soos ‘n akteur begin voel as mens in ag neem die musiekvideo van sy treffer, Skepe, is reeds meer as 2 miljoen keer op Youtube gekyk. Maar nou het Jo Black en sy baard die grootskerm betree met die aankondiging dat hy sy opwagting gaan maak in die rolprent Susters.

Jo sluit aan by ‘n sterk rolverdeling wat Leah, Quanita Adams en Diaan Lawrenson in die hoofrolle insluit. Die verhaal gaan oor drie aangenome susters wat van mekaar vervreemd geraak het en hoe hulle op ‘n ontdekkingsreis gaan met die afsterwe van hul moeder. Dis ‘n reis gevul met tere herinneringe, interessante karakters, ongelooflike mooi plekke en dit wat die skoner geslag baie goed mee is – hoe om sakke vol pret te hê.

Die rol self is volgens Jo kleinerig, maar hy speel homself en ten minste het hy baie ervaring in die vertolking van daardie rol. Rolprentgangers kan selfs ‘n paar blomme in daai baard van hom te wagte wees. Moeilik om te dink dat hy tussen sy besige program gevul met konserte en Be That Guy verskynings by skole regoor die land, nog tyd kon inruim vir ‘n rolprent ook. As mens hom vra oor wat sy vrou en kinders gedink het oor sy verskyning in ‘n rolprent, antwoord hy skamerig dat hulle mal daaroor was.

Boonop sing die platinumverkoper kunstenaar die titelsnit van die rolprent, “Nooit Alleen,” saam met Leah en die liedjie het reeds die nommer 1 posisie op radiostasies se trefferslyste regoor die land bereik.

Susters word landwyd op 30 Maart uitgereik en beloof om een van daardie goedvoel rolprente te wees, en boonop in Afrikaans, wat mense vir lank aan die praat gaan hê.

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Hierdie Desember kan Suid-Afrikaanse fliekgangers uitsien na die uitreiking van die splinternuwe rolprent “Susters.”

Die verhaal gaan oor drie aangenome susters wat van mekaar vervreemd geraak het en hoe hulle op ‘n ontdekkingsreis gaan met die afsterwe van hul moeder. Dis ‘n reis gevul met tere herinneringe, interessante karakters, ongelooflike mooi plekke en dit wat die skoner geslag baie goed mee is – hoe om sakke vol pret te hê.

Die rolverdeling sluit in Leah, die veelbekroonde sangeres met albumverkope wat goue status breik het en bekend is vir haar rolle in As Jy Sing en Sterlopers. Nog ‘n suster word gespeel deur Quanita Adams, self geen vreemdeling vir die kollig nie met heelwat televisie- en filmrolle agter haar naam. En die derde suster is niemand anders nie as Diaan Lawrenson, bekend vir haar rol as Paula in 7de Laan. En dis maar net die hoofrolle – kykers kan hulle gereed maak vir heelwat verrassings met bekendes wat kleiner rolle gaan vertolk.

In die regisseurstoel is Corné van Rooyen, bekend vir sy werk op Hollywood in my huis en Vaselinetjie.   Die draaiboek is geskryf deur Corine du Toit en Sandra Vaughn, wat saam ‘n magdom film- en TV-reeksdraaiboeke agter hul naam het, insluitend Semi-Soet. Dis ook nie aldag wat ‘n vrou in beheer is van kinematografie nie, maar Sunel Haasbroek verleen ‘n unieke vroulike uitkyk op hoe die susters die wêreld om hulle sien. Die vervaardigers van Susters is Jenny Griesel, bekend vir haar werk in die media, liefdadigheid en bemarking van die land se top glanspersone, saam met die bekroonde liedjieskrywer, Johan Vorster. En waar Johan is, is daar natuurlike ook goeie musiek, dus as musiekregisseur, kan almal ‘n klankbaan van hoë gehalte te wagte wees.

Susters word moontlik gemaak deur die trotse samewerking tussen Inhoud Huis Media en kykNET en word op die 1ste Desember landwyd vrygestel, net betyds vir daardie vakansiegevoel wat gesinne saambind.

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