The Parlotones have announced their long-awaited new album set for release in July 2018 through Gallo Record Company.

The bands 20^th anniversary year will see a brand new studio album titled China’ released both locally and internationally. Recorded over a four month period at High Seas Studios in Johannesburg, the creative process commenced with lead singer Kahn spending a period of time in England with a selection of renowned songwriters to establish the path the album would take.

Working with the likes of two time Ivor Novello Award winner and Grammy nominated songwriter Sacha Skarbek, Richard Archer, Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly musician Sam Duckworth and a selection of other songwriters the foundation of the album was born.

The album offers 25 tracks (Double CD release) that is sure to appeal to the bands fans around the world as well as to open them up to a whole new audience with their ever-evolving sound, yet still maintaining that signature Parlotones sound.

2018 will also see The Parlotones celebrating their 20th Anniversary as a band and will take on a string of headline concerts in their native South Africa before making their way to mainland Europe, United Kingdom and Dubai on a 25 date tour through Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, England, Scotland and concluding the tour in Dubai.

The Parlotones may have been together for a lifetime, but their journey has only just begun…

South African fans can see The Parlotones live on the following dates:

13 July – Vrystaat Kunstefees, Sand du Plessis Theatre, Bloemfontein

14 July – Verkykerskop

20 July – Teatro, Montecasino, Johannesburg

4 August – Harties Unite Rock Fest – Broederstrrom

8 August – Barnyard Vereeniging

11 August – Queensburgh Rugby Club (Werda School)

12 August – Caversham outdoor sessions with Gangs of Ballet

1 September – 947 Joburg Day

Tickets available from https://www.wearetheparlotones.com/shows

China is available now on pre-order from http://smarturl.it/TheParlotones_China.

The pre-order is also accompanied with the release of the first single from the album, entitled ‘Can You Feel It?’ which is available to download or stream from http://smarturl.it/TheParlotones_CYFI.

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Coach Kahn Morbee produces the show’s number one singer two years in a row

The viewing public has chosen 23-year old Craig Lucas from Elsies River as the winner of The Voice South Africa season 2. The announcement was made at the end of this week’s showstopper grand finale which was broadcast live on M-Net and M-Net City from the Mosaiek Teatro in Fairland, Johannesburg. With Craig’s victory, Parlotones front man Kahn Morbee also clinched the title of winning coach for the second year in a row.

More than 1.6 million votes – an all time record for The Voice SA – were cast in the dramatic final week of voting during which seven incredible singers competed for the show’s grand prize. In the end, Craig beat versatile vocalist and runner-up Josh Ansley (31) as well as Samantha Leonard (24), Caroline Grace Brussow (31), PJ Pretorius (26), Fatman (41) and Luke Lovemore (23).

Craig, who was one of the audience favourites right from the start, made his first foray into singing on stage with his soulful The Voice SA Blind Audition of “House of The Rising Sun”. While music has always been his passion he first had to keep his promise to his mother – to complete his studies. The new Voice of South Africa now holds an honours degree in Finance from the University of Cape Town. During each round of the competition Craig wowed the audience with his unique interpretations of popular songs, demonstrating why coach Kahn called him “the love child of John Legend and Freddy Mercury”.

On top of nabbing a coveted record deal from Universal Music South Africa, Craig walked off with the following fabulous prizes from The Voice SA sponsors:

• R250 000 in cash from dialdirect;
• From Samsung, a Gear S3 smart watch, a Galaxy S8 smart phone, a Gear VR, a 360 camera, a Gear iconiX set and a 65 inch KS9500 SUHD TV;
• A Subaru Impreza 2.0 Premium CVT;
• R100 000 of fashion from Truworths.

Deloitte and Touche independently computed the voting figures for The Voice SA and these stats will be made available to the public later this week.

Viewers can also visit www.mnet.tv/thevoice for exclusive interviews with the coaches and talent, and follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter @VoiceSA / #TheVoiceSA or on the official “Voice SA” Facebook page.

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How do you pick a winner when incredibly talented singers under your wing go all out to give the performances of their lives in head-to-head Battles of note? Coaches Karen Zoid, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Lira and Kahn Morbee faced this agonising dilemma after pairing up some of the show’s standout stars in this week’s episode of The Voice SA.

The scene for the evening’s drama, excitement and emotional intensity was set when charismatic performer Clemour Ngobeni (24) from Midrand took on the quiet but formidable teacher from Fontainbleau, Justin Swallow (23) with the Katy Perry anthem “Roar”.  Their roars had the coaches raving. Lira praised their feistiness and presence, while the blown-away Karen wanted to cry in a good way when Justin went into his high register,  and then called Clemour “a dynamo”. But it was up to coach Kahn to decide who would stay in his team and the conflicted Parlotones frontman had to consult with his co-coach Vicky Sampson. In the end, Clemour was named the winner of this ferocious battle.

If this was not dramatic enough, Lira then pitted two talents against each other, who both turned all four of the coaches’ chairs during the Blind Auditions:  popular teacher and humanitarian from Kagiso on the West Rand of Johannesburg Tshegofatso Makhafola (27), and the equally popular Sibulele Miti (27) from King William’s Town. Lira furthermore upped the ante by pulling them out of their comfort zone with The Bangles hit “Eternal Flame”. The two introverted singers dazzled with fantastic performances and at decision time, the very proud Coach Lira chose Sibulele to progress in the competition.

Coach Bobby also had to make a tough call when two Afrikaans divas, Nolene Olivier (24) from Sandton and Sumaré van Schalkwyk (34) from Brackenfell , wowed the coaches and audience with their heartfelt interpretation of Corlea Botha’s Afrikaans classic “Swart Koffie”. The coaches disagreed about who the winner should be, leaving Bobby to check-in with his co-coach Toya Delazy. They picked the bubbly Nolene.

#TeamBobby’s second showdown happened to be just as epic.  Experienced performers Lyle Volkwyn (29) and Gavin Edwards, (37),  took it down to the wire with the Bryan Adams ballad, “Please Forgive Me”. “I forgive both of you!” Karen quipped. “I feel like you left your soul on that stage. You took it to another level,” Lira commented. “I’m so proud of you guys, we’ve been working a lot this week,” Bobby told his team members. “You guys are amazing, I admire your talent … For me, the guy who won the battle today is Gavin.”

Then there was also the battle between the #TeamKahn best friends,  and a surprise twist for #TeamKaren, when not two but three singers had to enter the Battle grounds.

Stellenbosch student Francis Bowers (22) from Melkbosstrand and 45-year-old Michelle Booysen from Boksburg were challenged with the Elton John classic “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” by coach Kahn.  Lira said Michelle reminded her of Barbra Streisand, and Karen heard shades of the South African singer Cindy Alter, from the group Clout, in her voice, but ultimately Kahn went with Francis Bowers for his team.

After a few very tough days of training, Karen Zoid made an announcement that created additional stress for Cape Town rocker Alicia-Ann du Plessis (22) and the fitter-and-turner from Stilfontein, Almur Marais (25). They would be joined by Pretoria rocker Marcel De Almeida (24), as his competitor Sofaya Nkosi (28) withdrew from the competition due to other engagements.  “There are three people, and we’re allowed to take two through,” Karen explained.

Karen deliberately put her rockers together in this tenacious trio, and they had to earn their stripes with the Aerosmith classic, “Living on the Edge”.  Almur nailed it, but Karen was conflicted regarding her second choice: “Thinking about the rock thing, tell me who you would keep?” she asked her fellow coaches. Kahn noted that Marcel had the bigger range, but “I felt your performance was more sincere,” he told Alicia-Ann. “Here’s the deal,” Karen announced her final decision … “Marcel’s skill level is higher than Alicia-Ann’s. Marcel, ek sal jou deurvat, maar ons moet daai goed afleer!”

So, that is how 24-year-old Marcel Almeida joined six other singers to make it through to the Live rounds of The Voice SA.

This week’s haul of winners comprises: Marcel De Almeida (24),  Almur Marais (25),  Gavin Edwards (37), Nolene Olivier (24), Sibulele Miti (27), Francis Bowers (22), and Clement “Clemour” Ngobeni (24).   Visit www.mnet.tv/thevoice for more information and also remember to download The VoiceSA app on Android or iOS to play real-time games and stay up to speed with the latest news about the show.
You can also join The Voice SA conversation on “The Voice SA” Facebook page, and via Twitter on @VoiceSA with the hashtag #TheVoiceSA, or use your WeChat account and check in with the ID MNetTV.
The Voice South Africa is produced for M-Net by AMPN and is sponsored by Dialdirect.

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