Free summer concerts with Take the Stage at V&A Waterfront

10 December: Tom James Duo

Tom James Duo is the first Take the Stage act set to perform on Saturday, 10 December. Tom James (22) grew up in England, where he learnt to play the guitar, especially mastering complex guitar moves matched only by his vocal ability and the depth of his lyrics. Tom has played support slots for a number of established South African performers, and performed at various large festivals.

17 December: Lana Crowster Band

Capetonian singer, composer and song arranger Lana Crowster will perform her own compositions on Saturday, 17 December.

Crowster has a BA degree in music and a post graduate diploma in jazz. She has shared a stage with international stars such as Josh Groban, legendary Jazz maestro George Benson, Laura Burhenn from The Mynabirds and Lisa Kekuala from The Bassment Jaxx. Locally, she has performed with the likes of Toya Delazy, Arno Carstens and Goodluck, Karen Zoid, Zaki Ibrahim, Die Antwoord, Chad Saaiman, Matthew Gold, Sharon Kips, Vicky Sampson, Jimmy Earl Perry, Karen Kortje, Kurt Darren, Elvis Blue, Melanie Scholtz and Amanda Tiffin. Lana is currently recording her debut EP of original material which sees her mixing her love of Jazz, Neo-Soul, R&B, House and Hip-Hop to create a sound that is diverse and original.

22 December: Jonathan Rubain

On Thursday, 22 December, base guitarist Jonathan Rubain and his jazz band will perform at the V&A Amphitheatre. In 2010 the band released their first critically acclaimed album entitled ‘Happy People’. Jonathan has performed with the Cape Jazz Band and the Goema Captains of Cape Town, at various festivals in France and Malaysia, amongst others, and he wrote the track ‘I wish I could Groove’, that features on the Goemarati compilation of Cape Town classics. He has also performed on a number of albums.

26,28,30 December: BK Pro

On Monday 26, Wednesday 28 and Friday 30 December, Brandon Ruiters, Lee-Ron Malgas and Deslynn Malotana from hip, groove, afro-funk band BK Pro will perform with backing from bass player Eugene Ackerman, drummer Adrian Abrahams, guitarist Nathan Carolus, and Ruchen Christians on the keyboard.

7 January: Black South Easter

On Saturday, 7 January, the Black South Easter will perform the final Take the Stage concert. The Cape Town band fuses elements of African, funk, blues, jazz, and reggae genres for an energetic, infectious groove. Their uplifting Afro-fusion music style has received extensive airplay on the SABC, and the band has been touring for the past five years.

For more information, please contact the V&A Info Centre on 021 408 7600 or az.oc.tnorfretaw@ofni