Arts writer
MANGO Groove plan to kick off 2015 in spectacular fashion on Wednesday night at Kirstenbosch’s New Year’s Eve Concert along with Arno Carstens at 8.30pm.
The band has much to celebrate, as next year, their touring schedule will see their return to London’s Hammersmith Apollo stage on March 7. This historic gig comes 20 years after their last showing at the venue.
Founder member John Leyden: “The live show is very important to Mango Groove: very spontaneous, very celebratory, and very much a huge party both on stage and in the audience. We have been so lucky through the years to have had so much support from so many South Africans, and now it’s doubly rewarding to just how many different generations of South Africans are coming to the concerts… nothing like that to keep the party going!’’
February will also see the release of lead singer Claire Johnston’s solo album release, which has been over two years in the making. The production celebrates great South African songs through the decades, and includes collaborations with Zolani Mahola, Theuns Jordaan, Juanita du Plessis, Romanz, Vusi Mahlasela, Rebecca Malope, Mango Groove (also the producers of the album) and Kurt Darren.
Leyden adds, ‘‘Truth be told, the album gained a life of its own, and developed such a momentum with so many different artists involved, that we decided to hold over the release to next year. We have now completed the project and are ecstatic with the results!’’
l Kirstenbosch tickets R310, www.webtickets.co.za, 021 799 8782. Gates open: 7pm.