ACCORDING to Wikipedia, ‘karaoke’ is a form of entertainment in which an amateur singer, or singers, sing along with recorded music.
The music is typically a well known popular song, minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol, changing color, or music video images, to guide the singer.
Michael Phytides, a well known pub owner and businessman in Vryheid, also an enthusiastic supporter of local music, who has hosted several bands and musicians over the past few months at Ella Mera, recently decided to extend an invitation to the public to try out their own hidden talents behind the microphone at a Karaoke evening.
On Saturday night, August 2, with the assistance of Geoff Dellow, Ella Mera was transformed into a hub of hidden talent and a potential performer’s paradise, as Vryheid locals let down their hair, kicked up their heels, and took to the microphone.
In the end, there were some pleasant performances (who knew that Jacques Jordaan had a singing voice that could possibly impress Randall Abrahams?) and a brilliant atmosphere as patrons put their skills to the test and even banded together to put on a show, the first of its kind at Ella Mera, but certainly not the last.
This coming Saturday night, August 23, in conjunction with a farewell party for one of his staff members, Michael Phytides will once again offer locals a chance to entertain each other, singing popular karaoke hits at Ella Mera.
