What’s on in and around town this New Year and beyond?
Got nothing to do during the New Year's period and beyond? Don’t look any further than the Herald’s What’s on in and around town guide …
• 28 November 2018 to 6 January 2019: A Christmas Carol at Montecasino
Crewworks brings A Christmas Carol to life as you have never seen it before. Jason Ralph (Phantom of the Opera, Shakespeare in Love) will portray Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of warmth and redemption. It promises to be a sumptuous banquet for the eyes, ears and imagination. Introducing several ghosts and characters from his past, present and future, the play takes us on an emotional journey from the old Scrooge’s tight-fisted, miserly ways, to the new Scrooge – spreading goodwill and cheer through his generous spirit. Perfect for the entire family, this outing is bound to become a family tradition! For more information, visit Computicket.
• 30 November to 31 December: Queen Creates Their Own Kinda Magic at Emperors Palace
The world-famous Queen show, It’s A Kinda Magic, is back, bringing you the best of the band’s legendary music. Don’t miss the spectacular on stage at Emperors Palace. Painstaking attention has been paid to all the music, the iconic voice of Freddie Mercury, the amazing guitar solos of Brian May and the groundbreaking Rock harmonies. And, with state-of-the-art sound, lighting and authentic costumes, this is as close as you can get to the real thing. For more information, visit Computicket or Emperors Palace.
• 30 December 2018 to 2 January 2019: Crossover Dance Festival in the Johannesburg CBD
The Crossover Dance Festival is an annual engaging outdoor New Year’s Eve (NYE) camping and electronic music festival that is held in the city of gold – Johannesburg (exact venue to be confirmed). As 2019 promises to be a great year, the year 2018 did not have a shortage of its own happenings. Let’s end it on a good note. Book yourself in for a great time. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
• 2 February 2019: Lauryn Hill coming to Johannesburg
Lauryn Hill announced the addition of a South African date to her newly announced World Tour, celebrating 20 years of her anthemic debut solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The GRAMMY® Award-winning artist kicked off the European leg of the 20th Anniversary Tour this winter on 18 November 2018 in Brussels, before the tour continued through France, the UK, Ireland, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden before culminating in Norway on 11 December 2018. She will perform in Johannesburg on 2 February 2019 at the Ticketpro Dome. Multi-platinum artist Lauryn Hill rose to prominence with The Fugees and took the world by storm two decades ago as a solo artist with The Miseducation of Ms. Lauryn Hill. Singles including Doo Wop (That Thing) and Everything Is Everything catapulted her to super-stardom, ultimately landing her with ten GRAMMY® nominations and five GRAMMY® Award wins. Go to https://www.discovery.co.za for more information.
• 18 January to 10 February 2019: The ABBA Show at Emperors Palace
The ABBA Show, scheduled to take place at the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park between 18 January and 10 February 2019 is a full-scale concert production featuring more than two hours of fun, live musical performances, a live backing band, replica costumes, theatrical lighting and effects and all the dancing an ABBA fan can handle. This is the must-see show of the year! Click here for more information.
• 16 February 2019: Bryan Ferry coming to SA
Since the release of his first record with Roxy Music in 1972, Bryan Ferry has been internationally acclaimed as one of the most innovative and stylish musicians, songwriters and singers to emerge in pop and rock music. Widely regarded as the embodiment of the glamorous and romantic worlds evoked by his songs, Ferry is also lauded as an icon of sartorial and personal cool. A former student of Fine Art, and as involved in the visual aspects of his work as he is in the composition and performance of the music, Ferry has conceived and directed some of the most original, controversial and critically applauded album sleeve artwork of the last four decades. Now he is coming to South Africa as part of his Global Tour in 2019. Catch him live on stage in Pretoria at at the Sun Arena, Time Square on Saturday, 16 February 2019. Go to https://www.discovery.co.za for more information.
• 2 March 2019: The Chainsmokers live in SA for the first time
For the first time in South Africa, The Chainsmokers will perform their full live show on the Ultra SA main stages in March 2019! Their debut album, Memories…Do Not Open, remains the third-longest-running No 1 on The Billboard Dance Chart, and their list of awards goes on for miles, and includes this year’s Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Artist; Top Dance/Electronic Song and Top Dance/Electronic Album as well as a Grammy for last year’s Best Dance Recording. “Bringing The Chainsmokers LIVE here is massive news for Ultra SA,” said Shaun Duvet, Showtime Management (Pty) Ltd, official Licensee of Ultra Worldwide. We have always prided ourselves on bringing only the biggest names in dance music, but the Chains have been on our wish-list for a while and we’re unbelievably excited to show local fans how incredible this duo truly is. The Chainsmokers not only have over a billion Spotify plays and numerous other accolades, but put on a live show that is incomparable.” Visit www.ultrasouthafrica.com for more information.
• 21 to 24 March 2019: Dazzling Frank Sinatra international hit show to tour South Africa
Frank Sinatra, one of music’s great icons, is all set to ignite the South African stage in 2019 in a dazzling big band international show, Sinatra and Me, featuring celebrated British performer, Richard Shelton, who has been described as “one of the world’s finest Sinatra interpreters”. Shelton is an award-winning actor and singer and his show comes directly from the West End and Los Angeles. He will be accompanied on stage by Adam Howard’s 17-piece Joburg Big Band. This highly acclaimed show kicks off in Durban at the Rockwood Theatre on 12 March with four shows before heading to The Mandela at Joburg Theatre from 21 March, and is bound to hit all the high notes with Sinatra fans. Hear the world’s greatest Sinatra interpreter sing the coolest Sinatra songs – an unforgettable night of song and storytelling. After Joburg, Sinatra and Me travels to East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, prior to heading far south to New Zealand. Visit www.joburgtheatre.com for more information.
• 24 March 2019: Ed Sheeran coming to Johannesburg
With 40 million albums sold worldwide, the famous Ed Sheeran is coming to South Africa in 2019. Following the overwhelming response to the first-ever tour announcement in June, he is pleased to announce an additional show at the iconic FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Ed continues his rise as one of the world’s most successful musical talents, selling out stadiums across the globe. Those interested are encouraged to get their tickets early to avoid disappointment. For more information, visit https://www.bigconcerts.co.za.
• 13 and 14 April: Sam Smith coming to Johannesburg
Soul singer Sam Smith announced that his Thrill of it All Tour will be coming to South Africa in April 2019. The international singing sensation will be at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg on 13 and 14 April. Sam first hit the charts as the featured singer on the 2012 Disclosure song Latch, and released his first single, Lay Me Down, soon after. His next hit was a featured role by Naughty Boy’s Bollywood-inspired La La La. With Sam’s vocals, the song became an instant No 1 single in the UK in 2013. He then released his first EP, Nirvana. In 2014, Sam released In The Lonely Hour, his heartfelt debut full-length album, which has sold 13 million copies globally. The album included the smash hit Stay With Me, which became a radio staple over the course of the entire year. Sam was nominated for six Grammy’s, winning four, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. At the 2015 Brit Awards, he won the awards for British Breakthrough Act and Global Success. At the 2015 Billboard Music Awards, he received three Billboard awards: Top Male Artist, Top New Artist and Top Radio Songs Artist. His musical achievements have also led him to be mentioned twice in the Guinness Book of World Records. The hit song Writing’s on the Wall co-written with Jimmy Napes for the James Bond (007) film Spectre (2015), won Sam the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The Thrill of It All, which has already sold 4 million copies, sees Sam once again working alongside close friend and long-term collaborator Jimmy Napes as well as the likes of Timbaland, Malay, Jason Poo Bear Boyd and Stargate. The album also sees Sam collaborate with unsigned artist, YEBBA for their breath-taking track No Peace. Too Good At Goodbyes, the first single off the new album, saw global success, hitting No 1 in the UK and Global Spotify Charts, No 1 in the UK and US iTunes charts and entering the official UK charts at No 1, making it Sam’s sixth UK No 1 single.
• 20 April to 26 May 2019: Killer hit musical CHICAGO returns to razzle dazzle SA again!
A nightclub singer, a double-murderess, a smooth-talking lawyer and a cell-block of sin surrounded by the razzle dazzle of the world’s sexiest musical returns in 2019! You’ve Got It Comin’ as the story of the award-winning Broadway and West End musical CHICAGO unfolds to show-stopping songs including All that Jazz, Cell Block Tango and Mister Cellophane. The multi-talented all-South African touring cast, band and crew begin rehearsals in Johannesburg ahead of an international tour to New Zealand and China. The South African leg of the tour, in association with BBC First, brings CHICAGO back to Cape Town from 15 March until 14 April 2019, thereafter heading to Montecasino’s Teatro in Johannesburg. Visit www.chicagothemusical.com for more information.
• Sources: Joburg.co.za and those of the Herald.
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