6 January 2008
SEETHER

A rare opportunity to see this Los Angeles-based hard rock band who will be playing an acoustic set at Kirstenbosch. Fronted by SA-born guitarist and songwriter Shaun Morgan, Seether launched their US-debut album 'Disclaimer' in 2002 and went on to enjoy massive success with the hit 'Broken' sung with Evanescence's Amy Lee. They have just released their third album 'Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces'.

13 January 2008
FOKOFPOLISIEKAR

This iconic Afrikaans punk rock band made history when their single 'Hemel op die platteland' was the first Afrikaans song to be officially play-listed on 5fm. The website sarock.com describes their music as high-quality hard melodic rock with a punch of punk. They released their second album 'Die Swanesang', including the hit single 'Brand Suid-Afrika', in 2006.

20 January 2008
WATERSHED

Having sold over 100 000 albums in Europe, Watershed has become South Africa 's most successful pop rock music export in recent years. They have also enjoyed more than a dozen South African radio hits, with their last two albums both winning the SAMA award for Best Pop Album in 2004 and 2006.

27 January 2008
MCCULLY WORKSHOP

One of South Africa's finest pop rock bands, whose hits ‘Buccaneer' and ‘Chinese Junkman' dominated the airwaves in the 70's and 80's, are back together after a 25 year absence from playing on stage.

3 February 2008
OLD MUTUAL ENCOUNTER
ISMAËL LÔ

The son of a Senegalese civil servant, Ismaël Lô built his first guitar from a cooking oil can and learned to play harmonica and guitar together by nailing his harmonica to the wall. Lo was a guitarist for the mbalax blues band Super Diamano before going solo in a career which has seen him produce 11 albums in the world music genre. With his smooth, multi-textured voice and low-key, folky style, h is music addresses important topics in Senegal ranging from racism and respect to immigration.

10 February 2008
THE PARLOTONES

In the two years since The Parlotones released their album ‘Radiocontrolledrobot' they have gone gold, won a SAMA for Best Rock Album and signed an international record deal. Their third album ‘A World Next Door to Yours' was released in September 2007 and has already spawned a top 40 hit ‘Giant Mistake'.

17 February 2008
THE RUDIMENTALS

This Cape Town Afro-Ska outfit recently did a national tour with reggae greats UB40. They describe their unique sound as a 'multi-layered musical cake comprising dance-hall raps, reggae rhythms and a back beat of vintage 70's Ska, with a topping of mbaqanga riffs and jazz and blues tones'.

24 February 2008
ARNO CARSTENS

Combining a unique voice and exceptional song-writing skills, and with nine No 1 hit singles and five SAMA music awards for Best Album to his credit, Arno Carstens is 'The Godfather of SA Rock'. He has shared the stage with the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Beastie Boys, R.E.M., Metallica and Ronan Keating and is the biggest-selling singer/song-writer in the South African English rock genre.

2 March 2008
OLD MUTUAL CHORAL ENCOUNTER

A showcase of the country's choral talent featuring South Africa 's top choir, the Gauteng Choristers. This choir has won numerous awards, including being crowned national champions in the 2006 Old Mutual/Telkom National Choir Festival. They also made history this year when they toured Europe performing ‘Porgy ‘n Bess', becoming the first South African choir to perform an opera in Europe . The Gauteng Choristers will be conducted by Sindiswa Sidwel Mhlongo with musical direction from Wendy Oldfield and musical arrangements by Neo Muyanga and Paul Hamner under the band leadership of Concord Nkabinde.

9 March 2008
GOLDFISH

Both accomplished multi-instrumentalists and Jazz musicians in their own right, David Poole and Dominic Peters have taken their grounding in Jazz and broken boundaries on the dance-floor with their unique blend of deep house grooves, live instruments and hypnotic vocal samples. Voted Best Live Act in 2006 by 24.com, their tracks have been released on compilations world-wide and they can be found performing to thousands on the beach in Cannes , rocking a club in Japan or playing a sundowner set in Cape Town .

16 March 2008
OLD MUTUAL ENCOUNTER
KAREN ZOID & SELAELO SELOTA

Multi award-winning singer-songwriter, composer, cultural icon and rock diva Karen Zoid started out as a busker on the street corners of Melville, Johannesburg . Since then she has gone on to win numerous awards, headline at most of the country's major music festivals and be voted one of the ‘Top 6 Rising Stars of South Africa' by the Sunday Times. She is a prolific songwriter and has written songs for several SA artists as well as a theme for a TV series. She recently released her fourth album ‘Postmodern World'.

Selaelo Selota is one of South Africa 's foremost Afro-Jazz musicians. This multi-talented guitarist, singer, songwriter, composer and producer was the winner of the ‘Best Newcomer' and ‘Best Contemporary Jazz Album' categories at the 2001 SAMA awards. His first two albums ‘Painted Faces' and ‘ Enchanted Gardens ' both went gold and his latest offering 'The Azanian Songbook' has been released on his own label.

23 March 2008
CAPE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Under the baton of Iain Sutherland, the Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Scotland, the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra presents an evening of light classics.

30 March 2008
THE JONNY COOPER ORCHESTRA

The Jonny Cooper Orchestra, South Africa's premier 19-piece Big Band, recreate the romantic era of the world's most famous Swing bands and vocalists with tributes to Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and many more.

6 April 2008
LOUISE CARVER

Trained as a classical pianist, Louise Carver began writing her own songs at age 11 and released her first single when she was 17. She recently released her third album, 'Saved by the Moonlight', a collection of songs which she describes as 'organic rock'.

General Information:

Refreshments will be on sale at all the concerts. Picnic hampers can be ordered from the Silvertree Restaurant (021 762 9585) or the Kirstenbosch Tea Room (021 797 4883).
Comfortable low concert chairs are available from The Kirstenbosch Garden Centre (021 797 1305)

Special parking is available for the physically disabled - enter the garden at the Rycroft Gate (Top Gate) and proceed to the workshop area off Camphor Avenue for parking.

Please note that no dogs or ball games are allowed in the Garden. Please keep children out of the flower beds and off the stage. Please do not smoke in the audience or sit on deckchairs that obstruct the view of the stage for others.