Mole revved up for concert
WHAT do ducks, wine, music and motorcycles have in common?
The answer is Vergenoegd Wine Estate, Baden Powell Drive, Faure, Stellenbosch (off the N2) which has played host to some of South Africa’s favourite musicians such as Ard Matthews and Arno Carstens as part of the Live@ Summer Concert Series. The last of the series, on Sunday, headlines Matthew Mole.
“I first played in front of people when I was 15. After leaving school I studied audio engineering where I learned to record my music which I released on the internet. I’m promoting my newest album called Run.
“My biggest local influences are François Van Coke and Gangs Of Ballet.I love playing and have made my shows more interactive so I hope people will come along and be part of it.
“I’ll be doing old and new songs including Take Yours, I’ll Take Mine which is my favourite because in parts of the song I hit a big drum, so it’s fun to play.”
Event organiser Craig Bright, a founding member of Rocking The Daisies, says, “We’ve had experience with local and international acts and were approached by Vergenoegd to produce a ‘lifestyle’ music event that caters for the family. Live@ Vergenoegd has been running since last November and has been very successful so far.
“The stage is on the lawn so it’s like a mini festival and this one has six acts. I love that as the-youngup-and-coming artists get a chance showcase their talent and play with some legendary SA performers.
“The headliners have been phenomenal and they are the sort of act that you would watch sitting on the lawn with a glass of wine.”
Sunday also sees the inaugural SA edition of the Royal Enfield motorcycle “Global One Ride”, which takes place in 14 countries (23 cities) including Australia, Korea, Japan, Nepal, Luxembourg, Spain, UK and Argentina.
I’ll be doing old and new songs, including ‘Take Yours, I’ll Take Mine’ which is my favourite because in parts of the song I hit a big drum, so it’s fun
Celebrating over 120 years of Royal Enfield, One Ride will take riders through the Stellenbosch and Grabouw mountains, finishing at Vergenoegd Wine Estate.
You can see the Royal Enfield bikes parked in an area nearthe stage. Interested Royal Enfield riders can obtain more information at www.facebook.com/royalenfieldsa.
Other acts in the line-up include singer-songwriter, Kathryn Swain.
Swain said: “My love of singing started with my mom singing lullabies. At five I dreamt I wanted to become an international performer and at 15 changed my school subjects to do the Cambridge curriculum and got an A grade in music.
“I decided to make music my career and started a company, Kathryn Swain Music in 2013.”
Swain has since headlined the Wacky Wine Festival and played at the Cape Town Coffee & Chocolate Festival.
Swain says, “The biggest highlight was producing my first album Little Box Of Memories with Duncan McKay and two of my singles with Tom Ward (Tom Jones’s drummer).
Swain describes herself as the APWAM girl (Alternative Pop With A Message).
Another artist on the bill is José Bezuidenhout, aka “Vagabond King”.
He describes his music as bluesrock-folk with an Americana flavour.
Bezuidenhout says, “The name Vagabond King was created when I gave up permanent residence to tour South Africa. It didn’t matter if it was a bar or a festival I was there. I’m very happy as I’m a vagabond and I live like a king!”.
He is on what he calls a “de-tour”, travelling and playing places off the beaten track.
Vagabond King will be playing original songs from his 8-track EP Anywhere But Here.
Also on the bill are Craig Lucas, Alex Cavan and Luna Plaza.
For the toddlers, there’s a “kids village” area – jumping castle, ZORB ball and other fun things – run by professional child minders.
Gates open at 11am with live music from noon to 6pm.
There will be wine, food and drinks on sale from various vendors (you may not bring you own food or drinks to the concert).
Vergenoegd is known for its Indian runner ducks, which look after the vineyard by ridding the vines of pests such as snails and bugs, and there are over a thousand of them that pass the lawns in the well known “duck parade” – this takes place at 10am, 12.30pm and 3.30pm.
Tickets range from R120 (adults) and R50 (kids under 12). There’s a Live@ Vergenoegd VIP package costing R1 100 including two concert tickets, comfortable seating, VIP parking, two bottles of Vergenoegd Runner Duck wine, a selection of food, 750ml bottle of water and a Vergenoegd blending experience voucher.
You can also book online and pay at any Pick n Pay or BP Express shop. Visit the www.webtickets.co.za site to find the listed stores. Also see www.vergenoegd.co.za.