CALENDAR
The top events this month
Look and listen
How many writers does it take to screw in a light bulb? We don’t know, but there will be more than 60 to turn on the light bulb in your brain at the Franschhoek Literary Festival. It’s a meeting of marvellous minds, where the socio-political climate and our other latest obsessions are debated. It’s not all talking heads: public participation is encouraged. Panelists will include Jacques Pauw, Niq Mhlongo, Redi Tlhabi and new Getaway editor Justin Fox. Also on the lineup: Poetry for Life finals, multi-instrumentalists Pops Mohamed and Dave Reynolds, and composer/singer Nicky Schrire’s ‘Ingrid Jonker Suite’ with her poetry set to a string quartet. Tickets from R210 (four events) to R350 (six events). 18 – 20 May. flf.co.za
A world of music
Hot on the heels of its Best Responsible Event in Africa Award in 2017, and being named one of the Top 30 international festivals, Swaziland’s Bushfire is one of the few true world-music festivals around. It boasts a fantastic lineup this year, including an Austrian avant-garde jazz group, French reggae artists, a Swiss accordion player, a Japanese native Ainu band (pictured right), rockers from Finland and a countrymusic duo from Swaziland. Local stars include Durban gqom pioneer DJ Lag, Nonku Phiri (daughter of Ray) and living legend Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse. This year the fest is going cashless (with electronic armbands to swipe for purchases), has a families-only camping zone and is introducing the #Bringyourfire interactive space. Tickets from R780. 25 – 27 May. bush-fire.com
Catch some of the Bushfire buzz at the Bassline Africa Day Fest on 26 – 27 May at Constitution Hill, Joburg. Tickets R300 a day. new.bassline.co.za
Puppets behaving badly
Fuzzy, crazy-looking puppets dispensing life skills through fun and songs sounds a lot like Takalani Sesame/Sesame Street, doesn’t it? The puppets in Avenue Q do just that, but are strictly for adults only. This award-winning musical features an oddball bunch of characters, including a Japanese therapist called Christmas Eve, the Bad Idea Bears, an investment banker/ closet queen, internet-obsessed Trekkie and Lucy, a tarty version of Miss Piggy. The story revolves around a college graduate who comes to the big city, and amid the saucy spoofs and hilarious songs it addresses the issues young adults face when starting out in life. Tickets R100 – R350. From 9 May at Montecasino Teatro, Johannesburg. computicket.com
One for the brews
The SA on Tap festival is shifting gears and going international this year. Firstly, its name has changed to the Untapped Craft Brew Fest to be more inclusive of other things we like to drink – not just beer but ciders, gins and more; over 150 of them, including from other countries such as Serbia (Kabinet), Scotland (Brewdog) and Belgium (De Poes and Liefmans Kriek fruity ale). With the theme of collaboration in mind, 22 breweries have also been asked to create unique offerings for the festival with 22 others. There will be live music, including Gangs of Ballet and Majozi, and lots of food trucks to find the perfect pairing. Tickets from R130 pp. At Montecasino on 11 – 12 May (and coming to Durban end of July). saontop.co.za