Balgowan music and brews

MUSIC, craft beer and family fun are promised when the Balgowan Brewery launches with a packed programme at Midlands Forest Lodge, halfway between Nottingham Road and Howick, from 11am to 6pm tomorrow.

An addition to the Midlands Experience, the brewery will be celebrated with a one-day festival in the Mill Session series.

This is a series of music-themed events which Midlands cornerstones Di and Terry Acres have been running, mostly from their popular Caversham Mill, for the past five years.

The brewery launch and open day will see entertainment from three acts: The Silver Band, Salty Dog and Duncan Park. The live music line-up will later segue to music from DJ E.

The Silver Band features some of the country’s finest musicians, including former Hotline and Stimela member Alistair Coakley on lead guitar and vocals.

Bassist and vocalist Gary van Zyl is formerly of Clout and Juluka, while Derrick Dryan (on lead vocals, harmonica and congas) was a member of Ballyhoo, and drummer Leon Shaw was formerly of Mean Mr Mustard.

Salty Dog is a popular Durban band that performs cover versions of rock tunes from the 1960s to the 1990s. The members are Paul Fuhri (vocals), Errol “Smelly” Fellows (guitar and vocals), Gordon Jackson (vocals, guitar), Avril Kotze (vocals), Grant Halliday (drums) and Riki Ri Rix, formerly of the band Anarchy.

Duncan Park is primarily a guitarist and singer but also plays bass, charango, banjolele, harmonica, pennywhistle and percussion. His “lo-fi”, bluesy, folk rock ’n’ roll style is good fun.

Elvis Gangiah (DJ E ) is an accomplished club DJ, radio personality and dance music producer and remixer.

“There will be beer-tasting opportunities, discussions about beer brewing and its process, some great music, a child-minder to assist with children, and some fine traditional South African braai food and bunny chow … and open fires,” says a spokesman for the event.

Balgowan Brewery is a company registered by two young, enthusiastic entrepreneurs who are products of Rhodes University.

Cindy Slater obtained her PhD in biochemistry in 2015. Stefan Just studied applied maths and physics with electronics and recently submitted his thesis for his MSc in electronics.

After leaving Rhodes they decided to settle on the Midlands Meander and concentrate full time on their brews and forming the Balgowan Brewery at Midlands Forest Lodge.

After months of experimentation, Just and Slater have scaled up and perfected their brew process with recipes for several types of beers.

Tickets for tomorrow’s event cost R80 if prebooked, R100 at the door.

To book, or for any further information, phone 033 234 4524. – Goodlife Reporter