Feel the blues with the Durban International Blues Festival

Born in the 1860’s in the Mississippi Delta, the blues transverses a spectrum of emotions and musical styles, and while it can express “feelin’ blue”, it can also be a base to raucous dance music and a celebration of success and pleasure.

“When the festival was staged for the first time in 2005 at Wilson’s Wharf, the intention was to create an event, synonymous with Durban alone and to make Durban the Blues Capital of South Africa - hopefully, the continent of Africa eventually. The intention was and still is, to educate music lovers and to encourage their support of this easy listening style and we think that we have achieved this with a steady growth of fans and growing attendance every year,” says Themi Venturas, the festival director.

A blend of quality and quantity

The 2017 programme is shorter than in previous years as coordinators strive to find the perfect blend of quality and quantity, which will also suit the festival goer’s pocket.

Blues is not like a regular musical performance, and much like its cousin Jazz, it is best suited to smaller, casual and more intimate venues where the audience can interact quite personally with the performers on stage. For this reason,The Plant remains a good choice and looks to be the home for this event for quite some time into the future.

With secure parking around the precinct, food vendors such as Renegade Kitchen and The Roast Co amongst others on site, as well as the opportunity to book for dinner before the event at one of the precinct restaurants, a cash bar facility for beers and soft drinks and a few select other drinks, the evening is suitable for family too.

This year’s line-up includes firm favourites as well as international guest artists, Charlie Love and Dan Patlansky and his band.

The programme

Friday, 1 September 2017, 7.30pm, R150

• The Smoke and Liquid Band – Johannesburg
• Black Cat Bone – Johannesburg
• Charlie Love – USA

Saturday, 2 September 2017, 7pm, R150

• Cinnamon Blue – Durban
• Rusty Red Trio – Durban
• Gerald Clarke – Cape Town
• Dan Patlansky – SA/ International          

Saturday 2, September – Afternoon at 2pm to 5pm (Free)

Glenwood Village Music will again host the ever popular and well attended Fender Concert which sees a picking of Durban’s finest blues musicians.

Add to this, the excellent musicianship of Callie Housdon Thompson on keys, Andy Turrell on drums and Llewellyn Chetty on bass as they back Charlie Love on Friday night.

• Don’t want to drink and drive - the Uber Shuttle service is available to and from the venue - Book your ride
• Merchandise table on site will carry select tee shirts and artists CD’s – bring a few extra sheckles.
• A cash bar with a selection of SAB beers and ciders, and other choices and food vendors on site
• R100 buys you a raffle ticket for a R15,000 Lewitt Custom Designed and built bass guitar

For more information and updates visit the Durban Blues Festival website.