Where To Go For NYE

There are plenty of parties all around KZN for NYE.

Northern Drakensberg

Wavehouse Gateway

Chris Saunders Park Umhlanga

Ballito 

Westville

The Pavilion

This edition by Fred Felton
Twitter @fredfelton

Celebrate NYE in Northern Drakensberg

Smoking Dragon

3 Day New Years Music Festival 29, 30 and 31 Dec set in the amazing Northern Drakensberg. 
All New Festival Site with Bar and Food Court, Market, Kids area and an Acoustic and a Main Stage. Secure Spacious Camping Area with Toilets and Showers separate from the lodge. Book early to get the best rates and remember tickets are limited. Children under 12 Free...
ANNOUNCED ACTS - Lineup subject to change
JEREMY LOOPS DJ INVIZABLE & THE CHAMPIONS OF THE SONARVERSE THE BROTHER MOVES ON DESMOND AND THE TUTUS SHADOWCLUB BCUC
Napalma Fridge Poetry Veranda Panda Cortina Whiplash DJ Michael Lesar Mickey Burns BeatBox Campus Savage Lucy, Nje Laura Gear Meth Breath Manuvah To Land Black Math The Moths The Black South Easters Stray Natives Laura Gear, Gus Brown Band Fools Of Fate, Boxer Inkhonjane No Bheseni Greedy Greg The Pranks Hezron Chetty & many more...
DJ’s – The General(AUS) DJ InviZAble Shapeshifter Dr Khumalo Half n Half Fuego Heat Renaud5 Mfana Mhlope
To book VIP camping or lodge accomodation email amphibackpackers@worldonline.co.za. This is extremely limited so book early.

(Source - Live The Venue)

Review of Pet Shop Boys Durban

Last week I was invited by Seed Experiences to experience the Pet Shop Boys concert in Durban.
It was a magical evening in Durban and as the crowd started to form we were introduced to the wonderful dance grooves of GoodLuck.

GoodLuck

They had the crowd dancing on their feet as the late afternoon turned into evening.
A really great South African music group.

Up next was GoldFish the electro dance group.  They were just back from a gig in Dubai and had the audience pumping with their latest dance grooves.  Their set was on fire. Another great SA band.

GoldFish

As more and more people moved to the front of the audience it was time for the Pet Shop Boys.

Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys

This was the band that everyone had come to see.  They certainly did not disappoint.

The group played all of their memorable hits including 'West End Girls' and 'It's A Sin'.
After giving the audience a stunning tour de force they ended the night with one of their classics 'Go West'.

Look out for their latest album Electric.
You can find out more about them on their website: http://www.petshopboys.co.uk/

Thanks to Seed Experiences for the top class event for Durban.


Review by Fred Felton
Twitter @fredfelton
Images by Fiona Jane Photography

Your Weekend Event Guide Durban

Friday

Saturday

Free Shuttle

Sunday

This edition by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton 

Red Eye Durban In Pictures

Ever wondered what goes down at Red Eye Durban.
The event was held at Emoyeni House in Glenwood last Friday.

We were at the last event and this is what we saw:

Ladies With Designs

Art

Performance Art

A Winning Hand?

Animation From CFAD 

Interesting Clothing

Illustravtive Art and Animation from Stephen Leggo

Music

There was so much more along with great food and drinks.

Look out for the next Red Eye Durban.

Creatives are invited to send their pitches to Suzy Bell if they want to perform at the next Red Eye.
Email: suzybell@redeyedurban.com

#REDEYEDURBAN


Article by Fred Felton
Twitter @fredfelton
Images by Fiona Jane Photography

Your Weekend Event Guide Durban

Friday

25 Haraldene Road, Glenwood.  6pm.  

Saturday

First 100 shoppers receive a free gift.  

Sunday

This edition by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton 

Cotton On Is Coming To Gateway

Cotton On will be opening the world's largest store in Gateway Umhlanga.
The Australian-based retailer will be opening in a huge way.

There is lots on offer and you better get to the store early on Saturday.
The first 100 people into the store will receive a complimentary gift.

(The Sandton Store - The Gateway Store will be bigger)

This store will be 2,368 square metres in size and there will be something for everyone.
Expect something from Cotton On, Cotton On Body, FREE by Cotton On, Cotton On Kids and Rubi Shoes.

Look out for 'living' front windows. There will be a tee customisation station, something for Instagram lovers, a Rubi Nail Bar as well as face painting and balloons for the kids.
There will also be a great music act.

Find them at Shop E030 and E032 at Gateway Theatre of Shopping.

This edition by Fred Felton
Twitter @fredfelton

Your December Event Guide Durban

Lots to do and see in Durban this December.

High Tea at Hilton Hotel Durban.  Every Saturday and Sunday 2pm - 5pm.

Bookings: 031-336-8232

This edition by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton 

Book Review - The Art Of Social Media by Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick

This week I managed to review the new book by Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick.

Guy was a co-author of Ape.  The book all about how to write a book.
This book is something different.  In this book Guy and Peg share their thoughts and advice on social media.  It can be quite daunting for some but Guy and Peg give you a easy to read guide on what to do in this world.  This is the perfect book for a new social media manager or community manager.

Guy Kawasaki

They also give you some great advice on how to build your profile on the various social media platforms. There is also plenty of advice on what to post about.  Peg also shares some wonderful advice on how to promote your blog post once you have written it.  There is also some wonderful advice for social media for events.  There are some wonderful tips here for event managers.

Peg Fitzpatrick

What I like about this book is that they also take you behind the scenes of one of the events they did and show you how to build social media publicity for it.  They also provide some great insight into Google Plus, Google Hangouts and Twitter Chats.

They also cover other social platforms.  There is also a great section on how to market your brand using all of these social networks.

This is the perfect book for CEO's, Marketing Professionals and those in PR.

Rating: Highly Recommended

You can get the book here: https://bitly.com/amazonaosm

Guy and Peg are currently on a book tour around the USA and you can catch them at any of these events:

#ArtOfSocial
@GuyKawasaki
@PegFitzpatrick



Review by Fred Felton
Twitter @fredfelton

Interview With Songbird Nianell

Last week I managed to sit down with singing superstar Nianell.

Nianell

This is your 7th album 'Just Be'.  Tell us about it?

I have 11 originals and 4 covers.  It is kind of like paying tribute to where I came from and giving gratitude.  I love Track 1.  Track 7, 'All is Perfect' is about embracing the light and dark side.  Accept your light.  Just be in life.  I don't listen to music because my head is full of music.  Silence is my favourite.  I gave myself 2 years to work on this album.  The last two years have been up and down.  I lost my Mom.  'You showed me how' was written for my Mom.  I had to start peeling off layers.  Once I realised who I am.  I'm not a human doing, I'm a human being.  Music is a key.  Music opens up the hearts of people.  Your self-conscious beliefs turn into your life.  You have to be what you want to experience.  I wonder how many people love what they do.  When I felt successful, then I became successful.

What made you choose Karen Capenter's song 'We've only just begun?'

I grew up with that music.

Tell us how you use social media?

Twitter is new to me.  I'm good with Facebook.  I have a YouTube page and a website.  On Facebook you can just share ideas and connect with people.  Facebook is a way to connect.  I read everything on there.

What advice do you have for youngsters who want to become musicians?

Learn to love and accept yourself.  If you can know who you are.  If you are gentle on yourself, focus and believe in yourself.  Have integrity. Then you can make a success.  If you want to make money do it just as long as you don't lose yourself.  Don't walk on to the stage and expect anything. Be comfortable with yourself.

What do you feel works for you better in terms of making money: music sales or concert tours?

Live Concerts.  This is where you make your money.  I've done small concerts and I've done stadiums.  I also like going back to perform at smaller places.  It gives an opportunity for other artists. A lot of big artists do that.

What is it like to sing with Andrea Bocelli?

He was very humble.  I learnt a lot.  It's a fleeting experience.  It was a great performance.  He is a beautiful person.

Tell us about singing at the FIFA World Cup?

That was amazing.  It was a fun moment.  The energy was just amazing.  You are not nervous when there are so many people.

You have won many awards, do you think awards change you?

I couldn't care less.  It doesn't define me or my talent.

Tell us about Proud Partners?

It's all about connecting people.  Teaching skills.  It's not just about giving. It's a win win.
That is an honourable exchange.

What's next for Nianell?

My goal is to Just Be.  I have a TV Show called 'Just Be.'  That is all about life and fun.  There will be a variety of activities on it.  I've also written a book, 'Knowing who I am' and my passion is motivation.  You have to find out what you are passionate about.

What do you love about Durban?

The people are nice.  The coffee shops are nice.  The weather here is a challenge.  We've met the most amazing people.  The food is excellent in restaurants.  I love the trees in Durban.  Nature speaks and trees talk.

Useful links for Nianell:

Website: www.nianell.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nianell
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Nianellmusic


Interview by Fred Felton
Image Supplied.

Nianell has given us 3 copies of her new album 'Just Be' for our readers.
If you would like to get your hands on a copy email us on falconscove@gmail.com
In the subject line put Nianell Album Giveaway.
In the email please give us your name, cellphone number and email address.  
Please note you have to be in the Durban area to qualify for this giveaway. 
We will do the draw on Wed 31st December 2014.
Good Luck.

Your Weekend Event Guide Durban

Events Around Durban

Supa Charg'd 2014 

KZNSA BUZZART 2014 

Christmas Market At The Square - Granada Square - Umhlanga Rocks

Photo Exhibition

Comedy - Catalina Theatre

Dance Festival - Catalina Theatre

Mondays At Six At St Clements Presents A Book Launch, A Reading for Kids and a talk on ebooks.

Date: 1 December 2014

Time: 6pm

Bookings: 031-202-2511

Venue: St Clements Coffee Shop, Musgrave Road, Durban 

Load Shedding Update

Please be advised that Eskom has announced that there will be load shedding this weekend.

Stage 2.  Eskom has appealed to users to please switch off non-essentials.

Grab your free handy guide to see when your area will be switched off:

http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/electricity/Load_Shedding/Documents/Load_Schedule_Stages1_2_and_3.pdf

This edition by Fred Felton

twitter @fredfelton