Jennifer Rush is in Cape Town

Jennifer Rush, one of music's most enduring names, is heading for South Africa! She will perform two concerts in Cape Town on the 26th and 27th April at The Cape Town Convention Centre. Fans will remember this dynamic performer with her potent voice for such memorable hits as 'Power of Love', 'Ring of Ice', 'Madonna’s Eyes' and 'Flames of Paradise', 'Never say Never', 'Ave Maria', 'Tears in the Rain' and many more.   She’s an evergreen who has been going strong for more than three decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Asked about what fans can expect from her concerts, she replied: “I will be performing many of my hits. I will be bringing my own band and two back up vocalists with me. They too are very excited to be coming to South Africa. I actually asked my South African friends and their acquaintances which songs they think South Africa would like – aside, of course, from hit songs - and I think we have come up with a great song list, which will even include a few songs from the last CD, ‘Now Is The Hour.'" Both nights start at 8pm

Kaapse Klopse Minstrel Carnival

TWEEDE NUWE DJAAR !

The Kaapse Klopse (or simply Klopse) is a minstrel festival that takes place annually on 2 January, in Cape Town, South Africa. As many as 13,000 minstrels take to the streets garbed in bright colours, either carrying colourful umbrellas or playing an array of musical instruments. The minstrels are grouped into klopse ("clubs" in Cape Dutch, but more accurately translated as troupes in English). Participants are typically from Afrikaans-speaking working class "coloured" families who have preserved the custom since the mid-19th century.

Although it is called the Coon Carnival by Capetonians, local authorities have renamed the festival the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival as foreign tourists find the term "coon" derogatory.
History

One story goes that the carnival was inspired by a group of African-American minstrels who docked in Cape Town in the late 1800s and entertained the sailors with their spontaneous musical performances. The popular song "Daar kom die Alibama" (There comes the Alabama) refers to the ship that is believed to have brought them.

Another story goes that the travelling minstrels were actually white and painted their faces black – hence the painted faces seen today.

The majority of the troupes (169) are represented by the Kaapse Klopse Karnaval Association which is one of the break away Associations from the Kaapse Karnaval ("Cape Carnival") Association. In addition,the other break away organisation,the Mitchell's Plain Youth Development Minstrel Board represent a minority of troupes.

The carnival today
The festival begins on New Year's Day and continues into January. Festivities include street parades with singing and dancing, costume competitions and marches through the streets. While many troupes now are supported by corporate sponsors, many refuse and remain sticklers for tradition. The 2005 carnival was nearly cancelled due to an alleged lack of funding, while the 2006 carnival was officially called off for the same reason.
However, the troupe organisations subsequently decided to go ahead with the parade despite continued unhappiness over funding, and the festivities were opened by Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool on 2 January 2006.

Table Mountain

Vote for Table Mountain

Table Mountain is now officially one of the New7Wonders of Nature! Join us at Grand Parade by 7pm this evening to celebrate this.

See more pics from the mountain this weekend: http://tablemountain.net/blog/entry/table_mountain_inauguration_weekend_twitter_pictures/

Cape Town's Southeaster

Cape Town Train

Day Trips

Trips on the lines of the Cape Peninsula

If you are looking for something different to do with family, friends or even on your own, why not take a steam train ride on one of the day trips run by Atlantic Rail?
Our train consists of wooden bodied vintage coaches dating from 1922 to 1938. One of the coaches is a lounge car with a full cash bar service. The steam locomotive we use is a Class 24 steam loco built in 1949.

We run regular day trips around the peninsula. This scenic route winds along the rugged coast of False Bay with the waves crashing on the rocks below, through villages scrambling up the steep slopes and along the beautiful coves and beaches.
The train leaves Cape Town and travels between the famous Newlands rugby and cricket grounds to Muizenburg. Traveling on to False Bay where the view of the ocean is spectacular. The railway line skirts the rocks as it travels through the quaint village of Kalk Bay, then snakes through Fish Hoek and Glencairn, finally coming to an end in Simonstown with a view of the naval dockyard.
Passengers are free to go to the beach, grab a bite to eat or stroll through the town.
The train returns along the same route back to Cape Town.



Upcoming Trips

21 October 2012	Cape Town to Simon's Town
4 November 2012	Cape Town to Simon's Town
18 November 2012	Cape Town to Simon's Town
2 December 2012	Cape Town to Simon's Town
16 December 2012	Cape Town to Simon's Town
30 December 2012	Cape Town to Simon's Town

Sunday, 21 October 2012 - Cape Town to Simon's Town (return)
Departs Cape Town:	10h30
Arrive Simon's Town:	12h30 (approx)
Departs Simon's Town:	15h00
Arrive Cape Town:	16h40 (approx)
Duration:	5½ hours
Price:	R220 - Adults R110 - Children (3- 12yrs)
Atlantic Rail will be running a trip from Cape Town to Simon's Town (return) departing Cape Town at 10h30 and later departing Simon's Town at 15h00 for the journey back. If any guests would like to be dropped off or collected at Kalk Bay station, then they must stipulate this when booking. This cannot be arranged on the day of departure as it has to be planned into the running time table, so let us know early. Prices are R220 for Adults and R110 for Children 3 to 12. BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL info@atlanticrail.co.za and 021 556 1012 (office hours) to book!

Dragon Boat Festival 2012

The Dragon Boat Festival Regatta in Muizenburg (13 October)

Here be dragons! The annual Dragon Boat Festival Regatta, a competitive race that pits the rowers of intricately designed, traditional canoe-like vessels against each other, is set to bring scores of water sport and watercraft enthusiasts to the Zandvlei Inland Waterway in Muizenberg on Saturday, 13 October 2012. A great family-friendly weekend activity, the regatta will wow spectators and supporters with elaborate, artfully-decorated dragon boats, and the money raised by this event will be donated to charity.http://www.dragonboat.org.za/

Welcome to Cape Town

Beach Boys in SA

Live Music Surfin’ SA with Mike Love and the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are all set to perform in Cape Town, says current lead singer Mike Love