Get ready for ULTRA SA 2016

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

ULTRA South Africa takes place next weekend. This is what you can look forward to….

First up, and accompanying OWSLA boss Skrillex and Billboard chart topper Zedd on headline duties across both events, will be two of the biggest names in dance music and long time Ultra stalwarts, Tiësto and Afrojack.

The man behind mega hits including Red Lights and Wasted, Tiësto will be making his return to ULTRA South Africa™, as he prepares to blow the roof off Cape Town’s Ostrich Farm and Johannesburg’s Nasrec Showgrounds. Fellow countryman, Afrojack, will also be returning to Africa’s biggest electronic music event, following a pair of historic performances back in February 2014 and has already rocked ULTRA crowds in Argentina, Croatia, Japan and Miami in 2015.

Support will come from EDM heavyweight and ‘King of the Chipotle Gang’ Carnage (fresh off the back of his debut studio album Papi Gordo), established LA based-producer Mr. Carmack, who will be making his first ever ULTRA appearance, and local heroes Goldfish and TiMO ODV. In addition, 5FM residents and local heroes, Fresh and Euphonik, will be showcasing their talents across both cities on the Main Stage.

The Johannesburg edition of ULTRA South Africa™ will feature three running stages across both days. Alongside the Main Stage, there will be a Soul Candi Live Stage on the Friday, before transforming into the RESISTANCE® Stage on the Saturday. Starting from inside a vinyl store in 2001, Soul Candi have gone on to establish themselves as the leading voice in the South African house music scene and have been responsible for breaking out a whole host of local superstars including Crazy White Boy and the aforementioned Fresh and Euphonik. Johannesburg will also see the debut of a third stage in the form of the 5FM Live Loud Stage, which will play host to the station’s best DJs and South Africa’s best club acts throughout the two days.

Capetonians will have two stages on-site at ULTRA South Africa™ and the set-up will follow a similar program to that of Johannesburg, with the Main Stage complemented by a one-off stage hosted by Strange Loving on day one before evolving into the RESISTANCE® Stage for the final day. Strange Loving’s reputation has grown immeasurably over the last few years, having thrown some of the most exciting parties South Africa has ever seen, with the likes of David August, Soul Clap and Marek Hemmann amongst those to have come down to South Africa to perform.

Brand new for ULTRA South Africa™ in 2016, the Cape Town edition will be offering its fans the chance to camp at the picturesque West Coast Ostrich Ranch across the two days. For more information and to book online, head to heartbreakmotel.co.za

Follow ULTRA SA on Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates on artists, tickets and camping, and for those that haven’t yet, relive the breath-taking thrills of ULTRA South Africa™ by watching the stunning 2015 Official Aftermovie.

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H & M Opens in Sandton City

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

I attended the media launch of the Johannesburg branch of H&M last week, which officially opened in Sandton City on Saturday, 7 November. The Balmain X collaboration with H&M has been a worldwide success, if the international media is anything to go by, with the Paris, New York and yes, the local branches, having sold out in a matter of minutes.

I witnessed this first hand, at the launch evening last week. The doors opened at 19h00 and by 19h27 the Balmain racks were empty!

Empty Balmain racks

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The Daily Show with Trevor Noah starts 29 Sept. 2015

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Trevor Noah is the talk of the town, internationally and locally, and Mzansi is ever so proud of of our “Man in NYC” – a local who is really making it as big as Charlize Theron. Well done to this Son of Africa! Trevor Noah is the best South African comedian, in my opinion, as this view was solidified when I saw him at his recent SA performance at Montecasino. He was on point, topical and so sleek.

The show broadcasts in the USA on 28 September (as can be seen in the below teaser for the show) but it launches in South Africa on Tuesday, 29 September at 9pm on Comedy Central, DSTV channel 122. I have already put a note in my iPhone to PVR the entire season, so looking forward to it.

Here’s a teaser to whet your appetite.

School choir hits high note with R100 000 Woolworths win

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Mzansi is abuzz with the news that Pharrell Williams will be performing live on stage on the 21st of September at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town and then on the 24th of September at The Dome in Johannesburg. Tickets are available from Big Concerts.

The best news about this concert is that young members of a school singing group from Germiston are excitedly preparing for the biggest highlight of their musical careers – performing on stage with Pharrell Williams, American singer-songwriter, record producer, fashion designer and philanthropist.

Adding to their good fortune, the super-talented singing group from Colin Mann Primary, winner of the MySchool Sing With Us Competition, has won a cash prize of R100,000. These funds will be used to renovate the school hall, which was built over 55 years ago and is badly in need of a makeover.

The MySchool Sing With Us competition is part of Woolworths strategic collaboration with the Grammy Award-winning musician. Williams personally selected the winners after local judges Jon Savage, Katlego Maboe and Theo Crous had whittled over 200 entries – from primary and high schools nation-wide – down to 10 finalists.

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GH Mumm Icon of Victory Event

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Yesterday, I attended the GH Mumm SA Icon of Victory event, held at the Four Seasons Westcliff hotel. The event put a definite sprinkle of glamour on an otherwise dreary spring day in Jozi. We arrived in the early afternoon, dressed for autumn weather, and snapped some red carpet pics.

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