The Shamonix – Jingle Bells
Crazy Gauteng retro-punks remind us that we all need a sense of humour during the festive season with this XXX-rated makeover of everyone’s favourite Xmas classic.
Die Radio Kalahari Orkes with Jack Parow – Blaas Jou Vuvuzela
Ian Roberts and his bakgat band of boeremusiek brothers team up with super romantic Afrikaans rap star Jack Parow on this tongue-in-cheeky World Cup anthem-in-the-making anthem about braaivleis, brandy and Vuvuzela blowing! Off heir third album of all star collaborations, “Heuningland”.
Die Heuwels Fantasties – Our Heritage
Hip indie dance rock combo celebrate Heritage Day (aka Braai Day) by hooking up with heavyweight hip-hop players HHP and JR, and the Grammy winning Soweto Gospel Choir. It’s a contagiously fun colab with Die Heuwels’ Pierre Greeff singing in English, HHP and JR keeping it real and the Soweto Gospel Choir adding their soaring African harmonies: “So it’s a flyday. We call it a braai day….”
Ike Moriz – Let it Snow
Classy SA crooner eases us into the festive season with this swinging Vegas lounge finger snapper off his new album ‘Starry Night’, which contains 15 beautifully arranged jazzy adaptions of popular Christmas songs.
Various Artists – A Christmas Sampler
Good Hope FM has rallied some of Cape Town’s leading artists and invited them to make their own personal contribution to Christmas through music. The result is a stunning beautiful and heart-warming album called ‘Good Hope FM Christmas’. There are new versions of old festive chestnuts – plus brand-new compositions – all performed in a joyous Christmas spirit – celebrating Christmas …and Cape Town.
Mona – Holy City
Fans of Sarah Brightman and Katherine Jenkins are going to love SA light classical soprano Mona’s sublime symphonic pop rendition of this timeless Xmas hymn.
Nova Noël – The Christmas Song
New Mother City band blend sassy, silky gospel vocals with a smooth contemporary jazz feel on this festive favouirte off their first project, ‘Nova Noël – Christmas in Cape Town’, which is a compilation CD of popular Christmas songs, performed in their own unique style.
The Mahotella Queens – Amezemula
Space is the place on this mellifluous a cappella gem off the queens of mbaqanga’s recent album, ‘Reign and Shine’. Fresh and dynamic, the new album maps the spaces where mbaqanga and mbube meet and greet with tracks ranging from traditional classics to brand new, original material.
aKING – The Heart Of A Fool
“I know my language has always been my limit…/the heart of the fool lives inside of his mouth,” serenades Laudo on this spanking new symphonic rock power ballad off the indie rock darlings’ brand new CD, ‘Against All Odds’. Produced by the multiple award-winning Theo Crous.
Koos Kombuis – Lisa se Klavier
Legendary singer songwriter maps the moment he morphed from Andre Letoit into mythical alternative Afrikaans troubadour Koos Kombuis on this classic Voelvry-era acoustic ballad off his excellent debut, ‘Niemandsland & Beyond!’.
Brian Currin 