Vusi Mahlasela

Vusi Mahlasela: The Healing Power of Sound Published March 23, 2012 by Lloyd Gedye It says a lot about Vusi Mahla­sela’s love and respect for music that when he began renovating his house in Mamelodi the first room that was completed was his new studio and rehearsal space. When the Mail & Guardian arrived there last week to interview him before his historic 20-year ­anniversary concert, which will be held on Sunday at Johannesburg’s Lyric Theatre, bricks were piled up outside and several walls were only half-complete. Mahlasela’s lounge is small and functional, decorated with framed pictures of Zion Christian Church bishops; he is a devoted member of the church. Gospel music was blaring from a large Samsung television and behind the front door was a picture of ­Mahlasela and his label boss in the United States, Dave Matthews, hanging skew on the wall, still wrapped in plastic. Mahlasela strolled Read more »

Vusi and Angelique Kidjo will team up in Europe in May to celebrate Mama Africa– Miriam Makeba! Please visit the tour dates link for tickets and more information. Vusi will also perform at the Norfolk & Norwich festival in the UK with Bombino prior to the Mama Africa shows: May 14- Norfolk & Norwich Festival Norwich, UK (w/ Bombino) May 18- Jazz Sous Les Pommiers Coutances, France (Mama Africa) May 22- Mawazine Festival Rabat, Morocco (Mama Africa) May 24- Concert Hall Dortmund, Germany (Mama Africa) May 26- Africa Festival Wurzburg, Germany (Mama Africa) May 27- Afro Pfingsten Festival Winterhtur, Swizterland (Mama Africa) *stay tuned for a few more dates to be announced very soon!

Please join Vusi for the following upcoming shows at home in South Africa: Friday 2 March – Spier Amphitheatre, Stellenbosch with Lize Beekman The always-popular, greatly celebrated Lize Beekman and world-renowned music legend Vusi Mahlasela come together for one unique performance. Together they are known for their song ‘All the Same’ for their charity project for Aids-orphans and patients. This promises to be a very special performance with two of the country’s top musicians. Time: 20h15pm Venue: Spier Amphitheatre Tickets: R90, R120, R150 Website: http://www.woordfees.co.za Saturday 3 March – Big Blues Music Festival, Kleinmond As with all good things, this year’s Big Blues Music Festival is going to be even better with a bigger line up of top local blues musicians. Vusi Mahlasela joins a stellar line up including Albert Frost & the Blues Broers, Dan Patlansky, Gerald Clark, Natasha Meister, Piet Botha & the Lyzard Kings, Tribal Echo and Read more »

JUST ANNOUNCED! Vusi and his band (featuring the great players from “SAY AFRICA”– Mongezi Ntaka, Ian Herman and Bakithi Kumalo) will headline The Hamilton in Washington, DC on May 6. In between tours in Australia and Europe, Vusi is making a brief stop in the states, including this very special show at the Hamilton. The Hamilton is a great new venue right in the heart of DC by Metro Center. Tickets go on sale Weds Feb. 22,  available at http://www.thehamiltondc.com/live

Vusi and Karen Zoid team up again to play the Paul Cluver Forest Amphitheatre (Western Cape, South Africa– about 45 min drive from Cape Town) on Saturday, March 10! Just announced. Get your tickets while they last as this amphitheater at the beautiful Paul Cluver winery only holds 600 people. Tickets are available on COMPUTICKET.

Pleased to let you know that Vusi and his band from South Africa will be on tour in Australia this April, including a return performance at Byron Bay Blues Fest. This will be the first time Vusi has toured in Australia with his South African band. April 5      Melbourne, AU        Melbourne Recital Centre *supporting Angelique Kidjo April 7      Sydney, AU               The Basement April 8      Byron Bay, AU         Blues Fest April 9      Byron Bay, AU         Blues Fest April 11    Perth, AU                  Fly By Night Club  

Photographer Aaron Farrington has captured some amazing images of Vusi through the years.  In time for the holidays, we’re offering a very limited edition run of three different photographs that Aaron has taken.  Each image is 12 x 18 and is signed by the photographer.  Prints are available in Vusi’s online web store.                                       Please be sure to order by Dec. 16 in order to qualify for standard shipping and receive in time for Christmas.

Dear Friends and Music Lovers, Yebo! I hope this holiday season finds you happy and well. 2011 has been a busy yet great year and went by in a flash with the release of SAY AFRICA in January followed by lots of worldwide, whirlwind touring, driving through the snow, visiting radio stations, doing interviews and more! I met a bunch of new friendly faces out on the road with Amos Lee and Ray LaMontagne; and I was proud to join both Hugh Masekela and Angelique Kidjo in Europe to tribute the late and great Miriam Makeba.  I also teamed up with fellow South African singer, Karen Zoid, for a few great shows this fall in Cape Town.  I just got back from the States where I did a short tour with Pee Wee Ellis, Maceo Parker and Cheikh Lo in tribute to the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. And now Read more »

The 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute: Live from the Beacon Theatre NYC album has just been released.  It features 15 great performances from this benefit concert last fall, including “Watching the Wheels” performed by Vusi and Taj Mahal. Proceeds from the sales of this album will benefit the Japanese Red Cross in their continual re-building efforts following the devastating earthquake and tsunami.  

After two sold-out shows in Cape Town this past weekend, Vusi and Karen Zoid have just announced another co-bill show in Stellenbosch.  On November 27, join Vusi and Karen at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre.  Tickets are on sale thru CompuTicket.  

SA legends Karen Zoid and Vusi Mahlasela to share the stage at The Fugard Theatre 11 and 12 November in Cape Town. TICKETS available now! Karen Zoid is fresh off her nationwide “Afrikaners is Plesierig” 10 year Anniversary tour while Vusi Mahlasela will undertake his 20 year “When you come back” Anniversary tour in 2012. The two musical greats are appearing in concert together to emphasise the integration of South African people through combining their music and audiences. The Audience can expect an unforgettable concert intimately featuring two awe-inspiring musical offerings which may appear different at first, yet reveals the very same soulful expression and celebration of our rainbow nation. Karen Zoid, with a career span of over a decade, has earned numerous accolades including gold album sales and SAMA awards. She has shared the stage with international acts like John Mayer, Annie Lennox, Metallica, Simple Plan, Hothouse Flowers, Seal Read more »

Vusi is pleased to join STILL BLACK, STILL PROUD: An African Tribute to James Brown on tour this November. The dates are: 11/16 Chapel Hill, NC 11/18 Great Barrington, MA 11/19 Burlington, VT 11/20 Philadelphia, PA 11/22 St. Paul, MN About Still Black, Still Proud: Discovering the points at which African and American music strike sparks off each other, Pee Wee Ellis and a host of stars including Maceo Parker, Vusi Mahlasela, and Cheikh Lo bring James Brown’s revolutionary music full circle in this innovative, rhythm fueled tribute of Afro-funk. As much as the music of Africa influenced Brown’s style, he likewise inspired an entire generation of African artists. Brown’s music was immensely popular, deeply felt and vastly influential in Africa; “Even in the deep bush, the villages, people knew about James Brown,” says Vieux Farka Touré. Still Black, Still Proud celebrates Brown’s lasting legacy while exploring the deep relationship Read more »

This just announced!  Vusi and Karen Zoid will share the stage at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City Casino in Jo’Burg for one night only on 30 September.  TICKETS are available at the Lyric Theatre box office and on CompuTicket. About the Show: Karen Zoid is currently on  the Johannesburg leg of her 10 year “Afrikaners is Plesierig” Anniversary tour while Vusi Mahlasela will undertake his 20 year “When you come back” Anniversary tour in 2012. The two musical greats are appearing in concert together to emphasise the integration of South African people through combining their music and audiences. The Audience can expect an unforgettable concert featuring two awe-inspiring musical offerings which may appear different at first, yet reveals the very same soulful expression and celebration of our rainbow nation. Karen Zoid, with a career span of over a decade, has earned numerous accolades including gold album sales and Read more »

If you’re planning to go to Bumbershoot, check Vusi out at the main stage in the Key Arena at 8pm just before Ray LaMontagne’s set. And tune into KEXP at 2:30 to hear Vusi LIVE from the musician’s lounge. If you miss it live, check back to KEXP for the archived session.

Vusi’s tour with Ray LaMontagne kicks off this week in Calgary, Alberta. Don’t miss this great show up and down the West Coast. For all tour dates, please visit the EVENTS page.

Check out the GALLERY to see some great pics from this summer’s tour, including Wanderlust, DMB Caravan, and more!

Don’t miss Vusi out on tour with Hugh Masekela in a South African tribute to the legendary Miriam Makeba– MAMA AFRICA! The show features Hugh Masekela, Vusi, Lira, Thandiswa, and the original vocalists from Miriam Makeba’s band. Please visit the TOUR PAGE for more information.

Vusi will join the great lineup at Seattle’s music and arts festival, BUMBERSHOOT, on Saturday, Sept. 3! For tickets and more information about this festival, please visit the BUMBERSHOOT site.

A handful of dates have just been added to the upcoming Ray LaMontagne tour that Vusi will support. Please visit the TOUR PAGE for a full list of ALL dates. 9/4            Portland, OR        Edgefield 9/6            Bend, OR               Les Schwab Amphitheater 9/10          Los Angeles, CA    Greek Theatre * 9/11           Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl* 9/13          San Diego, CA         Copley Symphony Hall* 9/14          Phoenix, AZ             Comerica Theatre* All dates on sale May 20, except Sept. 11 on sale May 21. * denotes show also features BRANDI CARLILE!

For those you who live in Finland (or would like to travel there!), don’t miss Vusi performing with his band from South Africa at the World Village Festival in Helsinki on May 29. For more information and tickets, please click HERE.

We’re very pleased to announce that Vusi will head out on tour with Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs in August and September.  Tickets go on sale May 6 at 10am.  More dates to be announced soon! Aug. 30    Calgary, AB                   EPCOR Centre’s Jack Singer Hall Aug. 31     Edmonton, AB             Winspear Centre Sept. 2      Vancouver, BC             The Orpheum Sept. 9      Berkeley, CA                 The Greek  (also featuring Brandi Carlile!) Stay tuned for more dates.

Vusi is the featured artist on today’s NPR WORLD CAFE broadcast. Tune in to hear him in conversation with David Dye and performing three songs from SAY AFRICA.  You can find your local NPR broadcast time, right HERE or you can listen to the program on NPR’s SITE, which features a bonus performance of “Conjecture of the Hour.”

We are pleased to announce that Vusi will perform two special shows at the intimate Fugard Theatre in Cape Town on April 29 & 30 as part of Freedom Day celebrations in South Africa. D-seven, the acclaimed seven member all-male a capella vocal performance group will be the opening performance on the two nights. These performances, supported by Bottletop Productions, Glenfiddich Scotch Whisky, as well as The Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) in association with Nedbank Arts Affinity, and  will also be the first after the upgrade of the Fugard Theatre’s seating. The theatre will hence forth have 280 cinemas-style seats. Tickets for these two unique shows are R150 and R200. Bookings can be made on www.computicket.com, or by phoning the Fugard Theatre Box Office on 021 461 4554.

Check out the March/April Issue of RELIX to read a review of SAY AFRICA. Though he’s been an integral fixture on the music scene in his homeland for years, South African vocalist Vusi Mahlasela first received attention in the United States of America after he sang on fellow countryman Dave Matthews’ smash album Everyday in 1998. A few years later, he met Taj Mahal at a benefit and the blues legend offered to produce his album for Matthews’ ATO Records. Recorded in Matthews’ Charlottesville, Va. studio, Say Africa is the resulting collaboration. This beautiful 14-track collection is acoustic Afropop folk through and through. Mahlasela is a simple yet powerful storyteller with a strong penchant for memorable hooks. The melodies and crisp guitar work on “Woza” are as catchy as one of Matthews’ ¬Everyday singles. remain in mind, as do its crisp guitar chords. Fellow Afropop star Angélique Kidjo adds to Read more »

Don’t forget, tickets to DMB’s CARAVAN, taking place June 24-26 in Atlantic City at Baderfield go ON SALE Friday March 25 at 10AM.  Three nights of DMB and performances from Vusi, OAR, Ray LaMontagne, Amos Lee… and many more.

Join Vusi at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday June 16 for an amazing night of music featuring performances from Vusi, ANGELIQUE KIDJO and Senegal’s YOUSSOU N’DOUR.  Tickets go on sale Friday March 25 at 10 AM.

We’re pleased to let you know that the initial line up, including VUSI,  has just been announced for DMB CARAVAN.  The festival will take place at Bader Field in Atlantic City June 24-26 and features an amazing LINEUP. Three-day tickets, VIP Packages, hotel rooms and Premier Travel Packages will be available first to members of DMB’s Warehouse beginning Monday, March 14, 2011 at 10 am ET. Citi® cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Monday, March 21st, at 12:00 PM ET time through Citi’s Private Pass® Program. For complete Citi presale details visit citiprivatepass.com. Tickets will be available to the public through DMBCaravan.com on Friday, March 25, 2011.

Vusi has just been added to the great lineup of music, yoga and arts at the Wanderlust Festival.  The festival takes place June 23 thru 26 at that Stratton Mountain Ski Resort in Bondville, VT.

Read this recent review of Vusi’s show at SOB’s Feb. 22 on AFROPOP’s blog.  Banning Eyre says “[Vusi] is, hands down, one of the strongest singers in African music today, capable of crooning, growling, whispering, and wailing–all in a single song.  He’s also a terrific story teller, with a dry wit and a big heart–a genuine African troubadour.”  Read the full review HERE.

Listen to Vusi live from the WNRN studio in Charlottesville, VA.  Vusi plays Say Africa, In Anyway, and old song “Amdokwe.”  Check out the interview right HERE.