STUNNING LINE UP OF MUSICIANS FOR THE 2014 OLD MUTUAL MUSIC IN THE GARDENS SEASON
Experience the best music in the most beautiful and tranquil settings
It’s time to get the picnic baskets, blankets and friends together for a great musical experience in the most beautiful and tranquil settings as the 2014 season of The Old Mutual Music In The Gardens gets underway from May to November.
Jimmy Dludu, The Muffinz, AKA, Reason, Johnny Clegg, Mi Casa, Donald, Mango Groove, Josie Field and Shortstraw are just some of the artists lined up for the 2014 concert season at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens and the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens.
The Old Mutual Music In The Gardens season is a sister project of the iconic Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concerts at Kirstenbosch in Cape Town and the Old Mutual Music At The Lake concerts in Durban.
“Held in idyllic settings amongst an assortment of indigenous and exotic plants, the concerts are not only an opportunity to listen to some great South African music in the company of family and friends, but also contribute directly to the maintenance and development of these beautiful gardens”, said Old Mutual sponsorship manager Bandile Mngoma.
The first concert of the season at the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens on Sunday 18 May features the evergreen Mango Groove and the critically acclaimed contemporary folk singer songwriter Josie Field.
A week later on Sunday 25 May the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens will sway to the beautiful jazz fusion guitar of the legendary Jimmy Dludlu, and the eclectic soul of the superhot Muffinz.
Gates to the Gardens open at 10am with the concerts taking place from 2pm until 5pm. Concert goers are encouraged to come early, bring a picnic basket and spend a leisurely day in the sunshine. There is a supervised kids zone with a host of activities as well as food and refreshments on sale.
Tickets are available in advance on the Old Mutual Music in the Gardens Facebook page or at the Gardens from R100 and on the day from R120.
Follow @OM_Concerts on Twitter for all the action on the day, and ‘Like’ the Old Mutual Music in the Gardens page on Facebook for all the updates.
The confirmed line up for the Old Mutual Music in the Gardens season is as follows:
Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens
25 May Jimmy Dludlu & The Muffinz
15 June Aka, Reason & Tumi
24 August Mango Groove, Josie Field & Laurie Levine
Pretoria National Botanical Gardens
18 May Mango Groove & Josie Field
8 June Mi Casa & Donald
6 July Johnny Clegg & Shortstraw
For more on the Old Mutual Music in the Gardens music series, go to www.dogreatthings.co.za.
About:
Pretoria National Botanical Gardens
This 76 ha urban oasis is a pristine getaway situated in the eastern suburbs of South Africa’s administrative capital, Pretoria.
A 35 m high quartzite outcrop divides the Garden in two sections. Its frosty south-facing section and the north-facing, warmer section present two different worlds to the visitor and botanist. A paved nature trail gives access to the fascinating natural vegetation on the ridge, which boasts a diversity of indigenous fauna and flora.
Fifty hectares of the total area is devoted to developed garden, using almost exclusively South African plants. All the flowering plant species to be seen, including 50% of the country’s tree species, make this Garden a botanical tapestry. Visitors are offered a glimpse of different biomes such as savanna and forest biomes. Different theme gardens are being developed.
The Garden is home to the Head Office of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and successfully bridges the gap between scientific research and the recreational environment.
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens
Against the backdrop of the magnificent Witpoortjie waterfall, this Garden covers almost 300 hectares and consists of both landscaped and natural veld areas. This Botanical Garden was founded in 1982, but has been a popular venue for outings since the 1800′s. The Garden has been voted the best picnic spot in Gauteng for 5 years in a row.
The natural vegetation of the area is known as the ‘Rocky Highveld Grassland’ and consists of a mosaic of grassland and savanna, with dense bush in kloofs and along streams. The variety of habitats accommodates over 600 naturally occurring plant species.
A breeding pair of majestic Verreaux’s Eagles nests on the cliffs alongside the waterfall. The Garden is home to an abundance of wildlife with over 220 birds species recorded on site. There are also a number of reptiles and small mammals, including small antelope and jackals, which occur naturally in the Nature Reserve.
