THE SONGBIRD TOUR – LAURA BURHENN (of Postal Service / Bright Eyes /The Mynabirds) IN SOUTH AFRICA: 3 – 17 July 2014.
“A Hypnotizing mix of siren-like voice and melody.” – Washington Post.
Laura will be collaborating with homegrown songbirds Inge Beckmann, Shotgun Tori and Lucy Kruger and also facilitate a mentorship program: two singers from disadvantaged communities will be joining Laura, as well as Africa Voices Trust graduate Lana Crowster on stage for an opportunity to develop real experience in a tour environment.
Laura Burhenn is an established singer songwriter from the United States and the dynamic front woman of the soul folk band The Mynabirds. She has also toured the world extensively as a member of indie mega bands The Postal Service and Bright Eyes. In her first visit to South Africa in July 2014, Laura will be performing in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Grahamstown (National Arts Festival) and at various other venues around the country.
As part of the tour initiative, Laura will be looking to collaborate with equally established homegrown songbirds (Inge Beckmann for the Cape Town performances, Shotgun Tori and Lucy Kruger for the Grahamstown performances and Eve Rakow in Johannesburg), as well as focusing on women from previously disadvantaged communities via a series of workshops in the areas she visits. This is part of a mentorship program in association with Lana Crowster, a graduate from the Africa Voices Trust.
The Songbird Tour will place an emphasis on celebrating the creative woman. It is aimed at being a exchange that serves as an interaction between established international artists, up and coming South African performers and local talent within disadvantaged communities. The established acts are vibrant and successful female artists who have significantly contributed to their respective music scenes and will be using this tour as an opportunity to also interact with and inspire women at a grassroots level.
The Mentorship Program
This is a unique pilot program that aims to uplift two singers from disadvantaged communities and give them the opportunity to develop real experience in a tour environment. The One Fine Day directors along with the input of our Africa Voices graduate Lana Crowster and Laura Burhenn will select two candidates. These two talented, yet inexperienced, stage performers will then be trained on an ongoing period for a month prior to the tour with the focus on learning the songs and the requirements of the performances as well as coaching in stagecraft. Much of this training will take place in Cape Town under the guidance of The Africa Voices Trust graduate Lana Crowster with Laura Burhenn and our other South African Tour Songbirds overseeing their development and training, either face to face or via Skype. Once Laura Burhenn arrives in Cape Town she will start intensive workshop sessions for 3 days prior to the beginning of the tour.
Mentorship Program Leader and facilitator – Lana Crowster
After completing her training as a vocal performer at the University of Cape Town’s Music College in 2010, Lana Crowster was invited to become a member in the of the prestigious Africa Voices Trust Program. Ms. Crowster has proved to be one of the most dynamic and soulful of the Africa Voices Trust Participants. Having taken part in the program in 2012 she has gone on to create a career for herself in the music industry in South Africa as well as being a vocal lecturer at AFDA in Cape Town. She is a member of 6-piece jazz band that performs with great regularity and success. Fortunate enough to have a great voice and a dynamite presences in stage, Lana has also shown an ongoing desire to be involved in the upliftment of other talented singers and musicians and shows a constant willingness and enthusiasm for collaborative work within her industry. Having successfully completed the rigorous on stage and studio training that forms part and parcel of the Africa Voices Trust Program, Lana is now keen to spread some of her enthusiasm and knowledge to others less fortunate than herself.
Charity Show for the Children at Amapondo
After the National Arts Festival performances, the tour travels to Port St Johns where will be giving a charity show for the Amapondo Children’s Project (ACP), a registered non-profit organization. The ACP offers community support through its involvement in a number of projects, focusing on recognizing the needs of the local people in order to create community led initiatives, jobs, education, self-empowerment and valuable exchange whilst utilizing the skills and experience of both national and international volunteers. Their current primary focus is the Eluxolweni Boy’s Orphanage, a home that takes care of 11 young people who are between the ages of 11 and 18. The secondary focus is the Mthumbane Pre-Primary School, where approximately 60 children between the ages of 2 and 6 attend class daily. (For more information visit the website at www.amapondo.co.za)
THE SONGBIRD TOUR DATES:
3 July – Cape Town
Venue: Welgemeend Estate, 2 Welgemeend St, Gardens.
Time: 20h00
Price: Early Bird = R195
Collaborating Act: Inge Beckmann (Lark, BEAST)
Event page for pledging: http://www.citysoiree.co.za/events/laura-burhenn-ctn/
8 July – Knysna – Peace of Eden Recording Studios.
Venue: Peace of Eden Recording Studios. En route to the National Arts Festival, The Songbird Tour will stop off at the renowned Peace of Eden Recording Studio in the forests of Knysna, for a personal, invite only live recorded show. The audience will consist mostly of the township musicians who have benefitted from owner Howard Butcher’s JAMDTSA (Joint Artists and Musicians Development Trust of South Africa). They will have an opportunity to ask questions both from the band and engineers about the touring and recording processes taking place through the event.
11 July – National Arts Festival, Grahamstown
Venue: Rhodes Chapel, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Time: 21h30
Price: R95
Collaborating Act: Lucy Kruger
Get Tickets: https://www.nationalartsfestival.co.za/performance/4139:5406/
12 July – National Arts Festival, Grahamstown
Venue: Rhodes Chapel, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Time: 21h30
Price: R95
Collaborating Act: Shotgun Tori
Get Tickets: https://www.nationalartsfestival.co.za/performance/4139:5407/
15 July – Durban
Venue: Secret Soiree, so venue only announced on the day
Time: 20h00
Price: Early Bird = R195
Collaborating Act: Faye Oakes (Faye & Wren)
Event page for pledging: http://www.citysoiree.co.za/events/laura-burhenn-dbn/
17July – JHB
Venue: POPART Theatre and Performing Arts Centre, 286 Fox Street, Main Street Life, Maboneng Precinct
Time: 20h00
Price: Early Bird = R195
Collaborating Act: Eve Rakow (The Frown, Stolen Pony)
Event page for pledging: http://www.citysoiree.co.za/events/laura-burhenn-jhb/
www.citysoiree.co.za Rethinking live events. Crowdfunding concerts:
City Soirée has built a reputation on presenting interesting and often unconventional artists in spaces that are not normally synonymous with live events. The intimacy associated with our concerts, combined with the uniqueness of it, creates a milieu where the barrier between performer and audience is broken down and a mutual appreciation and interest is created.
By using crowdfunding principals we offer a new way of doing live events and in the process help create a new economy where artists and fans can connect more directly. We aim to create intriguing experiences of value and help bring creative projects to life that might otherwise have not been able to happen.
The Songbird Tour is brought to you by One Fine Day, a pioneering music company that facilitates innovative programming, unique music events and education projects that seek to link and develop local and international music connections and artists. As significant players in various aspects of the local and international music scene, the directors of One Fine Day all have a common goal to bring top quality artists to South Africa while simultaneously incorporating as much of the country’s positive developmental aims as possible. Over and above the production team’s vision, the One Fine Day event series sees its affiliations as an integral part of the ethos, implementation and overall event success. Whilst we are confident in our ability to manage a slick and professional show without third party involvement, we value the notion of bringing together relevant organizations, businesses and individuals who are already involved in the strive to make South Africa one of the top music event, travel and Living destinations.
Links:
Landing Page For Tickets: – http://www.citysoiree.co.za/laura-burhenn-live-in-sa/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OneFineDayIsHere?fref=ts
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/690884550979410/?notif_t=plan_edited
Laura Burhenn links:
https://www.facebook.com/themynabirds?fref=ts
Instagram is: @laurabird
Twitter: @themynabirds
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mynabirds
Video links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJIpp6vYGgc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0chUEG3kP0
