MILLION-SELLING MULTI CULTURAL SOUTH AFRICAN LEGENDS MANGO GROOVE HIT LONDON TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF AFRICA’S FIRST EVER GLOBAL CONSERVATION NGO:
London Goes SA Presents:
MANGO GROOVE
Live in Concert at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, London
Special Guests: Matthew Mole and Kinky Robot
Saturday 7th March 2015
FIRST MANGO SHOW IN LONDON IN OVER 20 YEARS!
Mango Groove brings its outstanding live show to London for one night only to celebrate the launch of the Wilderness Foundation Global, Africa’s first ever global conservation NGO. The NGO is directly supported by the world famous UK-based Tusk Foundation. Mango Groove will donate a portion of the proceeds of the concert to the Wilderness Foundation Global.
Mango Groove`s inimitable sound needs little introduction to South Africans: a magical, unforgettable and utterly distinctive blend of South African ‘50’s urban styles and contemporary pop, sprinkled with that uniquely South African penny whistle, and topped with the soaring vocals of the iconic Claire Johnston. Support acts include up and coming singer songwriter Matthew Mole and electro pop band, Kinky Robot.
Claire Johnston says: “This has been a long time coming, and we are massively excited about it! The show will be about celebrating more than music: it’s a celebration of our history, our tradition and our unfolding story as South Africans. “
Mango Groove last performed a sold out show at the Hammersmith Apollo in the early ‘90’s. In the words of Beulah Hashe, one of Mango Groove’s much-loved original members: “Apart from being such a beautiful building in its own right, the Hammersmith Apollo is such an iconic and prestigious venue. Everyone from The Beatles to Ella Fitzgerald to Queen to Bruce Springsteen has performed there through the decades. To be back on that stage again with Mango Groove will be a huge honour for us. ‘’
(1) Wilderness Foundation Global
The month of March 2015 will be a highlight for the Wilderness Foundation, with the launch of their global organisation, Wilderness Foundation Global, starting with the Mango Groove concert in London. It had been a lifelong dream of the organisation’s late founder, Dr. Ian Player, to create a global organisation, and Wilderness Foundation Global will see this happen with the culmination of three of the organisations founded by Dr Player – The Wilderness Foundation SA, The Wilderness Foundation UK and the WILD Foundation USA – into Wilderness Foundation Global. The Wilderness Foundation Global is the first international conservation organisation founded out of Africa. Funds raised from our association with Mango Groove and this concept in particular will go towards conservation work in Africa.
Mango Groove’s association with the Wilderness Foundation goes back many years, and it is one that they hold very close to their hearts. Claire Johnston said “John and I were privileged enough to have had several exchanges with Dr Ian Player through the years… our own experiences on the Wilderness Leadership School iMfolozi trails were, quite simply, life-changing for us and they had a very powerful and lasting effect on our own attitudes towards the natural world and our relationship with it.”
The Wilderness Foundation Africa works in many countries from its base in South Africa to protect wildlife and wilderness in partnership with local communities. Whether it is direct action anti-poaching in the field, large landscape wilderness management, or developing rising young leaders from disadvantaged communities for a career in conservation, the Wilderness Foundation has over 40 years of results. The Foundation was established in 1972 by conservation pioneer, the late Dr Ian Player, who led the team that saved the white rhino from extinction in the 1960’s, an action-legacy that the Wilderness Foundation continues today, working against wildlife crime and combating the rhino poaching crisis. The Wilderness Foundation Africa focuses on four main programme areas: Wildlife and Wilderness Conservation, Social Intervention, Leadership & Education, and Advocacy & Awareness.
www.wildernessfoundation.org.uk
MANGO GROOVE LIVE!
If you really want to understand the phenomenon that is Mango Groove, you simply have to see the band live in concert. Their massive record sales aside, Mango Groove have primarily built their deserved reputation on their power as a live act. Their timeless magic on stage was evident when they wooed the young crowd at South Africa`s largest annual Music Festival, Oppikoppi, in 2013:
“This year (2013) I heard Mango Groove had totally rocked Oppikoppi and had been noted as one of the best bands of the festival.” www.boringcapetownchick.com
“Roxanne Burger @roxyburger on Twitter: MANGO GROOVE are blowing this festival UP! #oppikoppi.”
“It’s hard to describe the atmosphere that prevailed while they held the crowd captive with their absolutely mind-blowing virtuosity, playing hit after hit from a repertoire that still lives on in South Africa’s cultural heart and cuts straight across age, race and gender. Incredibly, this was Mango Groove’s first ever set at Oppikoppi, and they certainly did it in style.” www.mio.co.za
For more information:
www.wildernessfoundation.co.za
