Shoppers at the Liberty Midlands Mall can look forward to a seven-week musical treat from Saturday, July 20th and will run each and every Saturday from 12 noon to 2pm, as some of the province’s exciting new musical talents take to the stage during the centre’s first ever Battle of the Bands.
The best solo artist and the best band each stand to win R10 000 as well as an opportunity to perform at future gigs at the grand final which will take place on Saturday, August 31st at Liberty Midlands Mall main entertainment arena.
The Liberty Midlands Mall Battle of the Bands will be divided into two – best amateur band and best amateur solo artist. Entrants will compete weekly at the Mall’s Lifestyle Centre with two finalists from each week making it to the next round.
The competition is open to a variety of different genres including acoustic, folk, rock, pop, reggae, classical, alternative, Afro or jazz. A total of 24 performers (12 solo artists and 12 bands) will each have a 15-minute slot in which to perform two to three different songs.
Throughout the competition, judging will be based on planning, originality, material, appearance, interaction, quality, confidence, stage presence, attitude and, of course, entertainment and showmanship.
The judges who are tasked with making those difficult choices include Martin Godfrey who is a Pietermaritzburg resident and has been involved in the music industry since 1980, singing in bands such as Sir Ripfrey Ding, Fuse, Special Branch, Sultry Thread, The Splayed Ferrets, Dee & Gee, MiTH Band as well as a guest vocalist in various bands. Martin has presented radio for Radio Maritzburg (2002-2004) and KZN Capital 104FM (2016 to date) and Emceed for various events in KZN, including Southern Cross, Splashy Fen Folk Club Stage, Cars in the Park and Midmar Mile. Presently, Martin is a Financial Advisor by day, and a MiTH (Music in the Hills) team member every second Wednesday evening. Martins’ taste in music range from Classic Rock, blues, 80’s new wave punk to Progressive Rock. His no-nonsense style will be interesting to watch at the judges table.
Also on the panel includes Nomalanga Hlubi, from Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, who has been an active on the bigger stages as a Jazz Singer since 2002. Performances at various events include the Ladysmith Jazz Festival, Durban Central, UGU Jazz Festival, Jazzy Rainbow as well as other venues and events around South Africa. Nomalanga has shared the stage with International and South African legends such as Oleta Adams, Regina Belle, Ringo Madlingozi, the late Hugh Masekela, Bongo Maffin and Joel Zuma of Istemela. Nomalanga’s experience and gentle nature is a welcome addition to the judges table.
If you’re an amateur band or soloist and you think you’ve got what it takes to win the Liberty Midlands Mall Battle of the Bands, enter today by simply sending us your details and your demo.
You will need to post a link of your material to soundcloud, Youtube or provide a MP3 (maximum size of 10mb) and send a short bio and photo together with a signed entry form to the link http://tiny.cc/bandentries.
All entrants will undergo auditions to qualify for Battle of the Bands.
Entry is free for all of those wishing to enjoy the seven live shows by Battle of the Bands entrants. Entries close on Wednesday, July 17th. Any queries can be directed to [email protected] or visit the Liberty Midlands Mall website or social media pages.
ABOUT LIBERTY MIDLANDS MALL
Liberty Midlands Mall, located in Pietermaritzburg is the jewel of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. With passion and inspiration drawn from the Zulu Kingdom, the mall is draped in African culture and pride.
Measuring an impressive 78,000m2 it is the largest and most popular retail destination in the Pietermaritzburg area. Home to almost 200 local and global retail stores, Liberty Midlands Mall offers a unique retail experience by fusing indigenous inspiration with international style through its assorted mix of fashion, food and leisure.
Liberty Midlands Mall’s most recent development was the launch of its Phase 3 retail offering in March 2018. The scheme includes an expansion of the Woolworths store, a Checkers store, Planet Fitness and an al fresco dining area. The expansion serves to strengthen Liberty Midlands Mall’s position in Pietermaritzburg and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, further increasing the mall’s appeal to locals and visitors alike.
Liberty Midlands Mall is owned by Liberty Two Degrees and Liberty Group Limited and managed by Excellerate JHI Retail, a division of the Excellerate Group, one of Africa’s leading trusted provider of fully integrated, self-delivered property related solutions and services companies.
For more information please visit either www.midlandsmall.co.za, www.liberty2degrees.co.za, or www.excellerate.co.za
