Artists

This summer, the Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concert series promises a fantastic line-up of some of South Africa’s best musicians as well as a selection of international bands: Jamali and friends, aKING, Just Jinjer, Prime Circle, Goldfish, The Dirty Skirts, The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and Watershed, all of which cater for an array of tastes.

The already popular Old Mutual Encounters Series also brings you a unique, once-in-a lifetime collaborative performance as part of the Old Mutual Two Oceans festival on Easter Sunday (4 April) – featuring Gang of Instrumentals, Tidal Waves and Tumi Molekane.

How did Old Mutual Encounters come about?

The Old Mutual Encounters Series is about experiencing something of the world of others. About meeting in a new place, that is neither yours nor mine, but ours. Encounters are honest, intriguing, curious and bold. Each performance is an adventure, and shows us how a little investment can go a long way to creating something extraordinary.

In September 2004, at the legendary Kippies bar, managed by Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, in Newtown, Johannesburg, Old Mutual staged its first Encounters evening for 100 specially invited guests. The concept involved taking two artists from different musical or creative backgrounds and giving them the space to collaborate. We provided them with a blank canvas; we let them collaborate in a rehearsal room for a couple of days, and waited to see what emerged.

The result of that first collaboration was breathtaking. The stars for that inaugural performance were rocker Arno Carstens and jazz diva Gloria Bosman. However, the real sensation was neither – but rather what was created in that space between them. The combination of Gloria’s scorching vocals and Arno’s raunchy stage act was electrifying. Old Mutual Encounters was born.

Nearly four years down the line, the Encounters programme has evolved and the cream of South African music has participated, along with various international artists such as Baaba Maal and Angelique Kidjo, as well as a guest appearance by Alecia Keys.