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, the 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 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.
Charity Show for the Children at Amapondo
After the National Arts Festival performances, the tour travels to Port St Johns where the songbirds 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 here.
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 here.
12 July - National Arts Festival, Grahamstown
Venue: Rhodes Chapel, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Time: 21h30
Price: R95
Collaborating Act: Shotgun Tori
Get tickets here.
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 here.
17 July - Johannesburg
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 here.