Keira-WitherKay
last night myself and my better half were out for dinner and chatted to the owner of Lucit restaurant in soutpansburg rd rietondale and he is keen to allow the use of his restaurant at NO COST on Tues 31st july so a whole month away ..............
there will be NO COUVERT as neither myself nor the restaurant are charging for the venue or organisation , however obviously the restaurant will be supplying food and drinks,
they have a room with a stage and wait for it ....a grand piano ........ so a perfect venue just outside Pta city centre ......... with safe secure private parking
right so i was proposing a while back to organise a pta open mic so this is me coming good on that promise..........
1st off the times will be from 7 ish onwards and the restaurant is Lucit restaurant in soutpansberg rd ,rietfontein pta ......
the restaurant is an upmarket one , and will be open for public trade that evening, but there are separate rooms ,
right lets talk open mic............ obviously being a restaurant and not a club/bar this will need to be a low volume effort ...... so if you ever been to TJ's think that volume............. we will have a stage and a grand piano (for any pianists) and i will supply some mic's and some PA gear ,
there must unfortunately be rules here , and like with TJ's there will be a time limit per act ............ and i'm afraid volume will be strictly controlled, it does NOT have to be a fully acoustic affair ...electric guitars are welcome , BUT NO OVERDRIVE be it pedals or amp drive will be tolerated .....see this as an 'unplugged" evening yet still amplified ..... ? so doing rock songs acoustically or even with clean electric guitars is cool ........... but because of the upmarket restaurant it isn't appropriate to use distortion/overdrive....... again think what TJ's allows ....... but electric guitars played clean are fine
anyone interested in performing please pm me cos it would be cool to set up a list of players ahead of time ...and obviously people can just arrive on the night an sign up too.....
and i will post the restaurant phone number closer to the date to allow for table reservations........
if you know this restaurant , it used to be an exclusive set menu restaurant, but has in last 3 months changed to a cheaper tapas style menu , which is amazing and the chef/ownersaid he would put some special items on the menu for that evening
so there you have it ..........
i have found a venue......... i will supply prob most of the gear, .the date is set (cos the restaurant organises events and this will be one of them..... no couvert charge.......... no one is making money out of this (except for the food and drinks but the venue is available free for the event)
so it's good to go
now we need you to sign up......... ?
all styles are welcome, pop/rock/indie/flamenco /classical/nu folk/country /jazz ........ JUST THE NO DISTORTION/OVERDIVE RULE APPLIES, and
'NO BACKTRACKS WILL BE ALLOWED' IT'S ALL 100% LIVE MUSIC
you needn't be a pro or a regular gigging muso to perform it's open to all , so a great way to try gigging in front of a live audience.......even for a 1st time ,
of course it is a social event as well so if you just wanna come have a light meal and a few drinks and support the muso's and socialise it's all good........
percussionists will be allowed but again no full drum sets unless you contact me and we can be sure you set up before the time and the level your drummer plays at is soft ...... again afraid the one rule is keep it soft ....... or at a moderate level for a upmarket restaurant , and there are residential houses nearby so volume will be strictly controlled .
right peeps in and close enough to pta to make the trip............. lets make this happen ,
Keira-WitherKay
a great development is that TI distribution , has kindly offered us the free use of a Bose L1 PA system for the evening , and some beyerdynamic mics thats some serious sound reinforcement ,
thanks Mathew for the offer it's graciously accepted
fabulous now the ball is rolling .......the sound for the evening is sorted .......... NOW . lets just get bums on seats and guitarists on the stage ...........
Conrad
Really looking forward to it.
Keira-WitherKay
we listing this as an open mic, BUt i am also getting a few muso's to commit to this show beforehand , so even if many people don't wanna do the open mic section, for some reason many peeps seem shy ....but i hope i'm wrong this time..........so then there will be a show regardless of open mic interest.
anyway as i said a few artists have already said they will be there to do a 15 min set , and i will publish all the names soonest ..........
also hoping that we get some across the board styles happening ...anyone in Pta play bluegrass ? or rockabilly , as it seems we have commitment or possible commitment from some indie rock artists / flamenco and classical /jazz ....so lets make it a fabulous evening of musical diversity
as we mentioned the fabulous venue(thanks to Gideon who owns "Lucit restaurant" ) and the Bose L1 PA(thanks to Matthew from TI distribution ) are sorted so now it's up to you to sign up
like i mentioned above if you know you can make it let me know ahead of time if you wanna play , and i'll put you on the list , we only looking for 15 min from each artist
will keep you updated
Keira-WitherKay
just bumping this event ......... as it's still 3 weeks away so no rush , but heres a chance for a pta get together and an open mic , so please don't forget it's happening the 31st ........
Conrad
Kiera can people start booking so long? If so, do they just say "we want a table for 31st for Event X"?
Keira-WitherKay
just a reminder this in now only 2 weeks away tomorro ........... so please start making arrangements to support that evening , be it as a performer or just as audience,
as we get closer there will be more updates
Keira-WitherKay
OK it's only 1 week from tomorrow before the open mic
so the restaurant mentioned they running a special that evening
below is a quote from their email to me
we can offer a three course meal @ R 80 per person.. soup andbread, vegetarian home made pasta, bottomless coffee and biscotti..
of course there will be a cash bar available as well ? say no more
Keira-WitherKay
http://www.lucit.co.za/
above is the website for the retaurant where the open mic evening will be held...............
ALSO FOR BOOKINGS FOR TABLES please go to the website and reserve a table by entering in the "booking form"
just mention specifically it will be for the open mic evening ..........
DIRECTIONS TO THE VENUE IS ALSO ON THEIR WEBSITE
ps go check out the photo gallery and see the lovely setting
Keira-WitherKay
hi ya all, it's only exactly a week till we have the open mic evening in pta
as you know TI distribution have kindly offered us the use of a Bose L1 system for a PA
now some breaking news ....... is that Bvan S guitars (yes thats neon gecko's company) will be bringing in some of their instruments to show them at the open mic. so a treat to see some local luthiers work upclose , and i believe he will be bringing some left hand instruments too....so lefties don't feel "left out" ( pun intended)
neon gekco will be there to answer any questions about the build process ect .
so amazing news ......
Keira-WitherKay
this event is still an open mic event , so walk ins will be accomodated , but if anyone knows they will be coming that evening and would like to play please pm me with your details......... as i i am trying to arrange as much up front as possible , and we'd love to hear from all styles of music .please read the 'rules" in the opening post as they will apply ,
i will be posting the names of some of the acts already agreed to be participating shortly in next day or so ,
Keira-WitherKay
ok the open mic night in pta is only 4 days away ............. please spread the word ,
all details in mails /posts above
Keira-WitherKay
hi ya , yes it is an open mic and walk ins are totally accepted but just incase a case of shyness strikes the pta guitar fraturnity i have asked a few people to confirm upfront so despite any attacks of stage fright the show will go on ,
appearing on the night in no specific order is
our MC for the evening is rightly so none other than Norio one of our founding members of GFSA and our man in Pretoria
also appearing but not performing is BvanS guitars who will have a few guitars on show and neon gecko will speak about the guitars and the process and answer any questions re custom builds ..............
String Symetry ..classical & flamenco duo (featuring our talented Conrad and his lovely wife letitia ...and a little birdie did whisper we might be getting
some castenet players and some others joining them )
Eclectic .............. a nu-country duo featuring our own Nitebob and his lovely partner who has one of the most incredible vocal talents you will hear , she sang
for me once in my lounge accapello and i got goosebumps, small lady with a way huge voice
Ian Brady........... solo acoustic guitarist/simger a talented left handed player who is a singer and guitarist of note , and who also happens to be my percussionist
in my jazz duo , has agreed to perform
Keira Witherkay & Ian Brady jazz/world music duo , yes thats me doing what i do best with ian laying down his guitar and picking up his drum sticks
we specialise in vintage tunes from 30's and 40's so a vibrant blend of guitar and percussion
Dave ...............original fingerstyle acoustic player (the man we know as squonk) will be performing his original compositions
then we have some possible who i'm waiting to hear confirmation from , dr Gonza may be doing an acoustic rock duo , also Louis /frans and their pianist may be doing a few jazzy tunes and then a few more are on the cards ..............
so we already have an interesting lineup and expect a few walk ins to perform ............
we are advertising on fb too
so if you wanna play pm me and tell me what you do ,
remember most of the gear is provided ...... so just bring your guitar and a cable .......
at the moment there is NO bass amp provided so if you a bassist bring a bass amp or i will let you know if one is organised ........
exciting event only a few days to go now....................
Keira-WitherKay
ok just punting this to keep it alive till tuesday ............ come show your support for your pta gfsa guitarists ...
Keira-WitherKay
the list of performers has grown with the inclusion of squonk ........ welcome aboard , he's doing some original fingerstyle acoustic work a TJ's regular
Conrad
Keira WitherKay wrote:
the list of performers has grown with the inclusion of squonk ........ welcome aboard , he's doing some original fingerstyle acoustic work a TJ's regular
Hey Squonky! :woohoo:
deefstes
Keira WitherKay wrote:
the list of performers has grown with the inclusion of squonk ........ welcome aboard , he's doing some original fingerstyle acoustic work a TJ's regular
You Praetoreans are in for a treat! ?
Conrad
Anyone else coming?
Keira-WitherKay
hi ya all........... well it's all lined up and happening tonight in pta ............. i hope you and your 'buds" and loved ones will attend............. hope to see you there
it's all sorted....the venue is ready for us, Norio your MC for the night is roaring to go ......... the acts lined up in advance are ready ........ thanks again conrad and Letitia/Squonk/ Nitebob ...and az few yet to be confirmed acts......... also walk ins are the rule of the day .......but try get there early as possible so we can get you on the list if you want to perform ...... just bring your guitar ....... the rest is provided ................
but please read the rules in original post if you performing ...specifically no overdrive/distortion of any kind and NO BACKTRACKS either ,
i have just this morning picked up the Bose L1 PA system we will be using tonight what a beauty and thanks to TI distribution namely Matthew for allowing us the use of this incredible R45 000's worth of top end PA system .......and totally free of charge .......... thanks again ,
if you keen to see the system (i just had a demo on it this morning ) then pop in , it's incredible ..... loud enough for about 500 seater venue and fits into the boot of my hatchback with space to spare and is way light..... as in light weight .........
SOME SAD NEWS ALSO TODAY
please everyone spare a thought and send condolences to neon gecko who's father suddenly passed away this weekend and he will understandably not be attending or bringing the Bvan S guitars thru tonight ........ neon gecko out thoughts are with you on this sad occassion
anyone have any questions re tonight please contact me .........
peace and light and see you there
