Keira WitherKay wrote:
ps i'm keen to meet as many acoustic musicians in jhb as possible so if thats your bag too contact me...
Hi Keira, and welcome to GFSA. If you're based in JHB then there's a couple of things that may be of interest to you.
Andy McGibbon's Acoustic Music Forum convenes once a month at Old Parktonians in Randburg. This is run by Andy of Andy McGibbon's Guitar World. It's acoustic and all acts must play original music - no covers. There's a cover charge, but it pretty much just covers costs. Any profits are donated to charity at the end of the year. Andy provides a PA and specialist acoustic guitar amps. All performers appear for free. The standard is pretty high, and Andy also wants "the forum" to serve as a place that will allow musicians to network and maybe spark some collaborations.
TJs Acoustic Music Club meets at Marks Park. Most of the participants are amateur or "occasionally pro", but it doesn't have to be that way. They allow covers but welcome originals. They have two regular, more formal sessions a month (probably just one this month whilst everybody recovers from the festive season) and one open mike session a month also at Marks Park but in a smaller room. Again there is a cover charge to cover costs, and TJs provide a PA (you can plug your guitar straight into their system or lug an amp around). Open mic night is open - turn up, say hello, book yourself a slot. The other nights are more formal and organised.
I'm not involved in the running of either, but I attend, am on mailing/SMS lists, and will try to be more diligent in posting notifications on the forum.
I am in Jo'burg, own a pretty good acoustic guitar but I'm not sure I qualify as a guitarist ? I sometimes test my embarassment limits at TJ's open mic nights. Otherwise I provide an answer to the question "what do you call somebody who hangs around with musicians".
