Music, music, music … here is a guide for Durbanites who wish to enjoy a week of musical events and markets.

35th UKZN Jazz Jol

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM) presents the 35th annual UKZN Jazz Jol on Saturday, November 1, at 18:00.

Proceeds from the event go to the Ronnie Madonsela scholarship that supports jazz students at the university and the jazz and jazz education outreach activities of the CJPM.

Headlining the bill this year is the 17-piece Big band, Horn Horizon, which is directed by trumpeter, vocalist, composer and arranger, Siyanda Zulu.

The personnel is a roll call of Durban’s leading jazz, pop and gospel musicians, many of whom contribute music arrangements to the group.

The band made its debut at The Chairman in February this year and featured a wide-ranging repertoire that was dedicated to the month of love.

The UKZN Large Ensemble features a cast of student vocalists and instrumentalists.

The group is excited to welcome jazz maestro Linda Sikhakane to their helm.

The evening will also feature a set of vocal jazz by final-year jazz recital candidates, BuyieGold and Thembalethu Bhengu.

They will pay homage to the vocal talents of Gloria Bosman and Sibongile Khumalo respectively, and will perform selections from their much loved catalogues.

The venue will be the UKZN Howard College Campus, Dennis Shepstone Building, Level 2.

Tickets will be available at the door: R200, R150 for pensioners, R100 for students. Tickets will be available for cash at the door.

Fundraiser gala dinner

Open Air School, in association with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, presents its annual Fundraiser Gala Night: “A Symphony of Stars”, which will celebrate music, talent, and community spirit.

The dinner will feature special guest performances by the Open Air School Choir, Glenwood High Choir, and the vibrant Marimba Band.

This year’s fundraiser is dedicated to upgrading the school library — creating an inclusive space that caters to the learners’ differentiated learning needs through audiobooks, Braille books, and specially adapted reading materials.

All proceeds will support this initiative at the 104-year-old school, a beacon of inclusive education for learners with special needs in the Glenwood area.

Date: Saturday, November 1

Time: 17:30

Cost: R250

Venue: Open Air School – 241 Esther Roberts Rd, Glenwood

Refreshments will be on sale. Contact Mrs Gabriel on 031  205 1277 to purchase tickets.

Hooked on Swing

The Northlands Bowling Club in association with the Rhumbelow Theatre presents Hooked on Swing – Platform Jazz on Sunday, November 2, starting at 14:00.

The venue will open 90 minutes before the show for picnics.

The band will play swing favourites from Glenn Miller, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman, to name a few and will feature Cathy “Hotlips” Peacock on trumpet, Kirsten “the kitten” Sayers on Clarinet, Jeff “Papa Wok” Robinson on sax and David Solomon on trombone.

Clifton College Wind and Brass Band will also present two numbers on the Sunday.

Tickets are R150 and showgoers are encouraged to bring food picnic baskets.

A full bar will be available, no alcohol may be brought onto the premises.

Limited secure parking is available and booking is essential.

To book call 082 499 8636 or email roland@stansell.co.za or visit www.events.durbantheatre.com or for online purchases go to Webtickets.

20th annual African Cultural Calabash

The UKZN’s School of Music, African Music Project, proudly announces the 20th annual African Cultural Calabash, a celebration of African heritage, rhythm, and unity.

The festival will take place on Friday, November 7, at 19:30 at the Howard College Theatre.

This year’s theme, “Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future – From Seeds to Harvest,” pays tribute to the strength of cultural roots while highlighting the importance of growth, transformation, and shared legacy.

Featured acts will be HloniphaniArt, Ikusasa Lethu Ensemble, Zoliswa Michelle Mchunu, Sphamandla Magwaza (Thishawamazwi), Imbongiyosizi, Lindokuhle Dlamini, and Samukelisiwe Mbatha.

The evening will also feature a traditional culinary experience from inhloko (cow head) to umleqo.

Tickets: Adults R100 | Students R60

For tickets and further details email Dr. Patricia Opondo on opondop@ ukzn.ac.za or call Thulile Zama on 031 260 3385 or Siphiwe Zwane on 082 951 5963.

Four fairs

Durban’s Musgrave / Glenwood is the destination for bargain hunters, browsers and shopaholics on Saturday, November 1, with four morning fairs being held within a few kilometres from each other.

Glenwood’s favourite everyday shopping centre, Glenwood Village, and three of Berea’s most loved churches – Glenwood Presbyterian, Musgrave Methodist and St Olav, have elected to hold their markets / church fetes on the same day to entice visitors to come to the Berea to enjoy all events.  Two of the churches are adjoining neighbours in St Thomas Road, and Glenwood Village and Glenwood Presbyterian are close by in neighbouring Glenwood.

The intention is that by working together, visitors from both Berea and further afield can curate their own “Festival of Fetes” by visiting all four in the course of a morning.

“All four partners are hugely community spirited, are deeply committed to civic engagement, and are delighted to be working together,” says Gabriella Peppas, convenor of Glenwood Village’s Market. “We chose this weekend as November is known as the Month of Kindness, as decreed by the World Kindness Movement in 1998, so we wanted to focus on neighbourliness, supporting local, championing our non-profits and community causes, and enjoying old-school family fellowship around our favourite suburb, Berea.”

All markets have variations of typical fair fare: teas and eats, music, collectables, books, plants, vintage, arts and craft, activities for children, décor items, white elephant, gift suggestions, home baked goods and preserves, jewellery, knitted / crocheted items and bargains galore.

Come hungry and with spending money – all hosts look forward to welcoming their own congregations and communities, each other’s parishioners and visitors! There is guarded street parking and limited off road parking at all venues.

All markets are morning markets. Operating times are staggered slightly: Glenwood Village Mall – upper level 09:00 – 13:00; Musgrave Methodist Church 08:30 – 11:30; Glenwood Presbyterian Church 08:00 – noon; St Olav Church 08:00 – 11:00.

Good to Know:

Glenwood Village Centre

Upper Level

Corner Moore / Che Guevara and Hunt Roads

Tel: 031 201 0137

Musgrave Methodist:

237 Musgrave Rd

Corner Musgrave and St Thomas

Tel: 031 201 2005 / tilda@musgravemethodist.co.za (mornings)

Glenwood Presbyterian

339 Esther Roberts Road from 08:00 on November 1.

Tel: Vera Howard on 0723351404

St Olav

214 St Thomas Rd

Tel: 031 201 1828

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