Don’t miss this year’s fantastic Barleycorn Music Festival!
When: This Saturday, 10 March 2012 from 2pm – 10pm (please help to spread the word…)
Why: Great music and to support the Barleycorn which has supported Zeekoevlei. They have provided all the music at both ZeekoeFees fundraisers and the recent Bush and Barlecorn music evening at the ZVYC. Without their support we wouldn’t have raised over R7,000 for the nature reserves and Van Blommenstein Recreation Centre.
Bring a blanket & umbrella and join us for another episode in the ongoing saga of what is excellent in local music. Food (incl. vegetarian) & drinks available at venue, or bring a picnic. Activities for kids – jumping castle, face painting and more.
Who: Steve Newman + The Stremes + Black South Easter + Tombstone Pete + Natasha Meister + Sixgun Gospel + Mothercity Mojo + Londi Gamedze + The Brothers Streep + Jenny Eaves + The Philip Malan Trio
Where: Maynardville Open Air Theatre, Church Street, Wynberg
How Much: Adults R60, Members R50, Students & Pensioners R30, Under 12’s free (bargain!)
Getting Tickes: Tickets at the venue or via www.barleycorn.org.za
More Information: Contact Martin on 082-493-1564 or visit www.barleycorn.org.za
THE HISTORY OF THE BARLEYCORN ANNUAL FESTIVAL
It all started in 1975, when a bunch of musicians found it agreeable to meet regularly to jam together, learn from one another & consume beer. Over these past 35 years, the Barleycorn has met almost every week to make what is now a Cape Town tradition & valuable musical resource.
In the early years the music was mostly ‘traditional folk’, with a smattering of Blues, Bluegrass, Country music & Olde English & Irish material containing toxic levels of screeching fiddles. Yes, Bob Dylan covers & political protest songs did appear fairly often, but the Club rapidly developed a reputation as a place where home-grown original material by local composers & performers found a receptive audience, and it is these who have gradually formed the focus of the Club.
By 1977, the Barleycorn had become formalised, with a Constitution, paid membership, a member-elected committee and the commitment that whatever funds were accumulated would be held in trust for the furtherance & promotion of local musical talent. And what better way to achieve this than by staging an annual Festival? The Club would carry all expenses & all income would be split amongst those performing!
The inaugural Festival was held on 12th April 1980, at the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, packed to capacity to hear 20 acts perform over 9 hours. The undoubted star of that, our first venture, was the then unknown David Kramer, whose songs, red veldskoen & pork-pie hat captivated absolutely everyone, including members of the press who gave his career a massive kick-start!
And thus has the Barleycorn Festival become an annual event. This year sees us back once again where it all started, at the Maynardville Amphitheatre.
Long is the list of eminent musicians who’ve graced the Barleycorn Festival stage, including Flat Stanley, Freshly Ground, Disu Plaatjies & Amapondo, Steve Newman, Tony Cox … but this is not the forum for a history of SA performing talent, this is to let you know that all these years later, the magic will be repeated on Saturday 10th March 2012!