MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The clock is ticking not only towards the end of the first month of 2018, but also the opening night of the Dias and Port Festival.
On Thursday, 1 February at 18:30 the first of a stunning line-up of entertainment starts in the Mossel Bay Town Hall, celebrating not only the start of the festival, but this year celebrating the fact that Mossel Bay claimed the coveted Kwêla Town of the Year title.
Presented as an evening of song, bringing together a delightful array of cultures, music and voices, vocal ensembles representative of the best and most unique voices in Mossel Bay will sing together.
The line-up includes young voices such as the Erika Primary School choir, the Curro Mossel Bay school vocal ensemble and the ever-popular and award-winning Mossel Bay Harmony Voices. Curro Mossel Bay is also bringing its newly-formed jazz band to set the festive tone as guests arrive at the venue.
From Friemersheim, singing sensation Zanah-Lee Erasmus and Mordegai Erasmus perform with an adorable children's ensemble and poet Lluyle Arendse, also from this quaint little hamlet, will be performing a piece specially written for the opening night.
The award-winning male quartet, B Flat, led by Ronald Lewis from Sao Bras High School, is also part of the line-up and so is cabaret diva Petronel Baard.
Also included is vocal all-rounder Herbie Michaels, accompanied by saxophonist Boesman Keyser, who will accompany both Baard and Michaels when they perform a duet.
One of last year's highlights was a mural of Mossel Bay painted live on stage by artist and the organiser of the Tarka Street Festival, James Malgas.
This year Malgas will once again take on a giant canvas to illustrate this year's opening night theme, which focuses strongly on the people of Mossel Bay, making it the special town that claimed the title, Kwêla Town of the Year title.
In step with the well-known overall festival theme, Where Cultures Meet, the local programme will be followed by performances by visiting international troupes.
Entrance to the event, like the rest of the Dias and Port Festival, is free.
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
