This 6-piece Pietermaritzburg band consists of a selection of middle-aged rockers whose preference is for the timeless music of the 60’s and 70’s. The band’s repertoire consists of a mixture of music ranging from the sing-a-long classics of CCR to the heavy rock of Deep Purple! Whether you enjoy easy listening music or classic rock from this era, the Bifocals are sure to entertain you. Catch them in the SAB Festival Marquee from 6pm on Saturday 22 September.

DHS JAZZ BAND  consists of 10 hugely talented boys, from grade 8 to grade 12, currently enrolled at Durban High School.  They have very diverse inspiration that each boy draws from, ranging from Oscar Peterson and Charlie Parker to Goldfish and Dollar Brand.  As such, it is difficult to tie the band down to a particular style of Jazz.  What is clear though, is that their passion and enthusiasm is unwavering.

GEORGE MARI BAND performs regularly in and around Durban, and has a wide repertoire of music including a large selection of Afro-Jazz standards, popular / mainstream Jazz favourites, and original compositions. Some of the popular artists the band will cover at Hilton are Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fritzgerald, Natalie Cole and Frank Sinatra.
The George Mari Band is made up of George Mari - Trumpet, Vocals & Percussion, Debbie Mari - Piano, Vocals, Bruce Baker – Drums & Ildo Nanja - Electric & Contra Bass

Twenty-one years and still going, local heroes, the Hairy Legged Lentil Eaters, return to one of their favourite gigs! Always willing to try something new, including satirical observations of South African life, the Hairies have won over audiences with the obvious joy they display towards their music, and their combination of harmony and humour. Combining influences from folk, country and rock music, the Hairies promise an evening of great entertainment.

Relax with this mid-sized, vocal-led ensemble playing a range of jazz standards such as Autumn Leaves, Canteloupe Island, Fly Me To The Moon and Summertime, as well as several other 'less standard' pieces like Herbie Hancock's Chameleon and Abdullah Ibrahim's Tsakwe/Royal Blue.

KWAZULU-NATAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA will be giving two performances in the SAB Festival Marquee. Under the batons of Lyk Temmingh, Cathy Peacock and Lindsay Johnston, it will present a varied programme which includes both classical works (Grieg, Saint-Saëns, Bizet and Prokofiev) and popular pieces such as New York, New York and Fiesta Tropicale.

This orchestra is assembled from a group of young musicians who audition every year for the opportunity to participate in a classical orchestral environment that is conducive to their aspirations for musical excellence. Our members are scholars who take music as an additional subject at school or who take private external tuition, and who come from a wide range of backgrounds. The orchestral environment gives them an opportunity to develop their musical talent as well as learn how to interact musically and socially with like-minded young people. The concerts we play give them the opportunity to experience the satisfaction and success of cooperative effort, and outreach concerts help to instil in the players a sense of social responsibility in sharing their music with the community.

Information : phone : 071 948 5763 / email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Liquid Deck Marimba Band is Cowan House's first official Marimba Band. Highlights this year include a tour to the KZN South Coast as well as performing at an International French Conference, at the ICC, in Durban. It is evident to see the fun and enjoyment that the students have with each performance and it is always an uplifting experience for those being entertained. This is Cowan, in da house!

Nicky Grieshaber lives in Pietermaritzburg and is an amateur lounge piano player - “I play in my own lounge and don’t get paid for it” - whose music ranges “from wavy waltzes to perky pop” –easy-going, foot-tapping, hum-along melodies that many people recognise from somewhere.

Maritzburg College boys are known for their passion and commitment and this is really apparent in their musical output. Offshore, who recently opened for Prime Circle, performs a set of songs by both local and overseas artists. Several band members went on tour with the PMB Midlands Youth Choir to England and Wales in July this year to perform in a concert which was part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Join them in the SAB Festival Marquee as they play their way through a wide variety of genres – something for everyone!

The popular jazz band "Platform Jazz" is back at the festival for a third year . This year they feature the lovely Durban singer, Shelley McLean. Platform Jazz have gone from strength to strength this year with successful runs at both the Heritage and the Rhumbelow theatres and a recent performance in July with maestro, Richard Cock, at Makaranga Gardens. Their music is toe-tapping and infectious and includes traditional, swing and Latin Jazz. Shelley will be singing such numbers as "Georgia", " L O V E ", " Almost like being in love", "Summertime " and "Big Spender" to name but a few. The line up features Cathy Peacock on trumpet, Duncan Wooldridge on trombone., Ian Holloway on clarinet, local saxophonist Jeff Judge on sax, Bruce Baker on drums. Andreas Kappen on double bass, Calli Thomson on keyboards and Shelley McLean on vocals. Come and chill out with some fab jazz in the SAB Festival Marquee from 1300 onwards on Sunday.

The PMB concert Band takes pleasure in bringing to you a selection of the best of military and brass band music. From the famous Colonel Bogey march to selections of Gilbert & Sullivan, Gershwin and Elgar, this music will get your feet tapping and you singing along with these well-known and loved pieces. Come and enjoy as they blow and drum their way from the naughty twenties to today’s light pop.

Born 200 km north east of Belfast just south of Edinburgh, Ricky has been wowing audience’s young and old, well mainly old...., for hundreds of years. With his silky voice and extraordinary good looks you can be sure of a wonderful evening’s entertainment. Ricky is available for hire and only charges R20-00 per minute, but is well worth it !!!! Having sung from John o’ Groats to Cape Town he is set to be with us for another hundred years. So get in quick before he puts his prices up ....AGAIN!!

STEEL DRUM BAND

The St. Nicholas Steel Drum Band, led by Sandile, are five time National Steel Drum Champions and are becoming increasingly well-known throughout Pietermaritzburg and its surrounds, playing at a number of events including Art in the Park, The Nedbank Green Mile on Comrades Day, weddings and private functions. The 15 piece band is known for its energy and enthusiasm during performances, playing well known favourites such as Pretty Woman, Waka-Waka and Rock around the Clock.

MARIMBA BAND

The St. Nicholas Marimba Band, led by Musa Ndlovu, is a 5 piece band comprising of 4 marimba players and a djembe player. The marimba sound is very easy on the ear, making this band a popular favourite at events in and around Pietermaritzburg. They have played at the Tatham Art Gallery, the Nedbank Green Mile on Comrades Day, various sports and cultural events as well as weddings and private functions and the band continues to make a name for itself through its fun and eclectic repertoire of songs.

THE KWAZULU-NATAL YOUTH WIND BAND is a non-Profit organisation which provides music ensemble training to young people of Durban and Pietermaritzberg. We have 50 members between the ages of 13 and 27. Over the past 6 years the band has undergone a transformation and we now have a very successful Development Programme. The KZNYWB has won overseas competitions and proved that they are one of the best symphonic wind orchestras in South Africa. In 2009 we went to Austria and won one of the most prestigious youth music competitions in the world by beating America and China by 11 points and scoring 93 %.

In 2006 we were invited by the Mauritian Government to tour Mauritius and do workshops and concerts with a music school there as well as workshops in a couple of senior schools. We found this to be a good opportunity to be ambassadors for Durban and South Africa and we held a huge Gala Concert to which the Mauritian Prime Minister came, that was broadcast live on TV. This was such a successful concert it was shown again two weeks later as there had been so many requests for it. Last year we returned to Mauritius for another successful tour and this past July we went to Germany on a Cultural Exchange to a music school close to Stuttgart. Our main mission is to give excellent orchestral training so that young musicians are well equipped to be able to audition for employment in orchestras and ensembles. Our repertoire is varied and we play classical, jazz, African, popular and swing. The band is conducted by Werner Dannewitz, C.E.O & Artistic Director of the Durban Music School, who has for the past 40years played a major role in the development of youth music training in KwaZulu-Natal. For more information please contact Kim Matthews on 0836269739.

WYKEHAM COLLEGIATE WIND ENSEMBLE is well-known in Pietermaritzburg and the surrounding areas for the high quality of its performances and the appearance of the Ensemble at the Festival last year resulted in many positive comments from the audience.  The Ensemble consists of approximately 55 members whose repertoire will provide ideal easy listening in the Amphitheatre.