It wasn’t quite a case of ‘340 million people go mental,’ as one of their songs suggests, but there were certainly a healthy number of 340ml fans jammed up against the stage at the newly renovated Cape Town station on 12 March for this year’s Cape Town Festival: Nightvision.
The festival aimed to “˜celebrate our cultural diversity to connect and unite Cape Town’ which it pulled off quite superbly, judging by the eclectic mix of Capetonians that all showed up from 6pm on Saturday evening. I was welcomed by the remnants of the days carnival atmosphere. Cape Town’s lively coons were still parading in orange, hip hop dancers were battling on stage, there was a giant clown on stilts and even a luminous fish “˜swimming’ around whilst being maneuvered by men on bicycles.
Some may have merely stumbled upon it whilst out and about in town, others were possibly drawn to the music, but I was there for the return of 340ml. The last time I was lucky enough to watch them live was possibly a year or more ago. Due to them choosing Joburg as a base, us Capetonians have been starved of their live shows. When they appeared on stage to set up, it was clear that I wasn’t the only one ready to be fed by their beautifully unique music.
It was only once I had stopped shrieking that I realized all the girls beside me were screaming too. And this was way before vocalist Pedro da Silva Pinto had allowed a sweet note to escape his mouth. With Paulo Chibanga seated at the drums, Rui Soeiro on bass and Taigo Paulo in front on the guitar, the Mozambican band were ready to spoil us once again.
What came next could perhaps be described as an afro fusion of dub, reggae, ska, jazz, Brazilian and rock, all in one brilliant serving. With strong Latin and Mozambican (Marrabenta) influences, I have yet to encounter another band with a sound like theirs. Many a time, the smiling Pedro held the microphone out towards the audience who knew and sang every word along with him.
I also danced amidst excited crowds to the energetic EJ Von Lyrika and Theba Shumba, but had to leave before The Dirty Skirts and headline act Big Nuz appeared on stage. My jitters and dancing made filming the event impossible. But when the time came to leave I was still singing ‘you knock me over with your kung-fu smile’ and ‘you’re the one I’m adoring, at the midnight drive-in’ with my arms up in the air, wishing 340ml would move to Cape Town so we wouldn’t have to wait this long to hear them again.
Don’t miss the celebration of Human Right’s Day on 18 March when Cape Town Festival hits the Company Gardens. The line-up includes artists such as Judith Sepuma, Jesse Clegg, the Rockets, The Dirty Skirts, Emo and Loukmaan Adams, Chad Saaiman and more.
For more information visit Cape Town Festival or email [email protected].
