Concerts SA announces 2019 mobility fund recipients

The Music Mobility Fund is a support initiative intended to provide opportunities for South Africa-based creatives to undertake live music tours.

Projects selected for SADC tours in January 2019:

• Jazz saxophonist Lefa Mosea: tour to Lesotho, supported by his band The Double Standards.
• Afro-funk ensemble BCUC: double-bill performance and workshops at the Sauti Za Busara festival in Stone Town, Zanzibar.
• Singer-songwriter Shotgun Tori: series of live musical performances in Cape Town and Namibia with local female collaborators.
• Artistic collaboration between Malombo percussionist Azah and Swati musicians Bholoja, Velemseni, Nana Magagula and Tlale Makhene.
• Afro-pop singer Berita: SADC tour with live and unplugged performances in Lusaka, Maputo, Maseru and Windhoek.
• Afro-rock band Urban Village: first tour outside South Africa, headlining shows in Maputo, Durban and Johannesburg.

Projects that will receive support for national tours:

• Indigenous vocalist and umakhweyana player Lu Dlamini: Ulimilam album launch and mini-tour.
• Afro-rock outfit Linda Buthelezi and His God Sons & Daughters: performances in KwaZulu-Natal, participating at Kwantu Village Folk and Griot Festival.
• Singer Mbijana Sibisi’s tour from KwaZulu Natal to Cape Town. He will be joined by guitarist Milton Chissano and percussionist Njabulo Shababala. The tour is based on storytelling of modern Zulu folk tales.
• Jazz pianist Mashiloane's tour of his recently-launched third album, Closer to Home.
• Marley BloO & Daddy Longstem’s national tour under their urban moniker, The Us.
• Jazz saxophonist Linda Tshabalala’s debut album launch tour.
• Debut EP launch tour by singer and guitarist Luh'ra with trumpeter Keegan Steenkamp. 
• Folk-jazz duo Ariel & Juana's national tour of their debut album Between Two Worlds.
• The New Project: a collaboration by Coila-Leah Enderstein (piano and electronics), Dylan Tabisher (vibraphone and percussion) and bassist Carlo Mombelli.
• Collaborative tour between pianist Afrika Mkhize and saxophonist and flautist Salim Washington, joined by drummer Siphiwe Shiburi and bassist Amaeshi Ikechi.
• The Appreciation Tour, led by RnB singer Garde to promote his latest single, featuring Yanga Yaya and Lucille Slade.
• The Really Revered Whole Story tour: sophomore album launch tour by saxophonist Abraham Mennen with Reza Khota on guitar, Ariel Zamonsky on double bass and Clement Benny on drums.

Founded in 2013, the Music Mobility Fund offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music tours across southern Africa. Since it began, the project has supported more than 160 tours through ten rounds of funding. Artists who have benefitted include Freshlyground, The Muffinz, Moonchild Sanelly, Samthing Soweto, DJ Lag, Bombshelter Beast, The Brother Moves On, Masandi, Tlokwe Sehume, Msaki, Thabang Thabane and Make-Overs.