The popular UK-based worship band will perform in Cape Town, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Gauteng.

The band says it is “God-Centered, Purpose-Driven and People-Empowering’. They say that this vision has caused their ‘new breed’ church to flourish as they’ve started to reach out and practically express God’s love. Like any fiery, passionate group of worshipers – there’s a heavenly sound erupting from within them. Their latest worship album, ‘Name Above All Names’ has had huge success internationally, touching many people across Europe.

The band has worked with a host of top musicians including Grammy Award-winning producer, Bernie Herms.

You don’t want to miss out on this powerful expression of worship, so make sure you mark the dates below in your diary!

Dates:

Cape Town on the 5th of September at Hillsong
Contact the church at info@hillsong.co.za

Durban on the 8th September at Kloof Harvest Church
Contact the church on 031 764 2806

East London on the 10th of September at Rivers Church
Contact TJ on 043 711 4800

Port Elizabeth on the 11th of September at Word Of Faith
Contact Anika on 041 399 4400

Boksburg on the 12th of September at Christian Family Church
Contact Charlotte on 011 230 9300

The songstress performed for an amped crowd in Bulawayo on Friday before going to Harare, where she also attracted a huge crowd. Promoters had run a massive campaign about her visit, distributing thousands of flyers, putting up posters all over Harare and Bulawayo, and branding vehicles with information about her two shows in the country.

Born in 1966 in KwaMashu in the KwaZulu Natal province, Fraser started singing at school. Initially staying in Durban, she moved to Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province in 1985 to seek for greener pastures in the recording industry. She started out working with composer, singer and gospel producer Mthunzi Namba who also hails from her province. She rose to prominence after announcing that she was the voice being used in many songs that were only credited to the late Brenda Fassie.

To date, she has sold more than a million units and won many accolades including the prestigious Best Female Crown Gospel Music Award. Her latest album, uThando features a host of popular musos including, Sello “Chicco” Twala, Sipho Sithole, Master Wakes and Abe Sibiya. Unlike her previous solo albums, uThando is an Afro-pop offering based on secular themes.

The album features the late legendary Stimela lead singer Nana Coyote, who helps Kunene deliver two remarkable songs, “Ungcwele” and “Impi ngekaJehova”.

His best effort on the album, “Bamb’Isandla sam” is generally receiving favourable feedback from radio stations across the country. Another noteworthy track is “Udumo”, which talks about the birth of Jesus Christ.

Talking about his singing talent, Kunene says he started singing at the age of seven and “explored different genres of music ranging from Afro jazz, pop, R&B to gospel.” At the age of 19 the talented singer teamed up with his friends to establish a four-piece Jazz band called Afro Touch, which released a number of hits before splitting.

In addition to recording music, Kunene is also a script writer, film director, and model. He has featured in local television programs like Generations, Scandal, and City Ses’la. He has also written and directed musical scripts of To Be A Star and Tears In My Navy Blues Eyes.

The multi-talented singer is currently promoting his gospel offering which is also available in music shops throughout the country.

Mbuyane told a Sunday paper that Sharon’s switch to gospel comes naturally because she was raised in a religious family and sang gospel in her youth before joining Joyous Celebration – one of the most successful gospel groups in the country. He added that Sharon Dee, real name Sharon Dlamini, sees gospel as more suitable to her voice and style.

Sharon Dee, who is the former wife of Zimbabwean soccer star Peter Ndlovu, gained prominence in the late 90s with her single “Local is lekker”. The singer says she hopes to inspire people with her gospel album which will be released towards the end of September 2010.

Before releasing the album, Sharon Dee will share the stage with gospel heavyweights such as, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Tshepiso Motaung, Sfiso Ncwane, Dumi Mkokstad and Indumiso Gospel Group.

These gospel artists will perform at the Mapulaneng College of Education Multipurpose Centre in Bushbuckridge on September 4.

Over 400 people arrived at the audition venue in high spirits to showcase their talents for the SHINE Judges – Lionel Petersen, Keke Phoofolo & Dany V of Impact radio.

“Shine is a great opportunity for aspiring gospel musicians and we are thrilled to have seen so much talent come out of Mamelodi,” said Lionel Petersen.

The judges choose two finalists from each region (12 in total) who will travel to ONE Gospel studio’s in Jo’burg to participate in the knock-out rounds.

Auditions will continue in Mpumalanga on 19 & 20th of August and SHINE Judge Lionel Petersen will be joined by Deborah Fraser & Mio from MPowerFM.

Watch ONE Gospel this coming Sunday, 22 August at 5pm, Channel 331, on DStv as judges whittle down contestants from 400 to 44 and to the final 2.

AUDITION DATES & CITIES:
19 & 20 August, 2010 White River, Nelspruit
26 & 27 August 2010 Ivy Park, Polokwane
2 & 3 September 2010 Mitchells Plain, Cape Town
9 & 10 September 2010 Umlazi, Durban

To register for auditions, get a copy of Daily Sun every Monday & Sunday Sun, look out for the SHINE advertisement and follow the instructions. SHINE- IT’S TIME!

This year, the awards feature 28 categories, including the prestigious Classic of all Times, Best Gospel Song and Best Gospel Artist awards. The Awards are organised yearly by World Gospel PowerhouseT, a company established to assist performers and promote local gospel music.

They will be hosted in Durban at the ICC Arena on 21 November.

The categories are:

1.Best Male Gospel Artist
2.Best Female Gospel Artist
3.Best Accapella (Solo and Group)
4.Best pop
5.Best Rock
6.Best Maskandi (Solo or Group)
7.Best DVD
8.Best Engineer
9.Best Gospel Artist
10.Best Newcomer
11.Best Gospel Group
12.Best Traditional Gospel (Solo or Group)
13.Best R&B /Rap Gospel (Solo or Group)
14.Best Amazion (Solo or Group)
15. Best Gospel Music Video
16.Best song writer
17.Best Contemporary Album
18.Best Praise song
19.Best Worship song
20.Best Jazz (Solo or Group)
21.Classic of All Times
22.Best Gospel Producer
23.Best Gospel Song
24.Best Afrikaans Gospel (Solo or Group)
25.Best Church Choir (new)
26.The Best of Africa Gospel

Nominations close on 10 October 2010. For nomination please call the World Gospel PowerHouse on 031-303 3520 or get a form on www.wgph.co.za

Organisers say over 400 young musos arrived at the audition venue in high spirit and impressed the Judging panel which included Lionel Petersen, Keke Phoofolo and Dany V of Impact radio.

“Shine is a great opportunity for aspiring gospel musicians and we are thrilled to have seen so much talent come out of Mamelodi,” says Shine judge Lionel Petersen.

The judges chose two finalists who will travel to Jo’burg to battle it out with other 10 finalists chosen from Durban, Cape Town, Polokwane and Nelspruit.

Auditions will continue in Mpumalanga on 19 and 20 August with top gospel singer Deborah Fraser and Mio from MpowerFM as guest judges.

Watch ONE Gospel this coming Sunday, 22 August at 5pm, Channel 331, on DStv as judges whittle down contestants from 400 to 44 and to the final 2.

AUDITION DATES & CITIES:

19 & 20 August, 2010 White River, Nelspruit

26 & 27 August 2010 Ivy Park, Polokwane

2 & 3 September 2010 Mitchells Plain, Cape Town

9 & 10 September 2010 Umlazi, Durban

To register for auditions, get a copy of Daily Sun every Monday & Sunday Sun, look out for the SHINE advertisement and follow the instructions.
SHINE – IT’S TIME!

Formed in the early 90s by Solomon Nkosana Kodi, the group is one of the most prolific gospel outfits in the country.

Kodi, who was helped by Solly Moholo to kick-start his career, says the new album offers a youth-oriented message, while also trying to give hope to the jobless and advising the needy to seek God’s help.

The group’s music has evolved over the years. Kodi says they have now moved away from the slower mkhukhu style and introduced faster tempos in their recordings, adapting ZCC hymns as well as choruses to their repertoire.

Apart from Nkosana and Stocks and Stocks, Nkosana has also has a string of solo albums under his belt such as, ‘Ke Nna Yo’, followed by ‘Sebakanya Se’, which reached platinum status and ‘Jehova Ke Tla Mo Leboga Ka eng?’. In November last year, he released ‘Ke Rapela Modimo wa Metlholo’, which is getting a lot of positive feedback.

The talented gospel star has also worked with a host of popular ZCC gospel artists, notably Kenny of the ‘Kenny Le Masogana A Kgotso’ fame, the late Lucas ‘Mojeremane’ Xale and Oleseng Shuping.

For more information about the group, check out their Facebook fan page.

The festival will run from the 1st to the 3rd of October at Plot 104 on the R513 in De Wildt just outside Brits, near Hartebeespoort dam. Gospel Life caught up with founder of the festival, Adrian Styer.

GL: What motivated you to launch this festival?
AS: JoL5ooo was born out of a need for a Gauteng based Christian music festival. Also out of the need for a wholesome event where Christians can get together in a non-threatening environment. A place where we can express our faith in Jesus without the threat of drugs and alcohol being in our midst. It’s festival where Christians can come together and celebrate life.

GL: Why did you name it JoL5000?
AS: The name JoL5ooo came from the term that everyone is using nowadays, LoL, meaning to “laugh out loud”. But what it stands for in this case is “Jesus Out Loud!”. As Christians, we want to have a JoL – a huge fun party. The “5000″ relates to the Bible when Jesus fed 5000 people.

GL: Sounds cool! Tell us more about what you intend doing with the proceeds of the event.
AS: The proceeds will help us establish a Life Skills centre. This is a facility where we’ll train people who have completed a re-habilitation programme and who have no prospects for their future. The centre will teach people more about life and industrial skills, as well as coping mechanisms to help the guys get on their feet once they leave the centre.

GL: Where are you planning to establish the centre?
AS: In De Wildt, at the same place where the festival will be held this year.

GL: What are some of the exciting things that fans can expect at the event?
AS: Great music, exciting prizes, and most importantly, it will be a time for Christians to connect and celebrate their common denominator, Jesus Christ. Jesus will be at the festival. We also have a number of South Africa’s greatest Christian motivational and inspirational speakers attending. They will be delivering short, powerful messages throughout the weekend.

GL: Can up-and-coming bands be part of this event as well?
AS: Yes.Our focus is also to give attention to the unsigned bands in South Africa. We’re not aiming to promote mainstream successful signed musicians, but to create a forum where the unsigned artists can showcase their talents. Bands wanting to perform can contact me at adi@polka.co.za.

GL: Where can people buy tickets?
AS: Tickets are available at our website: www.jol5000.co.za

In a statement, North West provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Zukizwa Mbombo said the musician is allegedly an accomplice in soliciting a bribe from a fraudster, and was arrested on Wednesday.

Mbombo did not mention the muso’s name but only revealed that he works at a North West radio station.

The muso had allegedly teamed up with a policeman, “who was still being investigated”, and approached the fraudster, demanding a bribe of R2, 000 to squash the criminal case against him. It is understood that police reacted after members of the public phoned the radio station complaining about the muso.

He was expected to appear in the Mahikeng magistrate’s court within 48 hours on charges of corruption.