Culture Talent does the Albert Hall good 'n proper.
Tucked away in the dark streets of the notorious 'Lower Main Road, Woodstock' area is a quaint antiques outlet that transforms itself after the sun goes down. The Albert Hall seems to gather more odd things by night than it sells by day. Its new possessions are a bit antique-like themselves, with bits of granny ware and vintage-stuffs clinging to tweed-jackets and golf-hats. Knocking it back at the bar you can find the riff-raff who's-who of the arty-farty what-not's. Gin and tonics' children. Almost everyone here does something interesting for a living, and only curious music will do to tease their pallets with musical flavor.
One such initiative has taken this adventurous task on. Culture Talent Collective has had the foresight to realise the potential of this venue in an area that is slowly transforming its own image as well. Dilapidated Woodstock buildings have seen artists creeping into their empty rooms that have those sought after high-pressed ceilings held by crumbling walls. Studios are popping up everywhere as galleries pant after them. Now, after a long day of considering drying paint they have a spot to go to unwind with a stiff one.
The last party I went to was a Swing revolution, with a live three-piece band on stage. The cats were hip and dressed to the nines, as suggested on the flyer, and people were going mental on the dancefloor doing their attempts of the jitterish-bug, the hoop-di-oops, the knock-your-drink-over and the fall-on-your-bum-with-eyes-bulging, amongst other classy inventions. Everyone was shaking their curls whilst trying to perfect their twirls and it all became a bit of a blur. And as my friends were trying to convince me they knew how to dance, a tall and handsome couple glided on the dance floor, with eyes for each other only. They were the professionals. Clearly. However, the spirit of swing lay in a couple just behind them who were as inventive with their moves as they were with their stylish ensemble of clothes. For the first time in a looong time the girls got to see boys with their hair greased into sharp side partings, or neatly packed into a tight fro. And the girls, even those who live in their ripped jeans, all wore dainty skirts or dresses. It was like Pleasantville had hit the ghettos.
Although this party was worth a few words, there have been many others that need mentioning too. My favorite was the Trio of Trio's (
http://www.culturetalent.co.za/collaboration/a-trio-of-trios-030409/ ) where the sickly-sweet drearily-dark molasses voices of downtown Miss Texas 1977 washed over me like a glass of Old Brown Sherry on a cold winters night. This is the most refreshing band I have seen in a while. Culture Talent has also brought an array of other experimental musicians to the Albert Hall stage such as Shawn Phillips, Lonesome Dave, Guy Buttery, Benguela, Simon Vanguard, Nice (the band) and Babu to name a few. Keep your eyes peeled for the next Culture Talent Party at the Albert Hall on:
www.culturetalent.co.za
What Others Said
Craig said
on 12 June 2009
Nice article.The Fiddle East Party th eother night was amazing.
