A host of artists have signed up for this year's Arts Alive festival, from international dance DJs to hip-hop poets to Indian jazz masters.

Cuban pianist Omar Sosa will perform at the Arts Alive grand opening at the end of August

DOZENS of happenings are planned for the Arts Alive programme this year, with 36 events featuring top international and local artists billed to rock Joburg.

The international festival, sponsored by the City of Johannesburg, will feature more than 16 international artists and 20 South African performers. They will take Joburgers on a journey through the city, mixing dance, visual art, poetry and music. Arts Alive takes place at a number of venues around the city centre, throughout September.

According to Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, the member of the mayoral committee for community development, the festival contributes towards the Johannesburg's vision of building a "world-class African city". Speaking at its launch on Wednesday, 25 July at Kippies in Newtown, Mayathula-Khoza said that there was no doubt that Arts Alive played a role in improving the quality of life of artists and their economic status.

Arts Alive would also give the City an opportunity to profile Joburg as an "Arts City" in the run-up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, she noted, adding that it enabled people to interact through attractive public spaces such as the Newtown cultural precinct and Mofolo Park in Soweto.

"This September festival is about the awakening of spring in this great city. Arts Alive is also about encouraging the citizens of Jozi to celebrate the city."

Indian partnership
For the first time, the City has partnered with the consul-general of India to include Indian content in Arts Alive, such as dance shows, puppet shows, exhibitions and films. As part of this partnership, jazz group Mrigaya will sizzle at Bassline on Sunday, 2 September and Grammy award-winner Vikku Vinayakram will play at Bassline on Friday, 28 September.
"They really are bringing the biggest programme of Indian arts to a single event than they have ever done," said Steven Sack, the City's director of arts, culture and heritage.

Arts Alive would be returning to working with "serious artists, not commercial ones", he added, noting that the organisers were looking for more diversity. "We are getting artists who produce work that is all about the African identity."

Arts Alive launch: the City's annual festival promises to be a bigger and better event say Steven Sack, Johannesburg's director of arts, culture and heritage; member of the mayoral committee for community development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza; Navdeep Suri, the Consul General of India; and Laurent Clavel, cultural director at the French Institute of South Africa

This year's programme is packed with an array of entertainment for the family, promising to leave them spoilt for choice. Popular Cuban pianist Omar Sosa is billed to perform at the grand opening of the festival at Joburg City Hall on Friday, 31 August. The jazz maestro will intoxicate jazz lovers with his music, which encompasses chacha grooves and monkish phrases, Yoruba chants, hip-hop beats and rhapsodic melodies.

Sharing the stage will be the Miagi Orchestra, which will perform the music of the late Chris McGregor and the Blue Notes. "We will be celebrating Chris McGregor, telling the story of a great South African jazzman," said Ike Phaahla, the chief executive of Arts Alive.

Jazz on the Lake
The ever-popular Jazz on the Lake, at Zoo Lake in Parkview, takes place on Sunday, 2 September. It will feature top international and local artists like Sibongile Khumalo and Omar Sosa. South Africa's first lady of song will strut her stuff on the same stage as award-winning Bheki Khoza.

And, for the first time, Port Elizabeth trumpeter Fezile Faku will be performing at an open-air festival with his band. India's Mrigaya will wow the crowd with a rich blend of classical, blues and jazz blends.

"It is a gift for the people. It is time to bring your kids and dogs, walk along with picnic baskets, meet each other and enjoy our culture," Phaahla added.

The bumper two-day Arts Alive Lockdown festival promises top international disc jockeys and hip-hop artists. Award winning hip-hop star K- OS will dazzle the crowd with tracks from his popular album Atlantis - Hymns for Disco at Newtown Park on Friday, 28 September. Local artists like Tumi, Molemi and Zubz will also dazzle with their rhymes.

DJ Gilles Peterson is on the Arts Alive bill

On Saturday, 29 September, Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown will come alive with song when Vusi Mahlasela, Mory Kante, Vieux Farka Toure and Mimi Ntenjwa take the stage.

Dance music
For those who love dance music, the Chikubu DJs from the United Kingdom, DJ Bob Blunted Stuntman and African Dope Sound System will turn up the heat at Carfax on Friday, 28 September.

And the popular Gilles Peterson from Radio One and Kiss FM will set the house ablaze at Carfax on Saturday, 29 September. He will be spinning some tracks from more than 50 albums he has compiled.

"It caters for young adults and younger audiences and for different tastes and art forms," said, Xolelwa Ngema, the director of Arts Alive. "It is going to be better than everything you have ever seen."

Arts Alive begins on Saturday, 1 September – with the opening concert on Friday, 31 August at the City Hall - and runs until Sunday, 30 September. For more information and a full programme, visit the Arts Alive website.