Kicking off with the firm favourite, Jazz at the Lake, music will define Johannesburg this September, with a host of performances planned for the annual Arts Alive festival.

Don Laka will perform his brand of jazz, which accommodates influences from other genres

WITH less than two months to go, Joburg residents should ready themselves for a month of fantastic visual and live entertainment brought by this year's Arts Alive.

The month-long festival is sponsored by the City of Johannesburg and is now in its 15th year. The festival programme includes all the disciplines - theatre, dance, film, comedy, music and the visual arts - to suit every taste and fancy.

Performances take place across Johannesburg at venues in Newtown, as well as the Coca-Cola Dome in Northriding, at the Zoo Lake in Parkview and the Wits Theatre in Braamfontein.

Firm favourites
The annual Jazz at the Lake, taking place on Sunday, 7 September at the Zoo Lake, is a firm favourite with local revellers and jazz aficionados alike. And this year the day marks a significant milestone for Joburg - on 1 September 1928, the town was officially demarcated a city.

If you need more reason to party on your city's 80th birthday, with the jacarandas starting to dress up in their purple blooms, Jazz on the Lake is also the perfect outdoor way to celebrate the arrival of spring.

South Africa's own Don Laka, Simphiwe Dana and Jimmy Dludlu are on the bill, together with Zamajobe and Indian Ocean. The concert is free, with music playing from 11am till 5pm.

Jazz on the Lake is also the official opening of the Arts Alive September 2008 programme.

Global flavours
Over the years, Arts Alive has become synonymous with high quality performances by artists from across the globe, with music building the ambience.

Simphiwe Dana promises to set the Zoo Lake on fire with her jazzy-pop-afro sound

Late night tunes will be heard over two nights at Newtown. Starting on Friday, 26 September, the evenings kick off at Bassline with a performance by Eliades Ochoa, known for his involvement with Buena Vista Social Club. Performing all the favourites that first put Cuban music on the world jazz map in the early 1950s, Ochoa is sure not to disappoint.

Adding to the international flavour are Subramanyien from India and local talent Malaji.

Once you've had your fill of laid-back, the party continues at several Newtown venues open for more late-night entertainment. The Brazilian Hip-Hop Act is on at Cappellos, with free entrance free; or listen to the sultry sounds of Catherine Lambert at Sophiatown, also with free entrance. The Robert Bachner Quartet plays at Niccis. And there's a reggae-dancehall beat with Admiral T and Jahseed at House of Naka. Entrance is R50.

India
Once again, the strong link between Johannesburg and India is explored, with the City again collaborating with the Indian consulate-general on the Shared Histories programme.

It begins with a grand, Bollywood-style extravaganza at the Market Theatre on 1 September. The programme includes other Indian cultural ingredients such as music, food and flavours.

Indian artists include the Indian Dance Company, which performs various dances at the Wits Theatre on 16 and 17 September. Entitled Search, the show explores the search for the intangible, be it God, love, freedom or truth.

Another interesting contribution comes from Indian Ocean, the Indian rock-jazz quartet which seemingly defies categorisation; but the musicians describe themselves as "the sound of contemporary India getting to know itself". If you like your music a mix of contemporary and folk, then this organic fusion partnership is a must see.

It kicks off the Arts Alive musical fair with two performances at the Blues Room on 5 and 6 September, and then appears at Jazz at the Lake on 7 September.

Local content
But most importantly, Arts Alive is about local content. The annual festival is the perfect springboard, providing stages and appreciative audiences for emerging and well-established local talent alike.

Zama Jobe will perform songs from Ndawo Yami, the album that catapulted her into fame

Comedy is yet again part of the local fare with the Whack Jobs '08 show, which celebrates the diversity and richness of South African comedians.

Hosted by John Vlismas at the Bassline, it's on for one night only - 20 September - and is a must-see to experience South African humour at its grittiest. Vlismas is supported by Joburg comedians Loyiso Gola, Al Prodgers, Krijay Govender, Alyn Adams, Kedibone Malaudzi and Mum-Z.

The Afda student film festival features the work of South Africa's future movie directors and stars. Taking place at Museum Africa from 11 to 13 September, entrance is free.

Local poets Bianca Williams, Ewok and Khoi Konnexion explore cultural awakening and personal growth, with the likes of Cosmas Mairosi from Zimbabwe, Roger Bonair-Agard from the United States and Imani Woomera from Kenya, among others, at the Bassline on 13 September.

And in an Arts Alive first, a group of young Sowetans bring global warming and sustainable energy consumption to the public arena. A visual art display, it consists of life-size sculptures made out of light bulbs and other recycled material along the grass islands on Old Potch Road, Soweto. After the festival, the artworks will be donated to various parks in the district.

For more details on the full programme, click here [PDF format]; for a calendar of events, click here [PDF format].

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