With the Chicago Marathon done and dusted, my attention turns back to focus on the wonderful Ubuntu series that has taken over New York City, most specifically, Carnegie Hall. The opening night reception was lovely – it was already going to be an incredible evening with just the lineup alone, but to sit inside the hallowed space of Carnegie Hall and listen to Vusi “The Voice” Mahlasela and Hugh Masekela bring their songs to an American stage, with special guests, was beyond what I’d hoped it would be. Backed by a supremely talented band – Mongezi Ntaka on guitar, Bakithi Kumalo on bass, Ian Herman on drums and Francis Fuster…
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Entertainment Express: Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Otelo Burning, Dave Matthews, 12-12-12, The Hobbit
*Michael Jackson’s iconic album, Thriller was released on this day in the year of my birth, 1982 – and so celebrates its 30th anniversary today, changing modern music the way we know it. * The coming of age drama, Otelo Burning premiered in New York this week, and now the award-winning movie begins a 2-week run here. * Dave Matthews is dedicating his concert tonight to Superstorm Sandy relief efforts, after already donating $1 million to the cause. What a good guy! * New artists continue to be added to the star-studded 12-12-12 concert, which is also going to raise money for those affected by Sandy. Seems the NBC…
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Entertainment Express: The Amazing Spiderman, Ernest Borgnine, Usher, Dave Matthews, Alan Cumming.
* The Amazing Spiderman swung into the box-office, with a solid $140 million over its first six days, signalling a thumbs-up to Andrew Garfield as the new Spidey. * Academy award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine, who notched up six decades of work in film, TV and Broadway, has died at the age of 95. * Usher’s 11-year-old stepson is reported to be brain dead after a jet-ski accident in Atlanta this weekend. * Dave Matthews previewed new song The Riff at a recent show in upstate NY. * Just in case we forgot how talented Alan Cumming is, he’s decided to remind us by playing every major role in Macbeth,…
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Entertainment Express: BET Awards, Tom Cruise, Adele, Gotye, Spud 2
* Beyonce and Jay-Z both snapped up honours at the BET Awards, while South African singer Lira lost out on Best International Act to Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie and Nigeria’s Wizkid. * After Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes announced they were divorcing, reports like this one by Princess Di biographer Andrew Morton, have suggested Scientology played a big part in the break-up. * Gotye, contrary to a CNN report, is not dead. * Dave Matthews has a new song out! It’s off the forthcoming album, Away From the World, due out in September. * Filming on the sequel to the Spud movie began on Sunday. Author John van der Ruit is tweeting…
