Brazilian band to rock new Bay venue

BLUE collar workers around the country will be celebrating Workers Day on May 1 – and for a city like Nelson Mandela Bay, defined by the automotive industry and manufacturing, there is no better place to celebrate working spirit than at the Bay’s newest party venue, Detroit Motor Spirit.

This Sunday the venue will host, together with the n_mb city project (local events and creative industries promoter), highly regarded Afro-Brazilian act Napalma.

“In honour of Freedom and Workers Day, we decided to get some of the Bay's most diverse performers together for one big party with their Southern brothers from Brazil, Napalma . Bring your blacks, whites and colours, throw them all in together, mix and spin,” said n_mb city event organizer Brett Jackman.

Afro-Brazilian Drum Beat Machine Napalma toured South Africa over the duration of the World Cup and are touring again to bring to their growing South African fan base the rhythm of their fusion drum´n bass, house, hip hop, electro, techno, ragga, dub, djembe and traditional African songs. Lead singer Ivo Maia was born in Mozambique and the rest of the crew are all Brazilian.
 
“The event is called Dirty Laundry Day in an effort to get people thinking about what freedom means for the youth in South Africa. Integration is not happening in the way it should be. We want to facilitate greater integration and creative collaboration by throwing together the laundry and people – blacks, whites and colours – by featuring a diversity local artists with Napalma,” said Jackman.

The event also has a charity element. If party-goers bring some of their old clothes or “laundry” to the event, they will get a R10 discount and the clothes will be donated to Masizakhe Community Project in KwaZakhele.

Napalma will be supported by local acts Jam Room (funk, Afro-fusion), DJ and MC Sykotic (Dancehall, Ragga, Hip Hop), Kelly B (the Bay's First Lady of Hip Hop) and DJ Kenichi (DnB, Dub Step, Break-Beat).

Forerunners of Bay Street Culture, Black Concepts, will be there creating artwork. There will also be live BMX Vert action courtesy of Central Green. Detroit Motor Spirit is on the corner of Albany Road and Frederick Street just off Govan Mbeki.  Tickets are R40 at the door with a R10 discount with clothes donation.