Events News South Africa

Fak'ugesi Fest presents Beats Bloc Party 2018

The 2018 Fak'ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival will be held across Johannesburg from 24-29 September 2018. The annual Beats Programme will take place at the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein over the six days.

Weheartbeat has curated a programme of workshops, experiences, and performances that will facilitate the meeting of mind and spirit in an environment geared around the festival's theme, ‘Tap Your Afro Source Code’.

Fak'ugesi Fest presents Beats Bloc Party 2018

Nurturing collaboration and creativity, the Beats Lab presented by Red Bull Music will host international electronic artists in an exploration of the connection between music, design, technology, and digital innovation. The lab, which is a pop-up adaptation of the Red Bull Music Studio in Cape Town, will follow the same ethos of the studio and will run from 24-28 September with the participants embracing the theme, combining tradition with futurism. The outcome from these sessions will result in an EP release, a short documentary, and a live showcase performance at the Bloc Party. The artists featured in the 2018 Beats Lab are Potatohead People (Canada), S Fidelity (Switzerland), Zikomo (USA), Morena Leraba (Lesotho), and South African artists Bonj Mpanza and Hlasko.

On Thursday, 27 September a series of workshops will take place from 2-10pm in partnership with Ballantine's. The Future of Music panel will discuss the ever-changing landscape of the music industry, facilitated by Tefo Mohapi from Iafrikan.com and featuring guest panellists Riky Rick and Thibaut Mullings. 'Managing Health Amongst Creatives' will feature psychologist Thembi Mashigo and panel guests Ayanda Seoka, Mx Blouse, and more. The day will continue to include a masterclass with Black Milk (USA), The Art of Remixing with Zikomo (USA), and Power of Collaborations session featuring Zikomo, Potatohead People (CAN), S.Fidelity (Switzerland), Morena Leraba (Lesotho), and Bonj Mpanza (RSA).

The week's activities culminate in a celebration at the Fak'ugesi Beats Bloc Party on Saturday, 29 September. This event will reignite the energy and spirit created at the inaugural party in a union of performance, music, technology, and digital innovation. The Bloc Party aims to showcase the best in underground talent, both local and international - etching its name in the cultural textbooks as an inspiration to future generations of creators, producers and innovators. The second instalment of this groundbreaking event will host performances from the Beats Lab participants, as well as Black Milk and a strong local contingent including Langa Mavuso, Mx Blouse, Symatics and Ramz, Micr.Pluto, and more.

Tickets may be purchased via Quicket

Let's do Biz