Shela Nights returns with double event
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday May 13, 2022 15:24
This year, Shela Nights has partnered with two international entertainment television channels, MTV Base South and BET Africa. The event debuted on local soils in 2021 with three shows in a year period. It is considered the premium and intimate event that centred on socialising, networking and good music.
The first half of the double event will be held at Wagga Gardenex on Saturday. It is headlined by South African Amapiano producer and DJ, Kelvin Momo. The Soweto-born DJ has over the years earned himself a place as one the pioneers of ‘private school piano’, a sub-genre of Amapiano that incorporates Jazz, Deep House and lounge influences. Kelvin Momo will on the day debut his latest album, Ivy League, which is his second studio album dropped in December. It has been a hit especially among the local Private School Piano enthusiasts.
In a night where Amapiano and Hip-Hop will be major attraction, Kelvin Momo will be the only international artistes on Saturday as he will be supported by a number of local acts. The list includes, crowd favorite, Casper the DJ, DJ Scratch, N.S.I, Dolly the DJ and DJ Scratch amongst others.
Renowned South African DJ and producer, Dlala Thukzin will be the main act for the second half the Shela Nights to be held on Sunday at the Grand Aria Hotels and Conference Centre. The second part of the double event will present a rather chilled and ‘mature’ setting as compared to the Saturday’s. South African saxophonist, Jay Sax will bring the jazz melodies to the local shores as he will be performing alongside, DJ Choppa, DJ Khebah, Tumi Black Ace whilst NSI, DJ Scratch and Casper the DJ will return to the decks for the second day.
Speaking to Arts & Culture, Shela Nights booking manager, Khotso Molekane said the weekend’s event promises to be the biggest of the Shela Nights. He said the media partnership with MTV Base and BET would help sell the local performers to the international markets.
“Our media sponsors will air the two shows on their platforms as soon as they are done with the productions. MTV Base is our partner for the Saturday while on Sunday we will be partnering with BET. We deliberately had one international artiste for each show and filled up the line-up with locals. This is to try promote the local artistes internationally, to try to get them to get bookings.”
“We are looking for a very intimate event on both days, with a crowd of around 400 people. Each of the days have a different type of sound so we are trying to bring everyone in. The Sunday event is rather a chilled event as compared to the Saturday’s,” Molekane said. Tickets for the Saturday event sell for P200 general access, P1,000 and admit four people with complimentary drinks and food while the VIP tickets sells for P4,000 and admits four people. On Sunday, the tickets sell for P100 all access.