With previous winners like Al Bairre and P.H.fat no wonder entries for Vodacom Open The City almost doubled this year, to an incredible pool of over 140 local bands. All vying for the oppourtunity to play on the same stage as international titans of music, The Kooks, Milky Chance and The Cat Empire. After heated deliberation the Vodacom Open the City five finalists have been chosen and they are : December Streets, Timo ODV, Nomadic Orchestra, Grassy Spark and Early Hours!
This year’s hotly debated judging session included Catherine Grenfell (5FM), Tecla Ciolfi (Texx and the City), Sophie Abendanon (Seed Experiences), Charlotte Kanter (Morse Code), Natasha Goosen (One-Eyed Jack) and Hein Ferreira (Vodacom). Public voting has opened and there are two ways to vote for the band you want to Open The City on 4 October: Visit http://www.vitc-competitions.co.za/, and click to vote for your band (make sure you read the Ts&Cs) or SMS their name
SMS the band’s name to 48477
SMS “DECEMBER STREETS” to 48477
SMS “TIMO ODV” to 48477
SMS “NOMADIC ORCHESTRA” to 48477
SMS “GRASSY SPARK” to 48477
SMS “EARLY HOURS” to 48477
(Standard SMS rates apply, follow the link in the reply SMS for Ts&Cs).
The standard of entries this year was nothing short of phenomenal and the judges had a tough time choosing the five finalists but now it’s up to you, the fans, to choose the winner. In 2014 fans got to see all the finalists at an exclusive Open the City live show. This year not only will they be able to watch the five finalists live at a gig on the 20th of September but we want the public to get to know the #VOTC2015 finalists, so Vodacom is creating videos of each act covering one of our #VITC2015 acts.
To check out the videos just go to http://www.vitc-competitions.co.za/ and by voting you stand the chance to win 2 tickets to Vodacom in The City and meet the winning local act backstage.Voting closes at midnight on 20 September and the winning band, with the most votes, will be announced on 22 September.
Check out the Deezer Vodacom Open The City playlist here : http://bit.ly/1fRebTz
Open the City is brought to you by Vodacom, headline sponsor of Vodacom In the City 2015, a Seed Experiences event. Follow @Vodacom,@InTheCityJHB and #VITC2015 for all the Open The City news and activity.
More information
Website: www.VITC.co.za
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InTheCityJHB
Twitter: @InTheCityJHB
Instagram: InTheCityJHB
Get to Know the Vodacom Open The City finalists
December Streets
Originating from the capital of South Africa, Pretoria December Streets is an indie rock band formed in late 2009. Living in the midst of an ever evolving and growing South Africa, the band draws inspiration largely from life around them. December Streets consisting of Tristan Coetzee, Nico van Loggerenberg Gideon Meyer, Waldo Boshof and Corneil Classen describe their music as foot stomping, skirt lifting, shoulder popping musical bliss.
Timo ODV
TiMO has always been destined to go places and his journey has recently accelerated with his signing to Universal Music in February 2015. Having worked through a variety of sounds, TiMO has settled on a deeper pop enshrined sound that allows him to seamlessly blend a variety of different elements and textures. His latest single Save Me has skyrocketed on radio, taking the #1 spot on the 5FM Top 40, #2 on Shazam and #4 on iTunes.
Grassy Spark
Grassy Spark is a unique fusion of Ska-blend with multiple genres, where the end product is pure elation. Their beauty lies in the relevance and authenticity of each live show as they go out their way to appease and connect with their crowd. The “Blend” is inclusive of each member’s personality – the quirks, the ups, the Having being booked on the main stage at Rocking the Daisies 2015, as well as a number of unannounced colossal shows, 2015 looks to be a Steller year for Grassy Spark.
Early Hours
Early Hours blend electric indie britpop with a unique African vibe, drawing influence from The Strokes, Bombay Bicycle Club and Vampire Weekend. Their eclectic blend of soaring pop hooks, powerful electric guitars and jiving beats is the soundtrack to your summer. The band’s 2014 summer single, Smells Like Summer, put them on the international map after reaching #1 on the Soundcloud Indie Rock chart. The track went viral resulting in Early Hours becoming the first South African band in history to reach one million plays on a single track.
Nomadic Orchestra
Right at the core, the essence of Nomadic Orchestra, is dance music. They are a group of musicians that have come together on an exploration of dance music, inspired by various cultures of dancing from around the world. Sourcing inspiration far and wide, from underground club scenes to timeless traditionals, in an effort to create and perform a universal style of music that appeals to a basic desire in all people: to dance in anyway that the music moves them.
#VITC2015
#VOTC2015
Website: www.inthecityjhb.co.za
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InTheCityJHB
Twitter: @InTheCityJHB
Instagram: InTheCityJHB