logo
Boyband Blue moves South African tour to October

Boyband Blue moves South African tour to October

Blue, the iconic British boy band, has officially rescheduled their much-anticipated South African tour to October 2025.
The group will now perform at the SunBet Arena, Time Square, on 14 October.
All previously purchased tickets remain valid for the new date, so fans can rest easy knowing their spot is secure.
The announcement comes as part of Blue's massive 20th anniversary tour, a celebration of two decades of chart-topping hits and performances, according to Sun International.
This will be the first time Blue will grace local stages, and the excitement is palpable.
'We can't wait to finally perform for our South African fans,' said band member Simon Webbe. 'You've been waiting a long time. We promise it's going to be a night you'll never forget.'
Blue burst onto the global music scene in the early 2000s, quickly becoming one of the UK's top-selling bands.
Their string of hits includes All Rise , U Make Me Wanna , Breathe Guilty, and their Elton John collaboration Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word . The latter dominated radio and dance floors around the world.
For some South Africans, these songs are more than just catchy tunes-they're the soundtrack to a generation.
The SunBet Arena is set to come alive with nostalgia, energy, and Blue's signature harmonies. Doors open at 6 pm, and with the band's loyal following, tickets are expected to sell fast.
Prices range from R350 (about £15) for general standing to R850 (about £36) for premium seating. The tiered pricing means early birds can snap up the best deals.
If you already have a ticket, you don't need to do anything. Your ticket will be honoured on the new date. Organisers have assured fans that all arrangements will carry over, making the transition as smooth as possible.
As the countdown begins, excitement is building across the country. 'We're ready to bring the house down,' said band member Lee Ryan.
'South Africa, you've waited long enough. Let's make this a night to remember!' Don't miss your chance to be part of Blue's historic first South African concert.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — Here's what it means to be wonderstruck
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — Here's what it means to be wonderstruck

Daily Maverick

time19 minutes ago

  • Daily Maverick

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — Here's what it means to be wonderstruck

It might be centred on its titular golden boy, but now playing in Joburg is an iteration of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat that's a triumph of theatrical teamwork. Pushing beyond the perceived limits of the musical, it respectfully illuminates the material in brand-new ways. The rumours are true: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the show of the year. From the golden voice of the dreamboat playing Joseph to the gold lamé short-shorts worn by the ensemble in one of the show's many visually striking scenes, the latest South African production of this 50-year-old musical is a trove of precious moments. It has it all: grit, wit, pizzazz and punch. Plus tremendous behind-the-scenes chutzpah and superlative on-stage talent. There's an X-factor, too: real innovation, that extra-special something making sure that, by the time you skip into the foyer at interval, pulse elevated, adrenaline coursing, you know that all bets are off, that theatre still possesses the capacity to surprise and astonish. By the end of it all, you'll be racking your brain to figure out how they packed so much into a show that is over in the blink of an eye. Perhaps it's the gorgeousness of everyone and everything on stage; or maybe the sizzling arrangements of songs you're familiar with but which get a blast of mould-breaking energy. Perhaps it's the choreography that makes you want to hit the dance floor and the performances which, across the board, bring the house down again and again. Or maybe it's simply the beyond-all-expectation conceptualisation that's transformed something so familiar into a whole new beast, something that's fresh, funky and full of heart. Whichever of the show's visceral thrills it is that grabs you, it's a real soul-stirrer, too, a masterfully rendered translation of a very human story about an enlightened young man who ultimately possesses the wisdom – and the power – to forgive those who've wronged him. In the context of global events, particularly the conflagration in the region where this musical's events play out, there could hardly be a more apt allegorical lesson for humanity. Bold reinvention Barely a scene unfolds that does not in some way signal bold reinvention or cause a kind of recalibration. Directors Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander (who know the musical inside out, having both performed in it) have created a show full of surprises, one that throws open the doors of imagination and from start to finish is an exhilarating reminder that there is nothing on Earth like live theatre. That of course sounds like hyperbole, but this entire show is hyperbolic, a seminal study in reaching deep and giving your all. It's what can happen when the whole team is on board. Each performer is so thoroughly, wholeheartedly invested. Whether it's Joseph's rascally brothers hamming it up with their hilarious fake mourning skills after they sell their too-handsome, too-clever, too-proud brother into slavery, or Potifer's wife (played by a foxy Yethu Kibi, outfitted in a beguiling leopard-print bodysuit) pulling a seduction number on still-innocent, still-learning Joseph. Dreamy Dylan Janse van Rensburg is a phenomenal Joseph: he sings like a dream, dances like a star and wears his role and his toned-down many-coloured coat and matching shorts with such dignity, then transforms just as comfortably into his velvet and then his golden threads as the costumes visually express his ascent up the food chain of power and influence. It is a beautiful performance in which the character's inherent goodness, wisdom and generous spirit manifest with such absolute clarity. From an altogether different school of charm is crowd-pleaser Christopher Jaftha, who (with and without his insane washboard abs) brings a trio of hilarious characters to life. His turn as Potifer is an absolute scream, a kind of jazzed-up Scrooge caricature, complete with velvet smoking jacket and a lust-filled wife filtered through the lens of Hollywood's Golden Age. Later, when he almost unrecognisably transforms into smoking-hot Pharaoh, he is either an Elvis impersonator channelling an Egyptian pharaoh, or an Egyptian king who dreams of being a Vegas rock star. Either way, he's sensational, his character so marvellously in love with himself he can barely open his mouth to get the words out, as if we're seeing an entirely reinvented King of Rock self-parody. It's a gorgeous play on uninhibited self-awareness, wonderfully finessed, wildly funny and shamelessly indulgent. And, in wonderful contrast to Jaftha's egomaniacal rock star, there's the effortless ease of Lelo Ramasimong, who plays the Narrator so enchantingly it's as though your favourite relative is telling you a life-affirming bedtime story. Life-affirming, too, is the score, given a sparkling reboot by musical supervisor Charl-Johan Lingenfelder, who has in the process of ferrying the music into a new era added a heart-thumping edge to the energetic numbers while retaining the poetry and lyricism of the more intimate songs. The result is transcendent; you leave the theatre feeling as though every cell in your body has been given a mood upgrade. Much of that full-system rewiring is thanks to the scorching choreography (Duane Alexander again, together with Jared Schaedler), which is in constant dialogue with the story and the music – so whether the cast is pulsing in glorious unison on the tips of their toes, or slinking comedically across the stage like eroticised servants who double as lounge lamps, the movements and dance steps constantly add narrative thrift and potency. There's much glitz and glam and razzle-dazzle, but there's plenty that's raw, gritty and offbeat that comes shining through, too. And there's an intimacy, an electric spark that's only truly possible in live performance, a feeling that the actors on stage are looking you directly in the eye, making a genuine connection. And there's that lump in your throat you get from knowing that these talented individuals – stars, each and every one of them – are performing just for you, that they've poured their hearts and souls and every fibre in their being into creating this wondrous experience just for you. You will feel the result of that commitment: the heat coming off the stage, the palpable rush of excitement and energy, the joyful intoxication. It is 2025's 'everything show', the one they'll be talking about long after those happy ear worms you take home with you have finally quietened down. DM

JAY-Z's Roc Nation Sports signs African talents
JAY-Z's Roc Nation Sports signs African talents

The South African

timean hour ago

  • The South African

JAY-Z's Roc Nation Sports signs African talents

JAY-Z's Roc Nation Sports made headlines this week for their latest move involving African sporting talents. The idea is to expand the reach of Roc Nation Sports by coaxing some of our best and brightest talents into their fold. Roc Nation Sports has managed to construct a roster as impressive as the label and management wings of JAY-Z's famed talent stable. As far as football goes, Ron Nation Sports has generational talents like Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Kevin De Bruyne on their books. Springbok captain and darling of South African sports, Siya Kolisi, is also represented by this agency along with fellow rugby stars, Cheslin Kolbe and Maro Itoje. Their books are impressive across various sporting disciplines, and now the plan is to add more to the arsenal. JAY-Z was recently spotted on the sidelines at the FIFA Club World Cup. This may have been surprising to some, but this latest move provides some clarity around that. Roc Nation has managed to lure in footballing talents from Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. These include Moses Simon (Nigeria) and Mohammed Kudus (Ghana), who already have European club experience and growing fan bases. The players who have recently signed are Siyabonga Mabena (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns), Neo Bohloko (South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs), Ifeoluwa Olowoporoku (Nigeria, Tripple 44), Joseph Narbi (Ghana, Benab FC) and Tadiwa Chakuchichi (Zimbabwe, Scotland FC). Roc Nation is a highly praised entity, that is, if you don't ask someone like rapper Nicki Minaj. They offer holistic representation wherein brand development, social impact initiatives, and media exposure are all on offer. This move is more than JAY-Z's company diversifying their pool of talent. This will shine a light on talents in regions of the world that may be frequently overlooked. Reports allude to the intentions behind this involving more than just world-class representation. Roc Nation is aiming to amplify the voices of these athletes and extend their contributions, on and off the pitch. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Rapper Zulo samples UPZ's nostalgic hit 'Pure Surprise' as he makes a musical comeback
Rapper Zulo samples UPZ's nostalgic hit 'Pure Surprise' as he makes a musical comeback

TimesLIVE

time3 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Rapper Zulo samples UPZ's nostalgic hit 'Pure Surprise' as he makes a musical comeback

Three years after releasing his debut EPO rapper Zulo has made a comeback, releasing a three-track EP which fuses faith, fire and cultural pride. Compact but powerful, the project distils his evolution into a refined sound that's bold, emotional and distinctly South African. The lead single, Sweeter Success, samples UPZ's iconic Pure Surprise where he explores the emotional cost of ambition, the toll of always pushing for more. 'It's more of a single pack than an EP, it's three songs. I go deeper into identity and cultural pride, which is a big part of my music. I think I'm just telling my story. A South African story. A story the world doesn't quite understand yet, so we need to correct the discourse of what it means to be South African. These three songs are battle cries and war journals. They're declarations of power. 'I'm always gonna make the best music. It's just about making everybody happy. Every release feels like a huge shift for me and it's always a level up. You're only as good as your last release so I never want to drop the ball, you know. I want this one to be huge jump up.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store