Ballantine’s True Music celebrates 10 years of Boiler Room in May. The partnership has played a pivotal role in the popularisation of South African-birthed genre’s of Amapiano, Bacardi, and Gqom on stages around the globe. Through its revered broadcasts, the platform has showcased many local artists who have gone on to make waves and impact abroad.
Leading up to the Boiler Room 10-year Anniversary in May, Ballantine’s True Music will head to Pretoria on 20 April for an Amapiano and Bacardi immersion. The festivities will start at Braai Maestro in Pretoria West from 18:30 where inventive duo, Mellow & Sleazy, and “Tiya Mfana” hitmaker, DJ Tshegu, will churn out their Bacardi-tinged Amapiano tunes.
At 22:00 Ballantine’s True Music will take over Hawayu Lifestyle in Centurion where Bacardi flagbearer, Enny Man da Guitar, and Private School Amapiano stalwart, Kelvin Momo, will hit the decks.
The Durban leg of Ballantine’s True Music takes place on 27 April with the purveyors of Gqom, Durban’s Finest—DJ Tira and Sox. The pioneering duo will set the dancefloor ablaze at Exit Shisayama and Carwash alongside GoldMax, one-half of the iconic Distruction Boyz.
Ballantine’s True Music, with Boiler Room as the platform, has continuously championed local sounds and aided in their international expansion. From the early days of Boiler Room in 2014, artists like House DJ Lamiez Holworthy made it a point to include some Amapiano songs during her set, at a time when it was not fashionable in the mainstream.
This boots-on-the-ground grassroots approach mirrors how the platform has also treated the pulsating sound of Gqom. During Boiler Room 2019 in Durban, DJ Lag’s “Amanikiniki” had attendees in a trance-like frenzy and went on to be a globe-trotting viral hit.
Thirashan Naidoo, Ballantine’s Marketing Manager at Pernod Ricard says Ballantine’s mission has always been to showcase, promote, celebrate and bring wide-spanning communities together through music, culture and entertainment.
“Our True Music events in Pretoria and Durban will again showcase local talent and sounds, and with our decade-long Boiler Room partnership, we have managed to stay true to our cause and take those sounds global for the rest of the world to take notice,” says Naidoo.
The Boiler Room 10th Anniversary takes place in Johannesburg at 1 Fox on 11 May, and artists on the line-up include Amapiano royalty Scorpion Kings, “Mnike” hitmaker Tyler ICU and DBN Gogo. Sign up HERE for tickets.
More information on the True Music events can be found on the individual venue’s social media platforms and @ballantinesSA. #staytrue
