Howick High, Skippy Kubheka, The Lion, The Bear & The Panther

MiTH 02 August 2023

INFO: 082 331 7271

ENTRANCE: R50.00 – Cash or Zapper at the Door

VENUE: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm

7pm: Howick High

Grace Botha directs and accompanies the Howick High School choir and on the 2nd of August, several of her protégés will honour us with solo performances of some popular numbers. This is not to be missed!

From Grade 8, Lukhona Dlamini, and Ella Driemeyer will each be doing vocal performances. Grade 10s, Nokwanda Mnikathi and Khanya Ikaneng will be teaming up to display their vocal talents, and Tiya Sasha Naicker’s vocals will be accompanied on piano by Thando Mashiyana. Remy Rose McMahon, Grade 12, will be performing an original song on vocals and guitar.

MiTH is very proud to be a part of fostering young music talent in the Midlands!

7.45pm: Skippy Kubheka

Skippy Kubheka is a local musician from Hilton who has been performing since 2014. He’s been seen performing with out-of-this-world musicians, like bass with Mali Zulu, and drums for Matt Gardiner. He’s the current front-person for the MMM…Band, and has been known to appear in an occasional collaboration or two.

But this time around, he’s about to do something rare; something that hasn’t been done in quite some time… He will be performing a solo act for the first time at MiTH in years. It’s gonna rock!

8.45pm: The Lion, The Bear & The Panther

You might be asking yourselves, what is up with all these animals? Well, to start off with, Ross (aka The Lion), Ruben (aka The Bear) and Brendon (aka The Panther) were once in a band called Avade. From 2013 until 2017 the guys toured extensively across South Africa and released an eponymously titled album.

After exhausting themselves from touring like mad men and not sleeping for 4 years, they decided to take a few months off and come back with some new ideas. Fast forward to 2018 and the band came back with fresh ideas and with a new identity. Thus, The Lion & The Bear was born. An acoustic-centric duo featuring The Lion on guitar and vocals, and The Bear on bass guitar, kick drum, and backing vocals.

For the last 4 years, the duo has performed regularly at several of KwaZulu-Natal’s finest restaurants, bars and clubs as well as private parties, weddings and corporate functions. The duo is the perfect solution for venues or events that want energetic, fun music without blowing the roof off with volume. A combination of soulful covers and catchy originals is what’s on the set-list each night.

So now, you ask, what of The Panther? Well, here’s the clever bit: They record as a three-piece electric band with The Panther on drums. It sounds amazing; so amazing that they use the power-trio format for bigger shows where volume and power are not hindrances, but necessities.

Their latest single “Street Fight” is out now and available from all major online music stores, with the accompanying video on YouTube. For 2023, they have a full schedule of upcoming shows and are constantly working on new material. Follow them on their socials (@lionbearband) and join them for what promises to be a rocking evening at MiTH on 2 August!

ABOUT MiTH: Arguably the KZN Midlands’ best-loved music venue, Music in The Hills (MiTH) is an opportunity for beginners, professionals, and passionate music fans to share the joy of music at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. Visit www.mith.co.za for more details and directions. Musicians can contact mithbookings@gmail.com for slots.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: MiTH takes place every second Wednesday at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Knoll Drive, Hilton. Doors open at 6pm and the music will kick off at 7pm. Entrance is R50 at the door. Food and soft drinks are available for sale. A cash bar is available.

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH: Take the N3 to Hilton, take the Hilton turnoff and go South into the Village (away from Hilton College). Travel 5,2km along Hilton Avenue (past two sets of traffic lights and Crossways Pub) and keep going straight as Hilton Avenue turns into Dennis Shepstone Drive. At the 5,2km mark, Knoll Drive will be on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the *second* entrance on your left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm.