Love is the message, and the message is Love
The Soweto Gospel Choir has become a global sensation over the years, blending soulful harmonies rooted in African gospel with a sensational selection of classics Soul, Funk, Pop and now House. They’ve picked up 3 Grammys along the way, and collaborated with some of the biggest and most brilliant artists on the planet, including Angelique Kidjo, the Eurythmics, Amy Winehouse, Peter Gabrielle, Josh Groban, Alicia Keyes, Bono, Queen Latifa, Diana Ross and Johnny Clegg.
They were formed in Soweto, South Africa, by David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer, and producers Andrew Kay, David Vigo and Cliff Hocking in 2002, and draw on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto
At this year’s Sydney Fringe Festival, we are being treated to two cracking performances: History of House and their classic Soweto Gospel Choir show Hope. The singer’s energy and unparalleled vocal prowess had us all dancing irresistibly on a Sunday afternoon at the Spiegeltent.
A modern twist on traditional Gospel
Hope, the choir’s current show, is all about the power of music to liberate, transform, and ultimately bring hope to those most in need of it.
Celebrating songs and anthems from the Freedom movement of Nelson Mandela’s South Africa, back to the Civil Rights Movement of Martin Luther King’s 1950’s America, there’s world class powerful renditions of classics from James Brown, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.
For those who have followed the group over the years, this performance is a masterclass in the art of gospel, African spirituals, and traditional hymns, and a reminder of where it all began for Soweto Gospel Choir.
As always, though, they bring something fresh to the table. Whether or not you are religious is irrelevant here, as Gospel music has a way of touching something universal in us all. Soweto Gospel Choir’s performances are a testament to the power of music as a universal language.
History of House: A Journey Through the Evolution of Dance Music
The History of House is a love letter to modern music and an exploration of the evolution of House music, and DJ Groove Terminator and Soweto Gospel Choir have got plenty of tunes to bring it home. House music, which originated in Chicago’s underground clubs takes a new African twist. The choir captures the essence of House’s deep, driving beats, but infuses them with lush, layered vocals. Liberation, joy, and community is a hallmark of the choir’s acts and for long-time fans of House, this is a refreshing reminder of the genre’s roots in gospel and spiritual music. DJ Groove Terminator, a well-known figure in the Australian electronic music scene, aka Simon Lewicki, bounces around in the background with extraordinary energy, occasionally expressing his thrill at being on stage with the performers and how much he can’t believe his luck. “I grew up in Adelaide, ” he told the crowd, “and now I’m on stage with the Soweto Gospel Choir!”
The set moves effortlessly through decades of house anthems, taking the audience on a whirlwind tour through iconic tracks. Familiar hooks like Robin S’s Show Me Love and CeCe Peniston’s Finally were seamlessly blended with the choir’s unmistakable harmonies, making the old feel new again. Each song was more than just a cover—it felt like a spiritual elevation, a celebration of how this once-underground genre grew into a worldwide phenomenon. Woven through the set is the origins of the struggles of indigenous peoples globally, and classics like Yothu Yindi’s Treaty is the choir’s nod to our own First Nations. An absolute treat.
If you haven’t had the chance to experience Soweto Gospel Choir live, there are still limited tickets still available for both shows as part of Sydney Fringe.
If you miss out on tickets, you can still enjoy the tunes as their latest album, a collab with DJ Groove Terminator and Latroit, has just dropped called, non-other than- History of House.
Soweto Gospel Choir – Hope
Sydney Fringe Festival
Sydney Spiegeltent
03 – 25 SEP
History of House
Sydney Fringe Festival
Sydney Spiegeltent
30 AUG – 29 SEP
12 Nov 2024 to 5 Jan 2025
