Like X-Men School For Musicians: The Red Bull Music Academy Bass Camp

Calling 30 young South Africans the “future of South Africa music” is a bold statement, but it’s also the sort of ballsy statement you’d expect to come from the brand that got a dude to jump through the stratosphere. Right now, those 30 kids are sitting in The Alex Theatre for the Red Bull Music Academy, and there’s an opportunity for you to join them.

Think of the RBMA bass camp like X-Men school but for kids who know something about music. Just like Wolverine and (ugh) Gambit teach mutant kids how to not punch holes through people when they’re playing tag in the yard, some of the world’s best musicians and music producers are there to show these kids how to do their thing.

We’ve got French producer, remixer and DJ powerhouse Francois K, iconic South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela (the Wolverine of the bunch, obviously), underground club culture maestro Vinny Da Vinci, and former Academy graduates Black Coffee, Jullian Gomes, Trancemicesoul and Thibo Thazz.

These kids are scary gifted as it is, but now, with several state of the art studios at their disposal, and each others’ mighty talents within reach, it’s basically a candyland of opportunities for any young artist. Overall, they are there to be challenged by their peers, pushed to their limits by their mentors and have a lot of fun while doing it.

And then there’s the part where you can get involved, you lucky bastard.

If you’re keen to jump in on the action and maybe learn something from, say, Black Coffee or Francois K, you have to get to The Alex’s main auditorium tomorrow at 14:00 for the public lecture. Seats are limited so you have to RSVP on their facebook event to secure your place.

You can also get a display of the talent on offer – both the work of the mentors and the participants – by heading to one of this weekend’s Red Bull events:

1st November 20:00

TOYTOY at (The Alexander Theatre)

w/ Kat La Kat, Monique Pascal, (our boyee) JakobSnake and Ryan Sullivan

AND

2nd November 21:00

Francois K at (The Alexander Theatre)
With Francois K, Kid Fonque, Thibo Tazz and G-Force

AND

3rd November 12:00

Bass Camp Soweto Sessions at Chaf Pozi
With Francois K, Black Coffee, Vinny Da Vinci, Christos, Jullian Gomes, Trancemicsoul and Jack Gorton