Posts Tagged South Africa

The world’s worst airport?

Jun 11

Posted by Tomasz in Roxette, Tour | 4 Comments

Some may remember the Saturday comments made by Per Gessle on the Roxette’s official Facebook page (here) about the quality of service on the Johannebsurg’s OR Tambo Airport:

Just spent 90 minutes at one of the world’s worst airports; Johannesburg. Could actually be the No 1 on that scary list….Good God, how about some organization with customs etc? Leaving now. Thank you.

We love South Africa. You know that! But someone should fix the logistix at Jo-burg Airport. A job for BoJo maybe?

South African Times’ Live picked up this discussion and talked with the airport’s spokeperson – Unathi Batyashe-Filli. She said security footage showed that there were long queues at the emigration checkpoint when Roxette were leaving.

Emigration [and immigration] services are provided by the Department of Home Affairs and, though Airports Company SA provides the infrastructure, we are not able to answer questions regarding problems at emigration.

It also turned out that over the last years service at the airport improved a lot. More on that case at Timelive.co.za

Tags: Facebook, Johannesburg, Roxette, South Africa

World Tour 2012: Cape Town, South Africa – June 8 #112

Jun 11

Posted by Tomasz in Roxette, Tour | 3 Comments

Comment from Per Gessle

Cape Town #4 in just over a year! Fantastic. We love this place and feel extremely welcome here! Tonight’s show was a blast. The band + Marie in top shape. Even “It’s Possible” sounded terrific. Thanx a million. Promise to come back! Cheers, P&M&Co

Setlist

01. Dressed For Success
02. Sleeping In My Car
03. The Big L.
04. Silver Blue
05. Stars
06. She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio)
07. Perfect Day
08. Things Will Never Be The Same
09. It Must Have Been Love
10. It’s possible
11. 7twenty7
12. Fading Like A Flower
13. Crash!Boom!Bang!
14. How Do You Do!
15. Dangerous
Band Presentation
16. Joyride (introduced with “Suikerbossie”)

17. Spending My Time
18. The Look

19. Listen To Your Heart
20. Church Of Your Heart

Articles

Gettyimages
Vreemdeling‘s review
Jasminonjupiter‘s review
Cape Town’s backstage (Facebook gallery)

Tags: Cape Town, Roxette, South Africa, World Tour 2012

World Tour 2012: Durban, South Africa – June 5 #111

Jun 6

Posted by Tomasz in Roxette, Tour | 1 Comment

Comment from Per Gessle

THANK YOU DURBAN! What a fantastic night! Seventeen years since we met the last time and boy, did we have a reunion! Marie + the band in top shape, wonderful crowd (9000 ppl) in World Class Mode, we all just loved it! Hope to see y’al soon, dear friends! Now we’re gonna celabrate Pelle’s 72nd birthday! Cheers.

Setlist

17. Spending My Time
18. The Look

19. Listen To Your Heart
20. Church Of Your Heart

Articles and photos

Brian Spurr’s gallery
Witness.co.za
Look Lokal
East Coast Radio (gallery)

Tags: Durban, Roxette, South Africa, World Tour 2012

World Tour 2012: Johannesburg, South Africa – June 3 #110

Jun 4

Posted by Tomasz in Roxette, Tour | 11 Comments

Comment from Per Gessle

Thank you Jo-burg!!! Had a blast tonight! Check out the clips and you’ll see!!!! We haven’t played here since 1995 (Ellis Park, 60.000ppl!!!) but felt very welcome! Hope you had fun! See you soon again!!!!

Setlist

17. Spending My Time
18. The Look

19. Listen To Your Heart
20. Church Of Your Heart

Articles and photos

The New Age (one to one interview with Per Gessle)
Big Concerts Facebook gallery
Beeld.com
The New Age Online

Comment from Heidi

What can I say!! Words can’t describe this. I feel euphoria as a Roxette fan.
Euphoria is described by some as an exaggerated feeling of physical and mental well
being. This is exactly what a Rox concert is for me! Although sitting for 8 hours in
a road waiting, it was all worth it! I am amazed that Marie performed so well
tonight after a long flight from Europe! What a superwoman. The set list was the
same as the south American concerts with It’s possible from Travelling. Fantastic
song loved it. First time I saw Dea live. Great artist in her own right. One can
see she loves performing live. Per was his SUPER self as were VERY entertaining.
Loved it. Christoffer is a genius with the instruments he plays. What an
entertainer. He played “suikerbossie” a local folk song which the crowd loved. All
in all we the fans of 15 000 in attendance saw a performance that is considered
first class. We were in the company of a Swedish band that lives and breathes
music. Hopefully the band noticed the words displayed in front. ” The Beatles had
nothing on Roxette. Roxette is the Best band in the world! Leaving Johannesburg
behind tomorrow and heading to Durban for the 2nd South African concert.

Heidi van Rensburg, proud Roxette fan

Tags: Johannesburg, Roxette, South Africa, World Tour 2012

More dates confirmed for 2012

Nov 21

Posted by Judith in Roxette, Tour | 6 Comments

We received the following press release:

ROXETTE 2012!

On Tuesday Roxette played in a sold out Wembley Arena in London in front of 12,000 people. It was 17 years ago Roxette last played in London and the concert was the 72th of the list of concerts in the ongoing world tour. 2011 has been a fantastic year for Roxette with huge success for “Charm School” and the tour.

In 2012 Roxette goes on with the world tour and with New Zealand in February, they will have played in 31 countries in four contintents. Tickets for three more concerts in South East Asia are released these days. Roxette will play in Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong and will go back to South Africa for three more concerts.

A new single off “Charm School” has also been released, the ballad ”No One Makes It On Her Own” with the video done by the Russian fan Tanya Rush http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6LkR8aPwAk
In addition, a special edition of “Charm School” will be released on November 28. This edition contains all the demos Per Gessle recorded for this album.

Here are the tour dates for 2012, so far:

11.2 Aukland, Vector Arena (New Zealand)
14.2 Brisbane, Entertainment Centre (Australia)
16.2 Sidney, Sidney Entertainment (Australia)
17.2 Sydney, Entertainment Centre (Australia)
18.2 Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena (Australia)
20.2 Adelaide Adelaide Entertainment Centre (Australia)
22.2 Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena (Australia)
24.2 Brisbane, Brisbane Entertainment Centre (Australia)
25.2 Sydney, Entertainment Centre (Australia)
28.2 Perth, Challenge Stadium (Australia)
29.2 Perth, Challenge Stadium (Australia)
3.3 Jakarta, Indoor Tennis Stadium (Indonesia)
6.3 Singapore, Resorts World Convention Center (Singapore)
8.3 Hong Kong, Convention Center (Hong Kong)
3.6 Johannesburg, Coca-Cola Dome (South Africa)
5.6 Durban, ICC Durban Arena (South Africa)
8.6 Kapstaden, Grand Arena (South Africa)

More dates to follow.

Tags: Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Roxette, Singapore, South Africa, World Tour 2012

Roxette back to South Africa in June 2012

Nov 11

Posted by Judith in Roxette, Tour | 2 Comments

According to Big Concerts, tour promoters who brought Roxette to South Africa in May 2011, the demand has been so big that it was decided to bring Roxette back to South Africa in 2012.

After their phenomenal sold out success (53 dates to over 650,000 people) of their 2011 World Tour, Roxettes much anticipated 2012 dates are already booked up. Don’t miss the chance to see them live in South Africa in June 2012.

The dates are as follows:

June 2, Johannesburg – Coca Cola Dome

June 5, Durban – ICC Durban Arena

June 8, Cape Town – Grand Arena, Grand West

Tickets can be purchased at www.computicket.com

Thanks to Roxette South Africa fan page for the information!

Tags: June 2012, South Africa

South Africa, North and South America on Roxette’s radars

Oct 26

Posted by Tomasz in Interview, Per Gessle, Tour | 1 Comment

In the very recent English interview for World Radio Switzerland’s Alex Helmick – promoting 2 forthcoming Swiss shows – Per Gessle has admitted that Roxette is planning to come back to South America (it has been circulating for few months now here and there), South Africa and North America (Canada).

Have a listen!

Thanks to Arnaldo Mariano Suarez for sending this through.

Tags: Roxette, South Africa, South America, World Tour 2011, World Tour 2012

Per Gessle for South African Top Billing – full TV-interview

Jul 18

Posted by Tomasz in Interview, Roxette, Tour | Comments off

Thanks to Heidi Janse Van Rensburg of Roxette South Africa.

Tags: Per Gessle, Roxette, South Africa, Top Billing, World Tour 2011

Sun City press conference: over 50,000 people saw Roxette in South Africa

May 18

Posted by Tomasz in Interview, Per Gessle, Promotion, Roxette, Tour | Comments off

On news of the band returning to the country for a series of shows, fans quickly flocked to ticketing offices to make sure they got to see one of the world’s most loved bands on South African soil. The response was overwhelmingly positive, prompting organisers to add more dates to the tour. The result? Seven sold out shows in South Africa alone. Ahead of the show, the band’s Per Gessle said they really weren’t expecting such a response.

Watch an interview with Per Gessle

With the industry moving into a digital environment with fans downloading albums and using social media as a means to find out more about their favourite stars, Gessle says he too has embraced the new media craze.

I have a 13 year old son. If you told him I was interested in new media, he would probably laugh in your face. It all comes down to the fact that I always wanted to be in control of my music. I remember in the old days in the 80s when you had fan clubs. It was always terrible because there was always someone else running them. There was no money involved, nobody wanted to be involved. It’s just so easy using Facebook for instance. I have my iPhone and a take pictures. It’s just a fantastic thing for a fan to see that level of access.

More from the press conference

Tags: Per Gessle, Roxette, South Africa, Sun City, World Tour 2011

Journalist: “I feel like I should hug you”; Per Gessle: “Please, do!”

May 17

Posted by Tomasz in Interview, Per Gessle, Roxette, Tour, YouTube | 3 Comments

Swedish pop group Roxette’s fans showed their undying support when the dates for the South African leg of the Charm School tour were announced, making sure every show was sold out. Top Billing caught up with Per Gessel, the male part of this well loved duo and a award winning musician in his own right. We find out about his and partner Marie Frederikson’s love for Cape Town and what his favorite Roxette song is. Watch this episode to find out the inside scoop, like how hit single, It must have been love was originally written as a Christmas song.

Anyone who knows how to watch the whole episode?

Source: Topbilling.com

Tags: Roxette, South Africa, Topbilling, World Tour 2011

Interview with Per Gessle on Roxette.co.za

May 13

Posted by Judith in Interview, Per Gessle, Roxette | 8 Comments

Harno from South Africa had the chance to interview Per – check it out!

Tags: Interview, Roxette, South Africa, World Tour 2011

South African press: Roxette still dressed for success

May 12

Posted by Tomasz in Interview, Per Gessle, Roxette | Comments off

Roxette’s Per Gessle opens up about the band’s past, his life-long love of music, singer Marie Fredriksson’s near-fatal brain tumour, and writing hit records.

People love our songs, they seem to be part of people’s lives – which is just amazing. The songs I write are based on the music I listened to when I was very young – music from the ’60s, ’70s – so everything I do is basically melody oriented. I think also it has helped that we’re not American, we’re not English so we’ve always been a little bit offside. We’re a Swedish band with a Swedish manager, a Swedish producer, so we’ve done everything outside the global music industry and I think that’s really helped us out. There have been times when people have said: ‘You have to move to New York or LA, or at least move to London’, but we’ve never wanted to do that.

We always listen to our gut feeling. It was the same when I wrote the new album, ‘Charm School’. My ambition was not to write a best-selling album. I just wanted to write a great album for Marie – these are the songs I want her to sing. If it works commercially, then hallelujah. If it doesn’t, we’ve still done a great album.

When we perform, we’re one of those bands who don’t use computers, vocals on tape, or click tracks or whatever – it’s just 100 percent live, like when we started out. For us that’s so much more fun – sometimes a song goes too fast, sometimes it goes too slow – and every show is unique. We try to make it interesting and enjoyable for ourselves.

More at iafrica.com

Tags: Roxette, South Africa, World Tour 2011

World Tour 2011: Cape Town, South Africa – May 10 #20

May 11

Posted by Judith in Roxette, Tour | 10 Comments

Setlist

01. Dressed for Success
02. Sleeping In My Car
03. The Big L.
04. Wish I Could Fly
05. Only When I Dream
06. She’s Got Nothing On (But the Radio)
07. Perfect Day
08. Things Will Never Be the Same
09. It Must Have Been Love
10. Opportunity Nox
11. 7twenty7
12. Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)
13. Silver Blue
14. How Do You Do!
15. Dangerous
Band presentation
16. Joyride (no traditional tune)

17. Watercolours in the Rain
18. Spending my Time
19. The Look

20. Way Out
21. Listen to Your Heart
22. Church of Your Heart

Photos

Videos

Reviews

Heidi wrote about the concert last night – same place but totally different concert!

This concert was mind blowing!!!! A hundred times better than the one on Sunday evening. The crowd also truly enjoyed the concert which was fantastic to say the least.

“Silver Blue” replaced “Stars” tonight and I was waiting for this. Chris again did not play anything local which I think is fine ! We are there to listen to ROXETTE !

The band had a rejuvenated energy that is out of this world. Per and Marie were in TOP shape!

I really could go on and on but I don’t have words to describe the concert experience!

I also struggle to use my camera as it distracts me from the concert enjoyment. I did take two video clips like promised – hope it is not too bad. I will also post a few pics.

Had a chance to briefly chat to Per afterwards, super guy!

Tags: Cape Town, fan review, Roxette, South Africa, World Tour 2011

Win a meet&greet in Cape Town tomorrow

May 10

Posted by Tomasz in Roxette, Tour | Comments off

Say ‘How Do you Do’ to Roxette. We have 4 meet and greet spots up for grab in Cape Town on Wednesday 11th May. All you have to do is like this status to stand a chance of winning.