Jupiter Lounge opens on cue. But the crowds stayed away.   

The Jupiter Lounge Project opend in April bang on cue,.99.99% of the population of Montagu and surrounding districts missed a truly remarkable show.  

The few who did turn up were wildly enthusiatic and afterwards rushed to congratulate Gabrielia Burgher. She  had promised something special and brought it off with amazing energy and vitality.

The ‘Lounge’ occupies a part of the old KWV Brandy cellar on the corner of Kohler and Long Streets. It has been tastefully stitched together to create a nightclub effect with a fine stage, dressing rooms, catering facilities and all. The lounge furniture is largely that – old sofas and coffee tables laid out by a master. The accoustics are a bit barn like, but then the old building is a bit barn like too.

The Show itself, that Saturday night,  was quite exceptional. There were only two performers but they held the floor, between them, for at least two hours.

Linda Roberts is a most elegant performer. She moves with lissom grace and poise and she has the voice to go with it. She held the audience through eight, nine, maybe ten popular songs, old and some quite new.

And then came Odidiva Mfenyana. The two could not have been more different, but hey and wow, Odivdiva was sensational. Whether she kept the village awake is not known for there were no complaints. The power of this fairly slight person is awesome and her choice of numbers was explosive.

There have been two other shows at Jupiter since then. Last Friday’s event had an audience of one. Next night was better; twelve rolled through the door.

Someone said something like “even in little old McGregor this would have been a sell-out”.

Let’s hope the word gets out. Danielia tells us that Odidiva is coming back soon. And Linda? Absolutement.

Linda Roberts

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