Soweto Gospel Choir in Perth

March 6, 2013
by Rodney Olsen
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choirimage

Many people consider South Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir to be the most exciting group to emerge in world music in recent years. That claim is backed up by the fact they’ve won two Grammies.

The Choir’s repertoire reflects their faith and spiritual journey, sung in six different languages.

Since its first international performances in Australia in 2003, Soweto Gospel Choir has become a worldwide phenomenon performing sell-out concerts across the world and singing alongside superstars including Bono, Queen, Annie Lennox, Diana Ross, Jimmy Cliff and Celine Dion, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and others.
shimmy
They’re currently in Perth for a concert and I was very pleased to welcome founding member Shimmy Jiyane to the studio this morning during my radio program on 98five.

I’ve seen the choir in concert and I can assure you that they put on a show that you’ll never forget. The smiles on other concert goers after their concert suggest that they certainly know how to please an audience. I can’t imagine anyone leaving their shows without feeling uplifted.

If you want to hear a little of the history of the choir, their faith story and more about their performances, just click the play button on the audio player below.



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Australia Day 2013

January 23, 2013
by Rodney Olsen
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AustraliaDay2013

Are you ready for Australia Day this Saturday?

We celebrate Australia Day on the 26th of January each year because it was that day in 1788 that Captain Arthur Phillip took formal possession of the colony of New South Wales and became its first Governor. The first official celebrations were held in 1818 to mark the 30th anniversary of white settlement.

If you want to find out more about Australia Day you can go to the official website here.

Watching fireworks on Australia Day has become a solid tradition in Perth but over the past several years many people have started looking for ways to avoid the parking hassles and find a family friendly event. Answering the call is the 98.5 Sonshine FM Town of Bassendean Australia Day Celebrations and Fireworks event which has built a reputation as a safe place to spend Australia Day with friends and family as well as providing a spectacular show.

If you’re in the Perth area it’d be great to catch up with you at Ashfield Reserve, Guildford Road, Ashfield, for the evening. It’s a great event that culminates in a massive fireworks display away from the big and sometimes rowdy crowds of the city fireworks. 98five Sonshine FM is proud to be providing the soundtrack and we’ll be broadcasting live from the venue.

I’ll be on stage to MC the live entertainment which starts from 5:00 p.m. There’ll also be an awards ceremony. The fireworks will begin lighting up the skies later in the evening with the whole event finishing at 9:00 p.m.

If you want to enjoy some great entertainment in a more relaxed family atmosphere, without having to wait hours in traffic on the way home, come on down.

Either way, make sure that you’ve got some plans in place to celebrate.



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Road to Bethlehem 2012

December 7, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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We’ve been to visit the Road to Bethlehem production each December for several years and over the last few years we’ve even been part of the cast. My trip to Bangladesh and India means that I won’t be there this time around and it’s one of the things I’ll miss in the lead up to Christmas.

The Road to Bethlehem is a remarkable portrayal of the Christmas story in the form of a free, interactive, dramatised experience featuring dozens of actors and singers.

The idea is that you’re taken back in time to witness the events of the first Christmas as they unfold, providing a unique entertainment experience that the whole family enjoys.

Travel back in time and take a journey through the streets of Jesus’ birthplace – Bethlehem. See a wiseman discovering prophecies of Jesus’ birth, enjoy the atmosphere of the marketplace, discover the extravagance of Herod’s Palace and the excitement of the shepherds as they are told of Jesus’ birth.

But watch out, don’t get in the way of the Caesar’s soldiers or you may just end up spending the night in prison, and beware of the snake-oil salesmen in the marketplace – they don’t take no for an answer.

Allow time to enjoy the food and free family entertainment in the Welcome Area. Plenty to do and see including camel rides, Mary’s Kitchen, bouncy castle, Joseph’s Workshop, vegetarian cooking demonstrations and much, much more!

Instead of sitting down and watching a show, you walk from scene to scene as you travel to your destination, the stable. Live animals, great humour and some wonderful angelic choirs add to the experience.

Before and after you’ve trod the Road to Bethlehem you can spend time in the welcome area where you’ll be entertained, take part in craft activities or even buy a meal.

Road to Bethlehem is hosted each year by the Livingston SDA Community Church in Canning Vale. It runs for three nights each year. It’s on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, the 10th, 11th and 12th of December. It starts at 7 o’clock each night.

Today I spoke to Steve Jones during my radio program on 98five.



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View from the Wings

November 28, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to grow up with parents who are in the public eye? What would it be like to be the child of a performer?

Tod Johnston and Trudy Dunn are performers but they’re also the children of performers, and they’re teaming up to tell the story of their upbringing viewed from the wings of the theatre.

Having spent much of their childhood watching from the wings while their parents, Jill Perryman and Kevan Johnston, performed on many of Australia’s iconic theatrical stages, Tod Johnston and Trudy Dunn share with you their unique view of their parents’ lives as one of Australia’s most long-lived and loving theatrical couples.

Tod and Trudy both have a unique perspective on two of Australia’s best loved actors and entertainers, and spent much of their childhood watching their parents work and rehearse as well as travelling with them.

Last year, Jill Perryman received a Helpmann for her life-long contribution to the performing arts, so it felt like the right time for these siblings to get together and share songs, stories and reminiscences from their parents’ professional world and personal lives.

I spoke to Tod this morning during my radio program about the upcoming show and his very interesting upbringing.



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Steve Grace in Perth

October 26, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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It was a surreal moment. Back in December 2010 I was being driven along a very rough track somewhere out of Port Moresby in PNG. We were in a four wheel drive heading to a remote fishing village to see the work of aid agency Samaritan’s Purse.

Us westerners were in the cab but the back of the ute was full of local kids. As we were being thrown around inside the vehicle the children were hanging on and singing at the top of their voices. They were singing Steve Grace songs.

Steve Grace is an exciting and vibrant Australian singer/songwriter with a heart for world evangelism. Twenty years ago, Steve Grace was driving trucks. Answering the call of God, he pioneered a concert ministry that has taken him to hundreds of cities and regional towns throughout Australia.

Steve’s vision soon developed into an international ministry with opportunities each year to perform at concerts, festivals and crusades before thousands of people in nations across the globe. This humble ministry has been used by God to see many come to a genuine faith in Jesus Christ and many inspired to take up the challenge of living life in the grand adventure God has called us to.

Over the years Steve has shared the stage with artists like Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Rich Mullins, Amy Grant, Carman, Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy. And more recently, Steve has become a featured artist at crusades conducted by evangelists like Greg Laurie and Franklin Graham.

It’s been a while since I heard Steve sing live but today I got my very own concert. Steve performed live during my Morning Cafe radio program. You can hear our chat and a couple of his songs by clicking the play button at the bottom of this post.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR261012_1300.mp3]

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