Live music at Alma Cafe, Rosebank
Travel Location: Cape-Town,South-Africa
A wintery evening with snow on the mountains and drizzle in the air, but six Meridians were cosy at Alma Café in Rosebank among good company with good food and great live music.
Having heard about this place from neighbours I booked this as a trial evening, and from comments received, it will not be the last time.
Live music, good food, take your own booze – what could be better.
On booking, the owner’s Richard and Retha Tait asked us to take our own booze and glasses – what a pleasure – and after a couple of reminders, everyone remembered. “They’ve been struggling to realise their dream of a cafe cum breakfast cum music venue for some time, and so a few of us have jumped in to help and things seem to be coming together now,” said Gill Lanham, who describes herself as living across the road.
“It’s such a special place and, during the day, visitors from the humblest labourer to Andre Brink frequent the place. I volunteered to help for a month but I love it so much that I think I’ll stay two-hours each morning and carry on with dish-washing on Sundays,” said Gill.
While nibbling on chips and catching up, we were asked for our preference in food – we were fifty fifty, veggies and carnivores.
Richard and his son Jonathan sang the opening set with sixties hits from writers like Neil Young; Crosby, Stills Nash and Young – and Monty Python!
The cosy café seats about 26 diners but we noticed that two or three people popped in for music only. Sash windows and sections of bare brickwork and cupboards burdened by old tins, jars and mementos – something unusual wherever the eye leads.
Time for food. For the vegetarians it was a filling stuffed butternut with salad, while the carnivores tucked into bobotie. Everyone enjoyed their food, evidenced by empty plates.
Retha does a lot of the cooking, and all the baking, and is the typical “earth mother” type – an ex social worker. Richard is the typical mad musician – given to profanity laden outbursts……and either loved or loathed by the locals.
Time for the main act, Julia Conradie, 25, with her easy stage manner and worldly lyrics, showing talent that has tremendous potential to break through the barriers of acceptance.
Starting with a song by Alanis Morisette, she went on to sing original works in her deep voice in both languages. “If you can understand, it can touch your soul. It’s very powerful stuff,” said Be. This was echoed in Julia’s words: “If you can’t find peace within yourself, you can’t be with someone else.”
This bi-lingual singer-songwriter is disarmingly honest and has no problem exposing herself in a range of songs that astound in their individuality, from melancholy to playful. “Most of my songs are about breaking up, rather than love songs,” she laughed, while another song started out loving someone before turning to hate.
What a pleasure to savour the chord structures, from of a song written from a poem penned by her brother (who was in the audience), to Running, a smiling understanding of running away from love – a song she wrote in ten minutes.
The audience enjoyed singing along to one or two songs that they knew and then it was time for a second break, this time for desert. While some enjoyed coffee, including Irish, others indulged in a warm ginger pudding with custard or in the most delicious lemon meringue.
Captivating the audience it was no wonder that we were disappointed when Julia ended her set.
But next time we book we will ask for a table away from the bar. While people were asked to switch off cell phones, smoker’s weren’t asked to wait for the intervals, and the door doesn’t close very well.
