SWEET melodies, old sounds and new tunes vibrated throughout the beach town recently when musicians and singers collaborated to lift the spirits of residents out and about during exercise time allotted in the lockdown enforced due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The LOCKDOWN Music Trail project was a resounding success in Jeffreys Bay, Aston Bay and Paradise Beach.
This brainchild of professional musician and singer ,Michelle Ohlhoff from Jeffreys Bay, expanded in unusual and surprising ways, boosting everyone imaginable to join the effort to encourage the townspeople du-ring cabin fever.
Walkers, joggers and cyclists – all masked and practising the prescribed social distancing – were encouraged to refer to the marked maps circulated to plan their routes in order to encounter the free side-walk shows.
The advertising poster invited residents to bring the family on a walk “filled with old and new sounds, harmony, rhythm and groove as we journey our way to freedom. Also, scattered throughout the town, musicians will perform from their own driveways, creating little pockets of sound.”
Michelle, who had previously performed a concert from their balcony, thought to expand the experience “lest the neighbours tire of her . . .” and what a great way to cheer everyone up.
She contacted musicians through the Whatsapp group formed for Jammit, which she started to draw together and encourage local musos to perform together – and word spread like wildfire.
“I thought it would be a beautiful thing for the community. People could take the map which indicated where who will perform, and work out their own route.”
As the musicians spread the message, it inspired those to emerge who haven’t performed for years or never performed in front of an audience, but always wanted to. A resident even sang for the first time in 20 years.
Michelle’s producer husband, Ernst, roped together those who would film the participants. He produced a compilation of all who participated in the incredible endeavour to bring light and love in a tough time.
The YouTube clip starts off with a trumpet blasting away the dark mood. Then a lady sang: “I love those dear hearts and gentle people who live in my town . . .
Next on the trail was an accordion player with two who swayed to the beat. A dad on guitar and his son on a drum followed, then a youngster on his keyboard with amps rigged up.
There were guitars, voices bringing praise to God. A flute accompanied by a piano from a high window, followed by a woman playing a cello in her driveway.
From an older lady singing from a book to a guy wind-piping a didgeridoo, and then a man playing the accordion transporting those walking by to the streets of Paris. A guitarist with a harmonica played, while his partner sang, and their toddler walked nearby with a mini-guitar.
From a sweet flute to the thump of a Cajun rang from verandas, driveways, windows, doorways and gardens.
