Busking for a living in the quaint village of Kalk Bay, Morne Holland has been entertaining locals and tourists alike for years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a chance, Holland was accepted to participate in the Cape Town Arts Festival (CTAF) Beyond Busking programme, where he was chosen to learn song writing under the mentorship of Clive Ridgway which has now led to him writing and releasing his own original song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been busking for five to six years in Simon\u2019s Town, Green Market Square and Kalk Bay to provide for my family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s not always that busking goes well, like today, but we are going into the holiday season soon so it should pick up.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After auditioning for the Beyond Busking Programme run by the Cape Town Arts Festival, Holland completed his song writing course with flying colours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 13-week pilot project consisted of training which included vocal development, life mentorship, and stage presence, with the CTAF has culminated into a new hit song \u201cI am a Busker\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeyond Busking is a programme to help buskers get noticed because there are so many out there singing, who are talented and do it for extra income,\u201d Holland says of the programme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI joined the auditions and went, though it was the first time I went to the Good Hope Castle and after that the songwriting programme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause of this programme I got the opportunity to write my own song.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yusuf Ganief, Festival CEO, describes Holland as \u201clikely to become a sought-after performer\u201d and songwriter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe will most likely become a sought-after singer, song writer and performer, going beyond the life of a struggling busker to a fully-fledged professional musician.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
His new song \u201cI am a busker\u201d is a tribute to all buskers struggling out there with a sound that is delightfully Capetonian, added Ganief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany of us have heard the rich baritone sounds of Morne\u2019s voice floating out of the subway of Kalk Bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith his newfound creative talent and song writing ability, this may not be the case for much longer. We are excited about the new partnership between the Waterfront Busking Programme and the Beyond Busking Project.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that the Western Cape has a \u201cwealth of talent\u201d performing on the streets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith an upliftment programme like the Beyond Busking project, an exciting journey of transformation for a few selected buskers, we witness how baby steps in the area of skills development and opportunity can change the destiny of individuals whose plight appear to be hopeless.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we have changed the lives of a few buskers, then they in turn can inspire others.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cape Town Arts Festival is expected to launch at the Castle of Good Hope on Saturday 29 October where Morne will perform alongside other buskers and headline artists which will include top local musicians, poetry workshops and performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n