HILTON’S Music in the Hills venue plays host to Ellipsis, Nerissa Pillay and Zama Zwane from 7 pm on Wednesday, June 15.

Entry is R20 and food and soft drinks available.BYOB. Visit http://www.mith.co.za for more details and directions to The Knoll Guesthouse and Backpackers in Knoll Drive, Hilton.

From the same two guys that brought you Supermoon and the movie I Literally Have No Idea What You Did Last Summer comes the new band Ellipsis! Based in Pietermaritzburg, this three-piece rock outfit has one purpose… to apply a powerful amount of pressure to your cerebral cortex! Or, to put it in Layman’s terms…”blow your minds!”

Brendon and Dylan have been playing together since time began and have just recently added the band’s missing ingredient…skill! And, of course, Josh Gilliver, their new drummer.

All three men had the same ambition in life, to be one of the audience members on the Oprah Winfrey Show with something hidden under their seats. But since the show cancelled all they have wanted to do is play music that they enjoy.

They are finding their sound together using covers from all of their influences so that they can one day bring their own original songs to the world’s ears, like the big boys do!

The band’s hobbies consist of… short walks on the beach… flexing their butt cheeks whilst playing on stage… menhir creation and coffee consumption. The band’s response to any audience member asking them to play songs similar to Country Roads or Living Next Door To Alice is and always will be “No!”.

With their alternative/blues/indie rock sound, Brendon Holder (vocals/bass) and Dylan Smith (guitar/vocals) and Josh Gilliver (on drums) were weaned on (apart from their moms) The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age and Smashing Pumpkins.

Nerissa Pillay will charm you with her acoustic soul, and Skippy Khubeka is doing a double shift – as he joins her on vocals and guitar. Narissa lists her influences as Garrett Hedlund, Gary Clark Jnr, Blackberry Smoke, Thin Lizzy, Aadele, Sia, Lana Del Rey and Amy Winehouse. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the voice coming out of this lady and the magical fingers of this dude.

Zama Zwane does covers of contemporary RnB, folk, indie folk and pop. Zama is on vocals with Pedro on piano and backing vocals. Major influences: biggest inspirations are Joy Williams, Hayley Williams, Beyonce, Adele, Emeli Sande…while favourite bands include The Civil Wars, The Japanese House, Daughter, TLC.

“I am a solo cover artist (normally accompanied by an instrumentalist),” Zama says. “Born and raised by musical geniuses in Ladysmith, but currently based in Durban, I am always listening out for new music and how I can cover it in a unique way. In my free time, I write my own stuff, but there’s definitely still a very long way to go.”

Zama’s done two Christian weddings in the last three months, and hasn’t recorded secular music yet, but here is a link to her music:

Musicians who wish to play at Music in the Hills should contact Kirsten Rae Hughes on 072 220 9757 or e-mail kirstyh03@gmail.com. Performers plus one partner get in free.

MiTH is a semi-open mic music club. It provides an opportunity for musicians to share the joy of their music with a friendly audience which includes fellow musicians – who have all “been there” too. Non-musicians welcome too!

Whether you’re a newbie looking for your first opportunity to perform publicly, or a more experienced/mature musician simply looking for people who are as passionate about music as you are – come along and join the fun.