WHEN I heard that the Market Theatre, the iconic cultural institution based in Newtown, Johannesburg, had curiously christened its 2010 music festival The Market Theatre SA Music Festival, I cringed.

WHEN I heard that the Market Theatre, the iconic cultural institution based in Newtown, Johannesburg, had curiously christened its 2010 music festival The Market Theatre SA Music Festival, I cringed.

I mean, to call your project an SA Music festival carries much responsibility and the public expects quite a lot from such a festival in terms of cultural representation.

The festival is currently running at its various theatre venues until July 11, the end of the World Cup. But when I looked at its line-up, it is fair to say that an attempt has been made to represent South Africa's well-known cultural diversity.

"Celebrating and showcasing the sounds of our rainbow nation, the Market Theatre SA Music festival will feature a wide variety of our musical brands. An assortment of sounds varying from Afro pop, jazz, South African hip hop, Afrikaans rock and indie rock will be booming out of the Market Theatre's Main stage for a month-long period of partying and carnival spirit," the theatre says. The lineup includes the Parlotones, Sibongile Khumalo, Thandiswa Mazwai, HHP, Jozi and Karen Zoid.