As there was no official date book kept under 7th Avenue, the only dates that are shown are those that we manage to get from old posters and various notes. Pictures reveal other events but places and dates are sometimes unknown.
Jan – June 1980
1-Mar-80 Superally – Orange Grove With Lights / Screens (Date from Poster)
27-May-80 Musaion – University of Pretoria Lunch time concert
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By 1980, 7th Avenue was including multi-media presentations within the show. (For more on the innovative approach see “1980 7th Avenue Multi-Media Innovators” under Trivia & Facts.)
The visuals were great, but it meant a lot more work with the use of slides, and lighting.
Mac remembers: At the Superally, we were so pleased with ourselves, but Liz Pass came up to us and criticized our use of colors!
Seph: Getting ready for the multimedia was a lot of work! Preparing the scripts, getting slides made of the words, with a lot of help from Norman Hanna. Picking slides out of Norman’s collection, taking pictures out of Life Magazine, and anywhere good pics could be found. Hard work but invigorating. This actually propelled Mac and I into the media business in future years.
1980 Undated
Unknown Location or date -Multi media Concert (see pics)
Rosebank Union – Multi Media event arranged by Ronnie Francis
Unknown location – using multi-media set up
1980 Multi-Media with twin screens, alternating images and words, lighting on band, Mac is singing “Closer to God” as the words can be seen on the screen to the right.
July – Dec 1980 Makiti ‘80
13-Sep-80 7th Avenue in Concert – Conservatoire of Music – Pretoria Pat Berning – Makiti ’80
Sept -80 7th Avenue in Concert – Market Theatre Johannesburgb(Cancelled)
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Seph: This was probably the last large scale production we were involved in. It was a lot of work, but so few people showed up, it was very disappointing. Pat Berning opened the show. And after him came noise & smoke!!
We had planned to do a second show at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, but the “promoter” and us decided not to go ahead, because the attendance was so poor.
A loud smokey open… “Time”-Phill Keaggy – Full Rock Cecil at the console
Before the curtain rises… red leather pants and white jackets! Steve (obscured on drums), Les, Mac (on Bass), Theo Seph & Mac (Keyboards), Les, Steve (drums), Theo, Lindsay
“IN” Magazine: A review of 7th Avenue In Concert by Judy Rudd
Pretoria experienced a real happening recently in the shape of its first ever Christian Concert! This was held at the Conservatoire of Music – but in no ways was it conservative. The concert presented 7th AVENUE, Pretoria’s own Christian Rock band in heavy power with PAT BERNING in excellent support and very much the “calm before the storm”.
Pat’s relaxed, laid-back style has endeared him to many, and he always leaves one “touched” – in the right sense of the word! This gifted singer-songwriter, performing many of his own compositions, has everyone in hysterics with his “And I Received A Vision”, a subtle dig at the lengths to which sun-worshippers will go!. Laughter turned to tears as he presented Christ in his own personal way through more challenging lyrics and lovely melodies. One of his most powerful was the haunting “Follow Me”, which was perhaps a summing up of all that he had sung about. Watch out for our next issue when we’ll have a full-length feature on Pat!
And so – to 7th AVENUE….. This good-looking bunch of extremely talented young men (sorry girls, all spoken for!) are among the first to venture into the field of Christian concerts in SA. Let’s just say at the outset therefore that one of the most disappointing features was the lack of Christian support in the form of audience. The evening was intended to bless Christians and challenge non-Christians to join with them in enjoying Christ, and this was done in a most exciting way! A real pity that so often we Christians are s-l-o-w in seeing the potential in presenting Christ in a new and varied way (We’ve never done it like that before!) But those who had made the effort to come were not in any way disappointed! Musically one could not find fault – although some might have cried ‘LOUDER’ or ‘LONGER’. 7th AVENUE, (previously known as New Life) have had almost seven years together (number of perfection?) and have moulded a powerful force for God. Whenever they perform their strong male image (no Christian nerds here!) leave no one in doubt that it takes something to be a Christian. Their stage presentation was alive (lighting and special effects like smoke) and fun (Goon-type humour)and one felt very much part of what was happening! Most of their numbers are self penned and lack nothing in lyrics or style whether appealing to the more mature individuals or the younger “rockers”. Their rendition of Chris de Burg’s “Crusader “surpasses his own effort. One of their quieter but particularly potent numbers was the lovely “Don’t Let Me Fall” – one with with which each Christian could identify. What more can one say? A really good (a derivitave from Godly!) time was had by all! The same powerful package is to be presented in December at the Market Theater – Hope you make it! (Judy Rudd)
Continue to next page: 1981-85 7th Avenue – The Final Years
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