No Game of Thrones, but Hunger Games on the SONA band playlist

Cape Town - The SA Military Health Band filled Parliament's precinct with gentle jazz tunes while the final stretches of the red carpet were laid out to welcome arrivals for President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address on Thursday.

A trumpeter blew a mellow tune as his highly polished instrument caught the last rays of the day.

Conductor Lieutenant General Gherald Seekola would lead them in a repertoire of jazz, marching songs, and South African favourites.

The playlist included Tshwane Swing, Hamba Nawe, and possibly even The Hunger Games theme tune. 

The band travelled from Pretoria for the ceremony, but sadly would not be playing the Game of Thrones tune this year, because their bagpipes did not come down with them.