Double guitar delight...

This summer, across Europe, two of South Africa's most special guitar souls have come together with an official album collaboration after years of playing and working together at home and abroad!

3 weeks in Sept!

4 European countries!

2 amazing SA musicians!

1 debut collaborative album!

Nibs van der Spuy and Guy Buttery, both award-winning and highly acclaimed guitar geniuses, are touring Europe to launch and promote their debut collaborative album, In the Shade of the Wild Fig.

The tour started in the Netherlands on 3 September at the Amsterdam Fringe Festival where the duo performed a total of six shows! Then onto the UK for the acoustic home of music in south west London, the Halfmoon on Sunday 9 September! Another London gig follows on 11 September at the intimate Greenote in Camden!

After two shows for fans in England, they're onto the Rochefort Festival in France (13-15 Sept) and two shows in Paris on 16 September, before heading to Italy's Madame Guitar Festival (21-23 Sept).

Photo by Kieran Smith

This 17-show tour will be a collection of new tunes, tracks from the new duo album and also a few soulful favourites from both Nibs and Guy.

Find out more on Facebook...

Rock on double SA delight,
x

Feet feet, fabulous feet...

During a recent dance class we were asked to focus on our feet, to notice how they support us, keep us balanced and always catch us when we fall. And of how being barefoot connects us to the earth, reminding us how to embrace the feeling of trusting our feet fully.

I loved this concept and it got me to thinking how feet are such a fundamental yet overlooked element of our being. My mind then drifted to musicians who have mentioned feet in their music, and as it goes, my brain library accessed a few SA feet references...

1. Beautiful Feet - the gorgeous title track and name of the first international album of the gentle, humble and awe-inspiring guitar soloist and singer, Nibs van der Spuy. Just today he released a duo album 'In the shade of the wild fig' together with fellow guitar-maestro and friend, Guy Buttery.

2. Barefoot Hope - a beautiful song, tinged with a gentle African reggae beat, by Trenton and Free Radical shot in a township in Cape Town. The soft light and footage in the video is also wonderful. Watch Barefoot Hope here.

3. Incredible feet - five South Africans have just finished their epic barefoot climb of Kilimanjaro in Kenya, an article in The South African called it 'Climbing Kili Kaalvoet'!

So give some thought to your feet, acknowledge them, appreciate them and mostly, use them! 

Rock on being barefoot,

x

All hail Josie...

More time has passed - and weekends have again been toss-ups between the likes of Durban-based The Arrows, Belville's own bad boys of Afrikaans rock Fokofpolisiekar and another Durban boy, now CT based - Guy Buttery. 

It was Saturday 26 October - and I went for the acoustic magic of Guy Buttery. Besides, it was a dark, rainy kinda night and Guy's gig was in the gorgeous Monkey Valley in Noordhoek, perfect for a stormy night of being cosy inside. I even had a cat on my lap the whole gig through as Guy impressed with this guitar brilliance as well as sitar and saw playing!

But onto the most recent weekend past, where Sunday was spent working on the suntan on Hillcrest wine estate out in Durbanville, a celebration of the season of Sauvignon! There were two bands I was there to see - my main interest was the headliner of the day - Bed on Bricks, a local Cape Town band who have been on my list of to see for quite some time...

By that stage I think the Sauvignon had sunk in and we had then met My Hillcrest himself, the delightful winemaker who's wine was making us merry! So Im pleased to say that I am getting a second chance of seeing them at Rocking the Daisies this weekend in Darling - although they are also closing the festival, so I will need to keep away from the wine on Sunday too!

The other band of the day was Chasing Friday whose on stage energy was just fabulous as the lead singer flopped around like a theatrical clown in the style of a slapstick Laurel 'n Hardy type comedy! Or more to the era - he was very Jack Black in his antics and floppy hairstyle to match!

The music wasn't bad either, in fact - it was the injection of rock that the day needed. After an acoustic sax and piano duo eased everyone out of their Sunday morn slumber, some old toppies played a few catchy covers, followed by some Mexican wannabees who got the audience to jiggle tamborines and wiggle to Gypsy Kings. Chasing Friday were the rock 'n roll revival the day was after! And a perfect set up to Bed on Bricks too.

But then it got interesting... while dancing to Chasing Friday - the frontman starting talking about a song about a girl called Josie... now, there are not many Josie's out there. I know of Josie Borain - the Lux beauty from when I was young, and now a talented photographer. And the other Josie was none other than I was off to see that evening... Josie Field!

And would you believe, that out on a wine farm in Durbanville, this Cape Town band sang about Josie Field! We headed home with a tan and a head full of fermented Sauvignon - and I was soon off to Kirstenbosch where the next session of music would begin for me! On telling Josie about her own personal song - she was both flattered and surprised - and completely unaware!

Kind of a cool music coincidence for one day Id say! So... Josie Field now knows about an up and coming Cape Town band and this up and coming Cape Town band has immortalised Josie.  Indeed a topical talking point all round as both are talented artists in their own right and respected cities. 

We even saw Ferdinand Rabie at the wine festival - and he is promoting an up coming music festival in mid November called Forbidden Fruits. Who knows - maybe he should get Chasing Friday to come along and play a little song to introduce Josie who will also be playing there. Hmmm... the possibilities are endless!

Rock on fate and songs about a girl,
x

PS. For an intimate interview with Josie - check out the Oct issue of SA PROMO for insight into her latest album, Leyland.

Gig Giveback: a whole bunch...

Its been a week, but I figure I still have the grace of it not being two weeks since I did the 'Gig Giveback' - a bit of a reflective thank you to the awesome SA artists who entertain us so excellently. 

The crazy thing is that Ive seen so many diff SA bands in the last week, that I dont know where to begin... and I find myself comparing them and getting a bit fussy about who I need to listen to again in the near future...

And I dont think I am alone. You see, the SA music scene in London is getting a wee little bit umm, saturated. A-hmmm. Didnt think Id ever feel like this being the ultimate intimate-gig music lover - of which most SA gigs are - but I feel a bit oversubscribed between work, life, having a social life and then seeing gigs - the ones you actually want to listen to that is - not just the ones you talk your whole way through as background music!

On the intimate level - I am now gutted that I made the call to miss out on seeing Seether. Currently in the UK for 2 shows - one was last night at the small hall style venue of ULU - or less cooly, the University of London Union! It was apparently brilliant - and they only played about 4 songs off the new album that just won them a SAMA for best rock album. Not bad for a band on tour post an album release. Normally bands kill audience desire and plug the new album so baldy that people walk away wondering if they ever knew the band they just listened to!

Well done Seether for playing all the faves! Alas, come back soon - cos I wont miss you again!

Then onto bands as background music - well, sad to say that the Sunday night event of 'Simply South African' as organised by Southern Fire events - well, it just didnt fit together very well. The place was empty for a start, maybe due to the glorious day outside of about 28 degrees - but the empty Clapham Grand dancefloor just looked a bit miserable with only a few scattered bodies.

We arrived to Faryll Purkiss - who was great. I do love his title track 'Better Days' - though he was growing some sort of a beard and wearing a hat, and he looked much older than his usual fresh faced boy with a guitar vibe!

Then there was Guy Buttery and Nibs van der Spuy - playing separately bar a few together - and at first I wasnt sure how a potentially rock-expectant audience (Arno was headlining) would take to these two guitar geniuses... but the applause over-did any of the other artists in the noise-o-meter!

Guy Buttery just keeps getting better every time I see him - such a guitar and sitar and saw playing wonder - he makes sounds that I have neevr seen before float off a guitar! I also had the delight of seeing him and Nibs at the Troubadour last week Wednesday! Troubadour is a truly intimate venue, steeped in history and so tiny that you almost want to reach out and touch the artists!

It was something indeed special for Nibs van der Spuy and his whisper-wonder voice as he touched many souls with his songs!

But back to Simply South African... following Guy and Nibs we saw Chris Letcher - def a talent waiting to be spotted. Something of an enigma in his lyrics and depth - Letcher is an awkward kind of wonderful - nothing commercial stamped on them - just real music being made!!

And following Chris Letcher was the SA rock god, ex-Nude Girls - one and only: Arno Carstens. But after only two songs, he was already onto a Nude Girls number and playing Blue Eyes. To which the audience responded fabulously. But quite dis-heartening for Arno to look out onto a near empty dance floor - and a few homesick South Africans singing along to a hit he has probably sung more times than he's driven a car!!

I am left wondering why a South African 'festival' didnt work.. and I fear it is for the reasons of a) we have so much choice between SA artists in London already... b) when an artist does come - they dont play a festival exclusively - in fact they play as many times as humanly possible... and c) a lot of the artists were ones either permanently or temporarily based in London where they are available often...

Added to that - it was a Sunday night - and well, as much as we want to think we're all still wild at heart, well we cant seem to cut three nights out a weekend - energy or money wise. Plus a little bit of outdoor sunshine never hurts to truly make a festival feel like a festival!

Hopefully the Toast Festival in Sept will capture some of these elements - and with a smaller select band line up - both of which are flying in exclusively for the event - we should have a good day out! All we can hope for there is a little bit of sunshine! Lets hope Freshlyground can bring a bit from SA - and Just Jinjer can def organise some Californian rays!

And then the last gig to talk about - one last week Thurs - and always a fab gig at the venue of the Halfmoon: A Mann Friday sell-out as usual!

Supported by the up-and-coming angelic/devilish little delight of US Terra Naomi, and followed by Lightning Type (another SA band sounding sometimes Scissot Sisters and sometimes Pearl Jam - hmmmm!?) - the MF gig was a grand affair of fabulous favourites and some new wonders too!

Rock on all things SA music! And big up to all the super talented guys out there!
x

Time flies when you have music!

Last week was an earful of heaven, starting with the soothing sounds of graceful guitar in the hands of two masters. Guy Buttery and Nibs van der Spuy played the acoustic haven of the Halfmoon...

Guy Buttery bewildered an entire audience with his magical fingers fulfilling sounds never before self-witnessed possible from a straight-forward guitar. Wow, goosebumps and new appreciation for the gift of guitar playing. They say nearly everyone can play. (Myself excluded 'cos I've owned one for nearly 2 years and never progressed from my Std 2 teachings of 'Hush Little Baby...'), but to see the guru of Guy elicit and elaborate sounds from the guitar that could be a multitude of instruments if your eyes were closed, was amazing!

Following Guy's set, we were blown away by the subtle power and presence of Nibs van der Spuy who is currently promoting his new album Beautiful Feet. Combining delicate and detailed guitar with soulful and intense song lyrics, the resulting package was immensely powerful and I found myself feeling lighter and in tune with each song.

I love it when an artist gives the background of how a song came to be, and with each of Nibs songs, it seemed almost a beautiful story woven by the songs, a story of special souls, souls who have left this world, and simple love.

Nibs spoke and sang of Gito Baloi, a musician from the 80s SA band Tananas. Not knowing of them myself, and not knowing of Gito before.. it was with a strange soul connection that when Nibs sang a song about Gito and told us the preamble of its sad birth... that a larger picture of Southern African music started to piece together.

We come from such a rich country, diverse in nature, people and music. Gito Baloi, who is from Mozambique and has sung in Shangaan on Nibs' latest album, was murdered one night after Nibs had played a gig with him. The story is a sad one, and further to know of interest that Gito is now forever honoured at OppiKoppi with a stage named after him!

Amazing to hear how music touches and teaches on so many levels! Dont miss the chance to see Nibs live next in October!

Following Tuesday's magic, Thursday was a night of fun with Joburg rockers Prime Circle hitting the good ol' Shepherds Bush Walkabout. Between outside smoke breaks since the new law, people sang along to PC favourites - My Inspiration, Hello! and Live This Life - at the top of their voices! Songs of anthemic altitudes! A great night out!

And cleverly displayed on the bar counters, between Savannas and beers being bought were the flyers for the next big SA band to hit London earwaves... JUST JINJER! 

(It wasnt long before the flyers became human advertising too!)

Hopping the pond in early August, Just Jinjer will be here for one show only at the Walkabout on 8 August! For me, its my birthday night and so celebrations have been pre-decided! Its a Wednesday, so consider taking Thursday off! Its gonna be huge!

Watch out for an interview of what life is like in LA for the Just Jinjer boys! Also in next week's Live Music SA section of the South African paper will be the story behind Mann Friday and their "Gone Fishing" going ons! More of that to follow soon. It will be sad to let the MF guys take a break, especially since London-based South Africans and Zimbos have grown so used to a regular hit of the good menn! But more on Mann Friday to follow.

Rock on,
x

S(outh) A(frican) M(usic)'s Independence Day!

Quite an exciting week - firstly the launch of this gig blog both to artists and potential audiences and also the fabulous, new, music-focused section Live Music SA in the South African newspaper!

This week's Live Music SA features fingerstyle guitar guru from Natal, Guy Buttery, who will be touring the UK for the next 2 weeks. He arrives tomorrow, and starts with a festival in Kent before playing a few gigs round London etc!

Come join me next week Tuesday 10 July at Halfmoon in Putney, where he will be playing with mentor and friend Nibs van der Spuy (an amazing guitar player too, with a voice like Ben Harper...)

Watch out for next week's edition of the South African for an interview and article on Nibs. If you wanna read more on Guy Buttery, here is a taster for the article as it is in this week's South African paper:

Most music these days is manufactured and marketed through image-articulated and sales-driven avenues, but every now and then comes the music that is a gift to the world, delivered through the humble vessel of a human being. It's as if Buttery's fingers are an instrument unto themselves. "I LOVE sound in every shape, texture and colour", enthuses this small town guitar guru.

And to get an earful of Guy's guitar flavour check out his song December Poems (www.myspace.com/guybuttery) … truly exquisite guitar!

Rock on SA Guitar Gurus!
x