This means that the first week of being back always flies, especially when birthday celebrations and new babies are part of the equation. One of the delights of being home are all the opportunities to see those bands and artists Ive been following, listening to, writing about, interviewing and dying to see live...
Alas, on Saturday past was a night of amazing music I missed in Cape Town. But one which demonstrates just how incredible the quality is of music in SA. With three awesome gigs to choose from - it was maybe a good thing that I wasn't able to go to any!
- Sugardrive, Farryl Purkiss, 3rd World Spectator and Bed on Bricks @ Mercury
- Zebra & Giraffe @ The Assembly
- Taxi Violence launched new album The Turn @ Albert Hall
By Sunday I had my toes in the sand, looking up at the Hout Bay mountains surrounding Dunes - the perfect Sunday afternoon spot. And, complete with live music - and free live music nogal, in honour of International Peace Day apparently. Feet in the soft sand, sunshine pouring down and being outside with the beach in full view, I was left to wonder how I live in London, so emotionally removed from this epic grandeur of Cape Town in its simplest most beautiful state!
As part of this peace festival, there were six bands - organised by some kids from one of the local schools. It started by watching a six year old kid smash some drums - Yamaha's youngest endorsed musician - endorsed from the age of four, and recently returned from New Orleans!
There were a couple of other bands who had been on my list of ones to see while down - first up was Checked Zebra - a six piece ska band with both trumpet and trombone and lots of chilled latent energy.
Headlining were the newly re-jigged three piece, Little Kings - also on my list as one Ive recently written about in the Sept issue of SA PROMO. With Ryan Kidwell on vocals, looking 100% the part of a front man, as well as Nick on drums and a super chilled bassist, Little Kings were a fab end to a Sunday spent outside as the day turned to night and the lights came up on stage adding a romanticised tinge of light to the set.
Check out the Sept issue of SA PROMO online for an article on the ska scene in SA and coming up in the October issue, for an interview with Taxi Violence about their new album and upcoming tour around Europe, amongst other interesting interviews and music insight.
Rock on SA rock,
x
PS. Its good to be back after spending much time and love on the SA PROMO magazine, I am now making time to tell you all about SA music in and around London as it happens, and for now - as it unfolds in SA too as an added bonus to get you back up to speed and to make up for my distance!
