Are you ready to enter the Afrikaans rock arena...

When it comes to SA music I could probably keep on writing about what I know and love, which for all obvious reasons as by this blog is South African live music, mostly rock, alternate, acoustic, singer songwriter, contemporary kinda stuff...

With so many interesting Afrikaans bands being brought into the UK by Burning Events, it seems silly not to get to know them a bit more! Last weekend saw Jakkie Louw and before that the blonde-looker known as Jak de Priester. 

And coming up soon are Beeskraal and Klopjag, two bands doing well on the MK89 gig guide in the South African, as well as receiving much airplay on MK89! (For those who havent been home in a while... MK89 is a music channel on DSTV, mostly Afrikaans orientated, but most importantly, all SA music focused! Oh, and the MK stands for.... wait for it... Musiek Kanaal. Simple!)

So, with Lukraaketaar in the country as I write (and probably sound-checking for tonight), let's get onto them ever so briefly about what you can expect...

Die groep se naam, Lukraaketaar, is 'n kombinasie van twee woorde: lukraak, wat beteken toeval, geluk, na willekeur; en ketaar, wat volgens hulle 'n woordspeling op "kitaar" en "kommentaar" is. Lukraaketaar is bekend vir hul uitgesprokenheid en retoriese vrae in hul lirieke.

So, for those who need a translation of the above. It is roughly saying that the name Lukraaketaar is made up of two words:

      - lukraak: which means happiness, good fortune etc 

       - kitaar & kommentaar combined: which means commentary etc 

So, that's a nice little explanation of how the band came to their strange name. Its always satisfying when one can understand and share the thought behind a band's purpose. And having a story behind the name is paramount to this. Especially when it comes to Afrikaans names.

So in summary, the name is a reflection of their rhetorical and outspoken commentary on life. Even for an English speaker, I can actually understand quite a bit in their songs as they do sing clearly and slowly!

In their liedjie (song) called Passievol (which I assume means 'passion full'), with lyrics such as " Nothing you buy will ever make you happy" and "Where do we go when we die?"

And with that first intro to the SA Afrikaans Music (SAAM as opposed to SAM, hehe) arena I will leave you pondering on Lukraaketaar's lyrical laments on life!

Rock on Friday afternoons and Afrikaans bands,
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Friday I'm in love

Easing us nicely into the second weekend of September, is Recoup with their residency at Leonards tonight, and tomorrow night is singer songwriter Farryl Purkiss performing part one of his two city tour in London and Paris. 

So get on down to the gig, buy the CD and then check out next week's South African for the Tune Me CD review of Durban's fine troubadour!

And then for a bit of Afrikaans acoustic rock, check out Lukraaketaar tonight and tomorrow night at the all South African Aardvark.

Perhaps, like me, you do not know much of the Afrikaans rock music out there, so I will begin to endeavour to educate myself in this area and I invite you to take the journey with me! Watch this space!

After much anticipation, next week sees the exciting arrival of hot Joburg-based band Fevertree who will be in the UK on their debut tour.

Check out the South African for an interview with lead singer Garth Luke on how the band are getting on in their mission of world domination! For some easy Friday afternoon listening, check out their MySpace to hear a fabulous cover version of "Friday I'm in Love"

Rock On Farryl, Recoup, Fevertree & Afrikaans rock!
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