What would you do if it's all gone...

...asks singer songwriter Roland Albertson in his earth-conscious track, White Wednesday - a plea to imagine the world without flourishing landscapes and an unpolluted sea, forever damaged by the effects of global warming and over-population.

White Wednesday has been doing exceedingly well on the online listener-voted chart of theSixtyOne.com in the last week, subconsciously providing the soundtrack for a global consciousness and awareness in line with Earth Day today!

Roland wrote White Wednesday on a snowy Tuesday night during a London winter, saying "I want people to imagine how they would feel 30 years down the line when the effects of global warming have forever ruined the beautiful views we take for granted. Would you change things you do now to make sure that epic scenery is around to enjoy in your old age and for others beyond?

And as the lyrics express "Mountains (glaciers) melt to rivers. Forests turn to sand, before our very eyes". Its a direct result of our actions and yet we fail to recognise the fact that we'll really regret it once it's too late! Roland's song imbues the essence of Earth Day, the importance of being aware!

As for theSixtyOne chart success, Roland is proud to say, "I held the number one spot on their 'hot' chart for two days, which is unusual with this kind of real-time chart listing. The response from the listeners was incredible, with over 1,200 hearts (the way to rate songs) in just 48 hours!"

All this hot heart action means that Roland is currently 9th on the monthly chart, so he stands a good chance of topping that chart too. Check out what its all about on theSixtyOne.com

Happy Earth Day - may we all do our bit!

Rock on music making you think, and care, about our planet,
x

Hot water, shallow water, music is life...

Music was the perfect way to weave together the four sessions of inspiring talks at the TEDxCapeTown event on Saturday 16 April. Music sets the mood, connects people and creates emotion. Music is indeed an idea worth spreading...

The background track on Saturday morning at the start of the conference was none other than Mann Friday, a band I know well, and love.  I was thrilled to hear that the someone in charge of the day's musical soundtrack clearly felt the same!

Three breaks between sessions saw three local bands bring their blends to the branded stage. First up was Hot Water (left), a Paul Simon sounding vocalist with an interesting selection of band member outfits and instruments. From lead singer Donovan's Caltex tin guitar to some circular black steel drum creations, Hot Water were fabulous. Now on their third album, concisely titled 'South', these guys are no strangers to overseas performances - and its no surprise. Tight, entertaining and distinctly African. Impressed I was!

Lunchtime was a cacophony of curried veggies and rice to a myriad of sounds from the Nomadic Orchestra. Very enjoyable as background sound, though I was deep in conversation about social entrepreneurship with an American uni student who was in Cape Town on an exchange programme, interning in an NGO and adding to our country's advancement. Music to my ears! Melinda Griffiths, the music director for the day says that these guys were her best act so it was with frustration that I hadn't given half an ear to their show! I'm sure they'll be moving around these parts soon!

Then there were The Bone Collectors - a rather oddball and entertaining bunch dressed in black and white - with the tall dude playing on some uniquely devised instrument, an open metal chest to be exact. It worked wonderfully, an idea worth spreading indeed!

This makes me think back to Roland Albertson who performed at a beach clean up a few weeks back in Cape Town. Once rubbish had been collected, they created some shakers from the litter that had been picked up. And so the local kids could join in with his acoustic performance, along with a friend of Roland's who played a piece of pipe like a flute!

Ideas worth spreading - music can be made from anything!

A surprise guest during the day's TED-like talks on topics of inspirational or informative matter, was Ard Matthews who aptly played Just Jinjer's first hit, Shallow Waters. This was very much in line with the theme of TEDxCapeTown, of 'Be water my friend', a theme which was presented on literally and figuratively! Ard was delightful and endearing, and his second acoustic offering upped the already thought-provoking air of the day as he sang Redemption Song with its anthemic chorus 'Peace, hope, more tolerance...'

Three gigs, and one special guest appearance all in one day! Wow, like a mini festival, but with so much more in the form of awesome talks on all sorts. Find out more, and watch some of the talks online at www.TEDxCapeTown.org

If only we could say that much like the human body, and the planet, being made up of 70% water - that our local radio stations were made up of 70% local music. Support local music! Music is life!

Rock on SA music flowing like water,

x

(Many thanks to Paul Ward for the photos!)

Rise above...

Who can resist a good cause, right!? Certainly not me, especially when it involves two things I love - music and the sea! This Sunday. South Africa. Cape Town. Muizenberg beach to be exact...

So if you're after a stroll along the beach, some live surf rock tunes or doing your bit to help awareness for the importance of looking after our beloved beaches and oceans, then be there!

Rock on good music and good causes,
x

ps. I nearly forgot to mention, Roland Albertson will be playing his acoustic surf rock, live on the beach - this will be a ve special performance as its his first gig back on home soil, or is that sand (",)

Worth the wait...

With a giggle I discovered that the very Julia whose 'Julia plus one' had gotten us into Civil Twilight weeks before, was in fact the same Julia Jakobsen who would be playing at The Waiting Room on Tuesday night in town...

Introduced to her by Chris Tait - both on that amazing night at The Assembly and now knowing that she was playing a little acoustic set before The Brothers Streep - and I was delighted to see someone new!

Julia is in fact Danish by birth, and has lived the world over - and most recently in mid 2010, was building popularity in her birth home with her band The Fireflies as they did superbly well on Denmark's X Factor! But cue Cape Town, where Jules has lived from 14 to age 22 - and where she considers home she says! We are totally digging that!

Beneath a thick fringe, she morphs her pouty red lips into many shapes as she babbles on between songs with stories and jokes that make you want to take her home and put her in a jar, and label it 'Fabulous friend - open when in need of laughs, giggles and good times!' She's natural and cute, and there's something a little awkward and hugely endearing about her. Oh, and the girl can sing. Boy, can she sing. And as she babbles on about too, she can also sing a lot about boys. Good stories in her songs. Good times.

One song with the line, 'You had me at hello and goodbye...' a heavy heart comes through in her creations, yet beautiful acoustic expression sets these lyrical bombs to light.

Then there are The Brothers Streep - of which Dylan with the dark hair and pink swoosh of a fringe had played money collector moments earlier. My friend Drew requested more than a dot on his hand - he wanted a zebra. Next up, I felt an Octopus was what I needed. To which our money collector drew an arrow to the octopus and wrote 'Paul'. I thought maybe he was tagging his work, much like any graffiti artist would, so when I asked him if his name was Paul, he just looked at me funny and said, 'I thought you'd get it...'

So I thought about it a second or three longer, and it dawned on me - oh yes, Paul the Octopus. Of course. To which I lifted my hand to my mouth and asked Paul who was to be the best band of the night. I listened, and waited... (we were in The Waiting Room afterall)

And Paul say, 'Something Streep'. So I told the dark-haired guy with the pink fringe, and at first he didn't get it. So I looked at him strangely, saying, 'I thought you'd get that...' He thought for a second or three and he got it.

So that was how the night began with interactions of The Brothers Streep. And it didn't get any less weird. 

If you come expecting music, you will get so much more from a Brothers Streep experience. And the fact that The Waiting Room have couches, instantly turned it into some sort of comedy show at best, or perhaps just like a live lounge act - in the comfort of a friend's really large living room, and with a serviced bar and good lighting.

I can't recall the first song. But they had me at the second song. Any band who can immortalise Steri Stumpie - or a song about 'flavoured milk' as they call it - gets my vote. 

In fact, I think I did a slightly over-zealous 'Yeah', when they announced that they had a song about flavoured milk. As a Nesquick chocolate milk girl of note, I just understand the passion. Plus Steri Stumpie in all its rainbow of flavours is just so incredible - I mean where else can you get bubblegum, creme soda, toffee caramel or banana milk at such convenience. Its not like you want to keep a permanent stash of creme soda Nesquick - but for that odd occasional craving, what better than a creme soda Steri Stumpie. (In fact, my new year's day 2011 started that way - firstly with a much-needed chocolate one, and topped with creme soda! I was creating a new version of the much needed 'groen ambulans'... the 'groen melk ambulans'!)

But back to their song. With lines like, 'How can we feel down when strawberry milk is still around?' and 'How can we feel glum when banana milk is filled with so much fun!' and the chorus which just captures the essence of any true flavoured milk lover... 'When the road is bumpy, drink a Steri Stumpie!'

Besides milk-inspired outputs, there was an Afrikaans song, a cover of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (hey Brad... Yes Janet...), a pirate song, a song about Disney princesses (why not?) and the immortalising of another South African institution... They did an ode to Joshua Doore (your uncle in the furniture business and all). Singing 'Joshua Doore, supplier of bathmats and hope for us all!'

Simon van Wyk and Dylan Hichens of The Brothers Streep

I think my favourite must have been the shopping song, a song about logic and arithmetic as they explain. '10 means 10 and less means less. 11 or 12 just wont do. So take your 27 items and get out of the express queue!'

I want to bottle them too and label them 'Fun times, laugh a minute. Good for road trips and around braai fires.' I mean really, who thinks of this stuff..?

Well, Simon van Wyk and Dylan Hichens I guess. And since taking their show to the Edinburgh Fringe last year its definitely got an international flair to it despite all the fab localisms. And then there was when they were live (on Skype) on the Graham Norton show last year some time too I think. Graham's team was interviewing Anna Pacquin on the show - and in their remit of bizarre research, they came across a little band in Cape Town who had done a song in honour of Anna. And 'APS' was its name - Anna Pacquin Syndrome. So their moment of bizarre international TV fame began that day. But it won't end at 15 minutes for these chaps. And if you wanna find out what APS is all about, you'll just have to get down to a live show yourself. 

As we drove home from town last night, curving down Hospital Bend - of which Julia had a song by that very name - I was sipping on my Steri Stumpie from the Orange Street Engen, an institution for late night stops on the way home (except as Drew pointed out, it was exceedingly quiet at midnight in comparison to 3am!) So, I was sipping my Steri Stumpie with a sense of ownership and pride in honour of the flavoured milk song that inspired my purchase. (Subliminal marketing perhaps? Do The Brothers Streep own shares in Steri Stumpie I wondered..?) 

And I was most chuffed to have discovered a new flavour on the Engen fridge shelf last night. Coffee my friends. Yes, Coffee. I'm surprised Steri Stumpie hadn't latched onto this clever flavour before!  Well, I do feel that The Brothers Streep need to add a new verse to their song in honour of Coffee (And I think its only fitting that they dedicate it to me, and especially since 'coffeee' rhymes so effortlessly with 'Sooosi' - I'll be following up on this!)

(Although I did ask Paul when I got home, and he says that Chocolate is always the ultimate winner!)

Its soon time to part with Paul as I wash away Dylan's delightful drawings and with it, the memories of the fabulous night before. (Oh, and I forgot to mention that I went back and requested a jellyfish too!) So both Paul and my elongated jellyfish will soon be at one with the water of life again.

This was my first full Brothers Streep show since seeing them play a few songs before Roland Albertson in London last year. And worth the wait! But apparently their full set is much longer. So I can't wait to experience more whacky wonderfulness in the future. And I def want to see Julia Jakobsen again - delightful!

Rock on weird and wonderful musical creations combined with comedy and flavoured milk,

x

Some of my favourite boys...

"Johnny, Jack and Jim - some of my favourite boys," so says the blonde bar owner in the film Coyote Ugly. Johnny Walker, Jack Daniels and Jim Beam of course...

Well, I have my own version from a while back. "Damien, Daniel, Donavon, Jack, John and Ronan - some of my favourite boys" (Sue Northam) 

My favourite singer songwriters of that time that is. Circa 2004 / 2005. Damien Rice. Daniel Bedingfield. Donavon Frankenreiter. Jack Johnson. John Mayer and Ronan Keating.

A lot of people may wonder how Ronan made that list. But what I must explain is that when I first moved to the UK, I had a list. (Another list from the fave boys list that is). And on that list were various things to do while I was in the UK. One of them was to see Ronan play live.

And another not so written down Ronan reason, was in fact that I wanted to marry him. There was the issue of the wife, and the kids. And the very squeaky clean life he'd lead (yes, I read the Ronan autobiography). I once thought I'd spotted him in Putney in fact. He was driving a beaten up Ford, and with the window rolled down on that hot summer's day, I spotted the same tattoos on the driver's arm as Ronan has... I was so sure it was him that I ran frantically down that high street, dodging people and pavement traffic. Heart-a-flutter. Heart-a-racing to be honest. I'm not entirely sure what I would have done had I caught up with the car. And though I didn't quite reach that beaten up Ford, I believe that it was Ronan driving down the road that summer's day. I had been that close.

My friend Em did spot him once on Oxford Street, and of course she texted immediately to tell me. But not only to tell me that she'd walked straight past him (no fair!), but that he was in fact quite short. Now Ems is already a gorgeously tall girl at approx 5 foot 9, or even 10... whereas I am just over 6 foot! Hmmm, why do celebs always look so much taller on screen and in photos! This was a fact I had not taken into consideration.

I guess I grew up a bit since my tween Ronan crush, plus I started to discover many more amazing musicians as I matured. Of which Daniel Bedingfield was a little big crush when I first got to London, around 2003. For any housemates of 8 Sprewell House, I sincerely apologise for all those 9am Saturday wake-up calls with Daniel's 'Girlfriend' blaring through the bottom floor of our house! But what a song! And that opening strumming til it kicks in...

"Giiiiirlfriend, you make my head start spinning around... And all I can hear is the sound of your heart beating in my ears. Giiiiiirlfriend, this boy has found another reason to sing... You're reminding me of everything that I hold dear in my heart!"

And I'm feeling elevated, lifted to my highest dreams. My whole world is revolving circles around your heart! You've got to be the one for me, or else life makes no sense... so wrap your arms around and kiss me til I'm dead! Giiiiirlfriend, a girl like you would take an army to find. How glad I am that you said you would be mine.... "

I was a true fan, even going to his Hammersmith Apollo show on my own when I could only find one ticket! Instead of being despondent, I went boldly and unashamedly by myself, singing along to every song!

Then there was Jack Johnson. Shared with me on a drive to Muizenberg in Cape Town, ahead of my first attempt at surfing with a friend and his dad's long board. How fitting. And I was hooked from first listen.

When I got to Thailand in 2004, everywhere we went they were playing Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales or On and On. And if they weren't playing it, I'd request it. What a soundtrack to an epic trip. Memories were made of it. I remember writing postcards one afternoon, outdoors and in sunshine, palm trees to my right, Jack in the background, a gorgeous man next to me - and the feeling that life couldn't get much better than this!

Then in 2005, Jack did a world tour. And he was coming to London. Except that I wasn't the only Super Fan. And tickets sold out instantly. And then they went onto the online black market where £300 a pop on Gumtree seemed a little excessive. So I did what any true fan would do - and checked out his other tour dates. I matched his tour schedule with where I had friends in the world. And Madrid was the winner!

£50 return flights from London into Madrid and out of Barcelona. Bargain. Plus £15 a ticket to see the one-and-only Jack Johnson - Bargain Of The Year! Did the Spanish not know, or appreciate who he is I wondered with exasperation!?

Tapas and small beers eased us on our way to the venue that balmy May evening in Madrid. And inside a venue with a life-size, and fabulously fake palm tree smack centre in the room, we were able to scooch up super close to that stage. I remember shaking for most of the concert. And calling my friend NPK all the way in Cape Town, still shaking from sheer delight as I held the phone up while singing along, engulfed in utter happiness.

You see, I was literally shaking - not a single photo in focus!

Plus it was through Jack, that I'd met Donavon. Knowing that Jack only hangs with awesomeness, I'd made the acquaintance with Donavon Frankenreiter outright - since he was opening for Jack's Madrid show, I'd bought Donavon's album without a pre-listen! And so I knew every one of Donavon's songs too. And so he also made it, quite quickly, onto my list of boys.

Then there was John Mayer. Our introduction was quite a surreal one. In a top-down Mustang while driving round Beverley Hills back in 2004, interspersed between The Eagles, was this man with an amazing voice - and the first song to grab me was the fabulous 'Your Body is a Wonderland'. Its been a love affair with me and John ever since. I've bought every album. From Room for Squares to Heavier Things which I immersed myself in, to sticking with him over the years as he's tried his jazz hand and other side projects. So he makes the fave list effortlessly.

So that's about everyone. Aaah, not forgetting Damien Rice. I remember hearing Canonball, and being impressed. But then I heard The Blower's Daughter on an ad on TV, and I went out and bought the album the next day without further interrogation. I knew instantly I'd found another one for my favourites list. That violin. That emotion. That voice! "I can't take my eyes off of you, I can't take my eyes off of you..."

Thinking about all those artists now, and the impact of their songs and their music, it takes me to a very special place and an amazing time of my travels and my London life!

Now, as always, what got me to thinking about this, was who I would be able to say are my favourite SA boys - singer songwriter boys that is. And oh my, its a growing list at best...

There are the ones who have long since held a place in my heart, such as Dave Owens, Shen Winberg, Nibs van der Spuy and more, to the newer discoveries including Jack Mantis with his intensely beautiful voice, and Joshua Grierson with his bluesy beautiful raw real sound. I'm a sucker for an acoustic guitar. And when the music makes me feel something, that's me, I'm finished. I'm theirs forever.

But you've heard me go on about Dave, Shen and Jack many times before. So I want to add some new ones to the gig blog mix for you to explore... Jasper Dick (very new to my listening repetoire and so fresh and new that he's practically still a secret), Chris Tait (with an abundance of material from his previous band Tait in 2003, with the ability to master styles from raw emotive to edgy rock, its hard to find a box for Chris, so let's not. And more on him separately I promise)... Then there's Roland Albertson (fresh surf style acoustic rock and with a new online project just released, more soon on this too)... and Dave Fisher who I met at Splashy Fen this year and played for us around our campfire, now he needs to get his stuff out there, he's got some beautiful melancholic songs! And then not forgetting the Ian Hendersons, James Stewarts and Farryl Purkiss'es of the male singer songwriter world who have been around for a while, and indeed are worth mentioning!

Aaah, Dave, Shen, Roland, Nibs, Farryl, Chris, Ian, Josh, Jasper, Jack and James... some of my favourite SA boys! (Sue Northam)

And to top an already awesome weekend, we're off to see James Stewart and his fabulous piano ability at Backsberg wine estate in Franschoek this afternoon!

Rock on amazing SA singer songwriters,
x

PS. For those of you who are wondering... near everything on that original London to do list has now been ticked off, well, except for seeing a real wild hedgehog. So as I head back to London in just over a week, it is hedgehogs I shall be looking for (and yes, I still get excited when I see foxes around the neighbourhood at night!) Cos once my hedgehog is ticked off, well my list will then be complete. And we all know what that means...

So I did indeed get to see my Ronan play live - and at an outdoor event in a natural amphitheatre at Kent Castle! It even rained on us, but it is England afterall. And I was not one to complain :)

Photo essay: Puma pop up night club

It was a windy Wednesday night in the Mother City. I was invited to attend the Puma Social Club launch along with singer songwriter Roland Albertson (and a whole other bunch of cool Capetonian music and sports personalities... from Faryll Purkiss and Jon Savage to Schalk Burger and Herschelle Gibbs)

We followed the neon lights to a room alive with pings and pongs, beats and buzz. Adjusting to our surroundings, we soon cottoned on to the concept...

Puma was honouring 'the after hours athletes'....        

Get it? In a room filled with chalk board walls, ping pong tables, photo booths and fun bars - all aimed at the 'late night sports sector' :)

We were entertained by a DJ (pictured) and also watched Jack Parow perform, aptly sponsored by Puma, as we gazed at neon pink symbols and pondered what they could be...

Ten-pin bowling, fussball, pool, table tennis, darts and karaoke... honouring the activities of the 'after hours athletes'.

(I'm sure they should have added a bottle too, as many consider drinking to be a serious sport :)

But not stopping there, Puma of course incorporated the shoe element of their business... and in a cool room at the back of the club bit, you could browse a gallery of shoes designed by local SA super stars. From breakdancer Vouks No Jokes, to SA style queen Lindiwe Suttle and rapper Jack Parow.

In honour of his original creations, Roland and I did a fun little photoshoot to really engage with Jack Parow's shoe creations...

And surely the best shoe of all - in true Jack Parow style.... and saving the best shoe for last...

But not only could our very own Jack Parows and Lindiwe Suttles create their own shoes... so could we! And using iPad's awesome touch technology, we settled in to design a shoe that suited our style. 

Roland got involved with a bit of this and a bit of that while designing his ultimate high top takkie (and I discovered that he has a strange liking of mustard yellow!?)

What a fun night Puma put on indeed - and more excitingly, this was not just for one night... in fact, this pop-up nightclub is still around for tonight and tomorrow night! So go and draw on the walls with chalk, play some table tennis, design a shoe, have a beer and who knows who you may spot hanging out in this cool conceptual club! 

Where you can find it... 120 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town (next to the Coral International Hotel)... and as I was told by someone in the toilet queue, apparently this was previously a car showroom and before that an Xtra shoe shop where she got her matric dance shoes for 40 bucks many years before! 

Puma's Social Club proves once again that Cape Town is brimming with creativity and filled with incredible conceptual and kick ass people!

Roland Albertson and Jack Parow hanging out with the after hour athletes!

Rock on Puma promoting SA music,

x

Roland is a rolling...

Amidst an awesome week of London summer, its a great place to be. But while Bafana have just been knocked out of the group round (in style with a win over France not forgetting), we have South Africa's flag and cities beeming at us from every TV channel you flick through! Its with great pride we see our nation getting such coverage, but not without the occasional tinge of 'I wish I was there'...


Roland Albertson, a singer songwriter from Johannesburg (who also lived the surfer lifestyle in Cape Town for a while), sings a great song - 'There's no place like home'.

He is playing in Camden on Friday, so to feel the sunshine of home amidst the awesome summer of London, get on down to see this talented and genuine songwriter perform his passion!

Rock on Roland,
x