“After midnight, we’re gonna chug-a-lug and shout. We’re gonna cause talk and suspicion..… Let it all hangout.” Holly molly can someone please read JJ Cale a bedtime story, we’re letting it all hang out way before midnight for three days straight.  So pal, do get your health insurance to cover ailments resulting from hyper excessive headbanging. Southern Pulse artist lineup for Sweet /Thing Oppikoopi guarantees your neck will be broken.

We’ve all once in our festival escapades missed out seeing the coolest acts perform. That sure is one hell of a bummer. Here at Southern Pulse we’re all about getting you to enjoy the sweet things in life without breaking a sweat. As a result this post will be the ultimate guide: with schedule times and stage names to all Southern Pulse artists confirmed for Oppikoppi Sweet/Thing. The guide is in three parts, so without any further shenanigans off to Day Uno.

It’s a little past midday,had your tent and survival gear all setup.Those good for nothing mates of yours running on African time are yet to arrive up. No need getting sulky and all blue, we’ve got a blues-rock band to do that for you. Aidan Martin with his band will tune you up and make you shake like Bo Diddley. The blues-rock trio comprising of Aidan Martin on guitars, mandolin and vocals, David Georgiades on drums and Benjamin Georgiades on bass guitar will be all you’ll be needing for the afternoon. Aidan Martin will be up on the Bruilof Stage at 13:00 letting it all hangout.

Ambient rays of the sun come beaming through the hills. A howling wolf awakes at twilight.In the shadows of a Stellenbosch vineyard lurks a hairy, gleaming-eyed monster called Spoegwolf (Spitting Wolf). The monster, seeking world domination, isn’t scary at all - unless, of course, you’re piss terrified of Afrikaans folk-rock. Spoegwolf consists of Danie du Toit on lead vocals and guitar, Chris von Wielligh on guitar and vocals, Albert van der Merwe on bass and vocals and Moskou du Toit on drums and vocals. At 17:00 on the Bruilof stage, Spoegwolf’s debut performance at Oppikoppi will take place. Have you ever witnessed wolves spitting folk tunes? Its an amazing sight that you can not forfeit.

Now taking you on a trip through Mississippi via the Balkans then to the land of rock with Joshua Grierson. The one-man folk/blues/alt-country/rock incarnation is quickly emerging as the performer to lookout for this year. He takes a modest array of acoustic influences (think Dylan, Springsteen, Ryan Adams…), adds a truckload of emotion, and then silently ferrets whole audiences away before they realize where they’ve got to. The most stirring performer in Cape Town will be taking the Kleia stage at 18:00.

They’re modern day storytellers, representing life through music in its most honest form like no man’s business. The Black Cat Bones this year will be presenting their new album,‘The Long Drive’. The album combines both the timeless energetic blues-rock sound of the band with a new, mature and innovative approach to their music. The boys from Silverton Swamps will be getting on James Phillips Stage at 18:00 doing the only thing they know how to do best.

Super skinny jeans, full sleeve tattoos, rampant tequila shots, crazy jam sessions, rad music videos, Sweet Voodoo to Delusions Of Grandeur, SGQ is TNT (They’re Not Tamable). The blues- rockers have being on a musical rampage for a decade; that calls for a massive throwdown. SGQ will be kicking off their 10-Year Celebration Tour at Sweet/Thing featuring special guest artists: Tamara Dey, Albert Frost, Shadowclub, The Black Cat Bones, Tidal Waves, David van Vuuren, Shotgun Tori, Jared Gunston (Chromium), Ampie Omo (BOO), Big Willy (Fuzigish), Franco Jamnek (Hoot n Anny), Justin Kruger & Conrad Jamnek! Catch the start of SGQ 10-Year Celebration Tour at the main stage, 19:00 prompt.

Tidal Waves will be skanking with us once more. Taking cues from music popular in townships and blending it into their own. They turn the Zulu-inspired mbaqanga, with the sparkling guitar licks and rich harmonies made popular worldwide by artists like Miriam Makeba, Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, into catchy reggae tracks. Breedren, if you’re seeking original irie vibes drop by the Main stage at 21:00. 

Grab some pilsner gather the lads and lassies, make your way through to Skelem Stage, do get there before 22:00; Germans hate waiting. Berlin’s Knorkator are an enigmatic and extraordinary band that masterfully and exquisitely combines mischievous antagonistic hardcore metal with subtle classical elements. Their live performances are legendary, bizarre roller coasters with a colorful motley crew of styles: walking a tightrope between swearing and gentle prose on one side and on the other solemn delusions of grandeur and infantile idiocy. The fully tattooed bald man and his two band mates will be spazzing out on the Skelem stage at exactly 22:00. Seriously, you don’t want to miss Knorkator.

Having had a blast with metal jacket Duitsers its time to rub shoulders with ons locals.

With Dave playing trumpet, keys and synth, Mvelo on bass and Mike laying down the beats on his electronic drumkit the trio just did you favor, no need looking up the meaning of the word kniff. The Kiffness will have you have you headbanging, doing the running man and even attempting some African pantsula with their mixture of vibrant “choons. Catch the Kiffness live in action at 23:00 on Bruilof stage.

Absolutely no man is allowed to lurk in the shadow of great blues men, unless you’re a member of the club. A lot has changed since 2007, the year Shadowclub appeared on the radar as Joburg’s blues men. Having recoded ‘Guns and Money’ in just 9 days, Shadowclub will be performing tracks off their new album at Sweet/Thing. The feel-good rockers will be make you shake your hips so hard King Presley might resurrect in envy. The boys will be on the Main stage at 23:00, catch them if can.

There you have it; that’s the first installment to the three-piece Sweet/Thing Southern Pulse guide. Keep stalking our blog for the second installment. Until then, enjoy tracks from the above-mentioned artists. So long for now.

By Dennis Acquaye

“Floating On Our Tears And Your Tears”

A veneer of profound sophistication glazes over the quality of Dear Reader’s music. Dare to delve beyond the crust and one is confronted with an aura of life’s mystic simplicity.

Dear Reader, spearheaded by the songwriter Cherilyn MacNeil took off as a collaborative project with the producer/bassist Darryl Torr in 2006. Hailing from Johannesburg under the Harrison Tweed pseudonym, the two released “Younger” their first album in 2006.

Two years later having ditched Harrison Tweed for Dear Reader, the duo released their sophomore album” Replace Why With Funny”. Through a licensing deal with Berlin based Über hip label CitySlang, “Replace Why With Funny” was released in Europe. In support of the album Dear Reader embarked on an extensive tour in South Africa and Europe. The tour’s European success earned Dear Reader the unofficial title as ambassadors of South African alternative folk music.

Four years and two albums later the musical partnership between the two came to a cordial end.  Dear Reader’s third chapter was to commence: starting off with MacNeil relocating to Berlin and Dear Reader enduring as her solo project.

Having undergone a change in name, parting ways with longtime creative partner and moving out of her hometown seem to have nurtured MacNeils’ creative spirit. In September 2011, ‘Idealistic Animals’ Dear Reader’s third album was released. MacNeil in an interview with BerlinBeat described the new album as being very personal and a lot heavier than the previous two.

Idealistic Animals is partly a search for life’s meaning, and phenomenology into the insignificant difference between humans and lesser intelligent species. The album’s central theme revolves around MacNeil’s quest to fill the void left by her loss of faith in Christianity. Now you have an idea of what she meant by the record being heavier. Idealistic Animals as a whole is a collection of melancholic reflections woven intricately with poetic symbolism of personification.

In Idealistic Animals, MacNeil approaches and presents her experience with great transparency. Her candid portrayal of emotions and sense of confusion is concealed within the lyrics, bringing forth her colossal talent as a songwriter. 

Adding to the lyrics’ sincerity is MacNeil’s remarkable voice – pure and passionate yet gentle. Her soothing voice at times masquerades the sense of confusion and bitterness she temporally inhabits along the path to finding life’s meaning.

The album’s uniqueness can only be attributed the context of its conception: MacNeil’s total devotion to seeking out a new way to exist. The album’s entire track-list consists of names found primarily in the animal kingdom, excluding Homo sapiens. Alternative folk music does not get any rad than Idealistic Animal, that my dear reader you will not find on Wikipedia nor Lastfm. Try iTunes, take a listen and judge for yourself.

A Wiseman once proclaimed: “home is where your heart is, where you plant a seed and where love got your back”. Couldn’t figure out for sure what the Wiseman meant but Dear Reader does. To that effect, Dear Reader will be returning to African soil, South Africa to be exact and share with us her latest material for the first time ever. The Dear Reader Home Grown SA Tour consists of four spectacular days across four cities. Follow the link for exact dates and cities.

For Press related inquiry contact: liam@southernpulse.co.za

By Dennis Acquaye

Now, for your viewing pleasure!

Do not panic you’re not in stuck in a traffic jam somewhere in Bombay nor will you be witnessing pigs being sacrificed for entertainment; Bombay Show Pig is the name progressive indie rock is their motive.

Bombay Show Pig is a Dutch indie rock outfit consisting of Mathias Janmaat and Linda van Leeuwen, BSP stormed the scene with their debut EP ‘Baby, It’s A Face’.  The EP was far from run of the mill sort of records rookie bands are accustomed to dishing out. Listening to ‘Baby, It’s A Face’ left all audiophiles mind wondering for BSP’s quintessential take on indie rock took the music world by surprise.  Ascribing to no traditions pertaining only to the essence of crafting their own sound is the band’s forte.

After having successfully penetrated the Balkans and Benelux live music scene, BSP’s had its sights on wider horizons. In the wake fans dehydrated eardrums thirsting for more, the band packed their gear and went beneath the radar.

Now, ‘Show Pig is back with a bang! And the bang will surely result in you having an auditory orgasm. BSP resurfaced with a recalibrated musical bearing.  Their new minimalistic approach might be synonymous to Jack and Meg White but far from the Icky Trump days of the White Stripes. Casual comparison to Yeah Yeah Yeah’s is plausible yet no way accurate for Bombay Show Pig sounds only like the Bombay Show Pig. Attesting to BSP’s absolute aesthetic dexterity is their debut full-length album, Vulture/Provider, released 3^RD of May and performed for the first time at Noorderslag Festival. The album has being deemed by Hilly Dilly as an eye opener in the clustered indie sphere.

Vulture/Provider deviates from the band’s earlier records, by ditching the bluesy soul vocals and eerie cries from the first EP.  In its place is the striped down musical configuration exemplary of the cross-Atlantic duo, the Kills. With Linda on drums and Mathias on guitar, both majestically taking turns in delivering their signature stoic vocals at full throttle. The 13-track album received favorable response amongst critics and fans alike, whilst simultaneously broadening the band’s fan base. Riding high on the back of a successful album is an extensive tour spanning two months across two continents.

Wishing to catch a glimpse of them? Well….guess what?! Southern Pulse brings you the exclusive Bombay Show Pig South African Tour, seven spectacular days across four cities. Enjoy a peek at the official video for Sancho Panza off the new album. Do snatch a ticket whilst you can, cause BSP tickets are sort of a double bacon curry sandwich they don’t stay on the selves for long. Click the here for complete tour dates and cities.

Press related enquiries | liam@southernpulse.co.za

Southern Pulse is quintessentially focused on providing artists to venues, and venues to artists, and with this simple, yet effective cataclysmic-type business model in mind, there weren’t many avenues we found that we could not explore in terms of venue-meet-artist and vice versa - with artist on the one hand, and venue/gig on the other, we are at a loss INflexibility…

With that, we avail the Electronic Division of Southern Pulse - a coming of age to bookings and artist management in the previously ‘instrument’ dominated arena. Since it’s conception not yet a handful of months ago, we’ve signed some significance in the genre.

The Kiffness, hailing from dance music aristocracy, the dynamic threesome blend a tasty fusion of funk, jazz and swing styles underneath modern synthetics, drum layers and loops. The trio have been booked for several shows in and around JHB, and are set to make a huge impression in the scene, and certainly pave the way for new electronic artists in Southern Pulse.

Have a listen to some of their music on their Facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/thekiffness

For bookings contact Brogan at : brogan@southernpulse.co.za

Karen Zoid will take to The Fugard Theatre stage this Friday, 13 April to launch her latest album, Zoid Afrika. The Fugard Theatre’s historical symbolism is clear in that it is nestled in District 6; a symbolism which seems to agree with the satirical undertones and social commentary that are weaved throughout Zoid’s new album.

Zoid – exclusively signed to Southern Pulse for bookings - is much accomplished with her fifth album release but one of several of Zoid’s incredible achievements which range from a SAMA award for Best Female Artist and having her songs studied by first year students at universities.

Zoid’s edginess penetrates her writing, singing and performance insuring that every performance is better then her last and totally unforgettable.

The show is on Friday, 13 April 2012 and starts at 8:45pm with tickets costing between a R110 and R140 per person.

For any queries please contact Southern Pulse on roxana@southernpulse.co.za or +27 71 434 6278.

2 days left… :)

Performances by Tidal Waves, Dance,You’re On Fire, Zebra & Giraffe, Hog Hoggidy Hog, 4AM, Southern Gypsy Queen, Shadowclub and The Black Cat Bones gurantee a super weekend!

FanRaiser: The Future of the South African Music Industry?http://www.musicreview.co.za/2012/03/13/fanraiser-the-future-of-the-south-african-music-industry/

Please share the article, comment on it, etc - any and all punting is SO appreciated, lets help Catlike Thieves and Tidal Waves reach their dreams! :)

South African talent makes music with legendary international artist Maxi Jazz, of Faithless…

Check-out the press: http://www.mio.co.za/article/mio-exclusive-trenton-free-radical-collaborate-with-international-star-2012-02-22

Check-out the track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlPQx2sZ2RU

ELEMOTHO to perform at the Volkswagen 50^th Anniversary celebration in Berlin, Germany (15 March 2012)

Already starting 2012 with a bang, the beginning of March sees Namibia s most touring musician invited to perform exclusively at Volkswagen 50^th Anniversary celebration that will take place at the German Historical Museum in Berlin on 15^thMarch. With an event where the president of the German Federal Republic and other dignitaries will be present, ELEMOTHO is indeed honoured to have been selected among so many artists not only from Namibia, but Africa and the whole globe to perform at such event. It seems many years of endurance, originality and creativity are starting to pay off for this humble yet musically outspoken artist. This invitation will lead to a European Tour of ELemotho’s Quartet, where they will be sharing his sounds in Germany (Belin, Frankfurt, Brandburg and Heidelberg) as well as in Spain (Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona). This Kalahari born artist has also been invited by the Alliance Francais de la Cote to perform on the 3^rd of March 2012 in Swakopmund at the Desert Tavern, before taking his crew on the road to the European Continent.  Last but not least, Elemotho is happy to announce that his song Kgala!Namib has been selected by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism as the theme song for Namibian bid to host the Adventure Tourism Summit 2013.

For more information on Elemotho, please go to www.elemotho.com or please contact the artist at +264812358851 or management at +264812835982.

@Shadowclub team-up with @Ashtray Electric for a night at Mercury Live that will rock your socks right off! :)

Some of Southern Pulse’s Jo’burg staff have relocated to new office space inside the Hilltop Live offices in Pretoria…

Brogan - booking agent for Catlike Thieves - says: “Today we moved into our new space at the PTA offices, and we all get to sit on big couches and work.. its awesome”. Want to find out more, ask Brogan at: brogan@southernpulse.co.za

Southern Pulse is proud to announce the exclusive signing of Idols 2011 winner, David Van Vuuren, for bookings and management in South Africa. David skyrocketed into the hearts of all South Africans after he won the prestigious nationwide competition which had over several million dedicated viewers in it’s broadcast.

Walking away the South African Idols winner of 2011 was not only a dream come true for Joburg bred David Van Vuuren, but the key to a universe he had been desperate to discover since he was a mere 5 years old. If it’s true that some people are born as messengers of some sort, then David Van Vuuren is not only a messenger of optimism, love, light and spirituality, but of music that takes you to that place in the blink of an eye. 

A mere 21 years old, David Van Vuuren already knows what his calling is. A believer in the fact that you have to follow your heart and soul in order to be happy and to achieve inner peace, David immersed himself in music from an early age and has never given up on his dream. “I feel as human beings we should be following our souls and our hearts and because of the state of the world unfortunately it’s quite a struggle for many to do that”.  

David Van Vuuren and his band promise to offer an electrifying and highly entertaining performance to everyone who comes out to watch them. David Van Vuuren will be touring the country non-stop in 2012, taking his music to all corners of South Africa. Tour dates will be announced soon but his first show with Southern Pulse will take place at Tanz Café, Fourways in Johannesburg on the 23rd of March 2012. Be sure to get there to witness the sheer brilliance of this talented artist who personifies hard work and integrity.

David Van Vuuren’s debut album entitled ‘David Van Vuuren - Free The Animals’ is available in all leading retail and online outlets via Universal Records. Already the album is creating quite a buzz in the industry and will also be available at all live shows David performs. 
 

For booking and managerial enquiries, please contact Mike Pocock on +27 82 294 0946 or mike@southernpulse.co.za 

Last week Friday, Mike, Brogan, Alan and I went to a music Network meeting in Rosebank. The meeting featured two music greats, Sat Bisla, founder of A&R Worldwide and Musexpo and Martin Elbourne, band booker for Glastonbury festivals and former booking agent of The Smiths. Two seemingly plain looking men with more experience than anybody in the room and so much charisma about their passion for what they do.

We went to investigate what it takes to get on to major festivals like Glastonbury and how to make it big worldwide. What we discovered from their conversations was that there is so much more to this industry than we had imagined and quite frankly most local bands are just going about it all wrong.

According to Martin, to make it big overseas one needs to spend time in the new territory. One week in a city is simply not enough. You need to rent a house for a few months, he says, and live amongst the locals, pick up their trends, find out where they hang out. One of the biggest mistakes that South African artists make is going to places like London where South Africans make up a fair percentage of the population and play where the immigrants hang out. If you’re playing to a South African crowd, sure you’re packing up venues but you’re not actually introducing your sound to new ears. Those South Africans are most likely just watching you because you’re familiar and a piece of the home that they left behind when they moved there. You need to play to new crowds, new ears and put yourself in line for new opportunities. It’s not like a movie where you show up at a venue and there’s a whole bunch of media folk just hanging out amongst the crowd. In fact, in the UK, you won’t find any media representatives out on the weekends. They go to shows from Monday to Thursday. If you spend only a week in the UK, that means that it’s likely the media will only see one or two of your gigs which, considering how many options they have for new talent, is not enough to even leave a dent in their interest. Martin also says that you WILL NOT be considered for a UK or USA festival unless you have a booking agent based in those areas or Europe. South Africa’s agents are not internationally recognized as yet.

According to Sat, who has worked with artists like Coldplay, The Temper Trap and Keane, the music industry and how successful you become is all about networking. You need to go out and meet people, make contacts, shmooze a bit. Hang around before gigs, stick around after and meet your fans. Interact with the people who are potential buyers of your talent. If you only spend your time worrying about who is the biggest, most important person to make it big and make you money, then you’re going to miss out on the smaller people that can push you in the right direction. Someone at the meeting asked how one judges how much to charge for gigs, Martin simply said, “Play for free”. Some gigs are worth the exposure. If you just want to make money and you don’t have passion for the music then you are in the wrong industry. If you want people to hear your music, play for free a couple of times and build a fan base.

You can’t restrict yourself. “You need to consider yourself a citizen of the planet,” Sat says. “Music knows no boundaries.” If you have a local mentality then your mind is only going to have a local reach. If you think bigger than you are then slowly it shall be. Bands in this country are very quick to blame the industry and comment that there isn’t one. If every band in South Africa believes there is no industry, then it will become so. Just because you’re not an overnight sensation doesn’t mean that the industry is against you, it just means that you need to have faith in your talent and the industry will begin to have faith in you. - GINA, SOUTHERNPULSE

The new Coldplay video shot in South Africa. Gina’s favourite song! ♥

NEW BAND WATCH: ARCTIC JINN

Arctic Jinn are making waves with their fresh, funky and vibrant new sound that’s groovy and energetic. The band, consisting of, Tiego Tsolanku (lead vocals), Jason Odendaal (Bass Guitar), Nick McCreadie (Drums), Jason-Paul (acoustic and electric guitars) and Stephen Aiken (Keyboards/backing vocals), started as a school production in their Matric year in 2009. Ever since then they have lost and gained new members, and enjoyed each others energy, creating music comprised of each members individual sound and taste.

Friday night saw the release of their new single “Sweetest Nightmare” that can be downloaded off their facebook page free of charge, and should be followed by a CD release in the future. They have admitted that they have been inspired by fellow South African bands- Zebra and Giraffe and New Academics, and with Nick keeping the comedy in the group alive and Jason O keeping them grounded, there’s no doubt that this band is going places, and taking a stream of fans with them.

They can be reached on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace- where informtion on future gigs will be provided.