SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE #215 http://www.sarockdigest.com Established 27th January 1999 25th August 2003 ---------------- EDITOR'S NOTE ---------------- This week is South African Music Week - a uniquely South African concept that mixes elements of "local is lekker", the "proudly South African" campaign, and Family Day, into a week-long spotlighting, highlighting, boosting and celebrating of the wonderful music and musicians from our very musical land. As always, this annual Government-sponsored initiative arouses a wide range of opinions about its value, timing, worth and effect from across the SA music spectrum, but we're not going to get involved in all that. Below you will find some info on SAMW 2003 - the gigs, the workshops, the video and booklets sent to schools across the country, and the folk who organise this whole thing. They have a website at samw.co.za so you can also have a look there. We feel it's commendable of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and the MIDI people to roll up their sleeves and pitch in once a year to give SA music the marketing boost it obviously could use. And it gives the rest of us an opportunity for an SA Music Week off! So there will be no Digest on Monday 1st September - Digest #216 will only be out on Monday 8th September, provided this current wave of virus-infected spam email has not conquered cyberspace by then. If you miss any issues of the Digest, then you can still read each week's edition online at http://rock.co.za (updated Tuesdays). You can also find all the previous editions of the Digest archived at: http://www.sarockdigest.com/archives The deadline for Digest submissions and SA gig info is Friday 12 noon. If you would like to contact us, please do not reply to this newsletter! Rather send an email to mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=Digest Thanks! Ed. PS. So, just for this week... please ... go to a gig, buy a SA CD, throw some coins in a busker's hat, join the SA Music Quota Coalition, whistle 'Paradise Road', or do anything to show that you care about SA music. If it feels good, then do it some more during the year! -------------- IN THIS ISSUE -------------- SA Music Week... freshlyground ... Soweto String Quartet ... 'Sugar Man' returns ... Battle Of The Bands Finals ... The Rollin' Tour .... New Henry Ate Release ... Benguela's 'Sui' ... Morning Haze... Splashy Fen CD... Factory's 'Industrial Rock' ... Carina's OppiKoppi Review ... Readers' letters to Sound Solutions ... Charts ... Recommended Live Events ... with a full list of those concerts and all the details at http://www.SAgigs.com ------------------------------------- SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK DIGEST ONLINE ------------------------------------- For a full-colour and clickable HTML version of the SA Rock Digest with images, please visit http://rock.co.za where the online version of the SA Rock Digest can be found. Updated every Tuesday. -------------------------------------------- SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK DIGEST ON THE RADIO -------------------------------------------- Digest co-editor Stephen Segerman presents his SA music slot on the Bruce Millar Show on SAfm (103-106fm) on Monday evenings between 9 and 9.30pm. ----------------------------------------- THE SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK ENCYCLOPEDIA ----------------------------------------- http://www.rock.co.za From Abstract Truth to Karen Zoid, from 'Astra' to 'Zen Boulders', from 'Ag Pleez Daddy' to 'ZX Dan'... visit the South African Rock Encyclopedia at http://www.rock.co.za ------------ SAGIGS.com ------------ The SA Rock Digest list of Recommended Gigs can be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com ----------------------------- ONE WORLD ONLINE CD STORE ----------------------------- Selling South African Music to the World http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 ----------- CONTENTS ----------- 1.NEWS: SA Music Week 2003, freshlyground's new single and album, Cape Band Finalists. 2.CHARTS: Top 30 SA mp3s & albums 3.NEW RELEASES: SA mp3s & CDs: 'Sugar Man' returns, Henry Ate, Benguela, Morning Haze. 4.USA FOR AFRICA: 'Splashy Fen: Celebrating 10 Years' 5.A NAARTJIE IN THE UK: Factory - 'Industrial Rock' 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA: Springbok Radio charts, birthdays, Vinyl Junkies 7.SOUND SOLUTIONS: A Readers' Forum 8.LIVE MUSIC: Events round-up, SA Punk, OppiKoppi 2003 9.INFO: Subscriptions & contributions _____________________________________________ 1.NEWS -------- SA MUSIC WEEK 2003 Saturday 23 August to Saturday 30 August "Learning and Jiving - A New Focus for South African Music Week" South African Music Week, now in its third year, is the annual seven days on the musical calendar dedicated to uplifting SA music in all its forms. The 2003 event will see learners (that's "school kids" in new SA speak - Ed.) nationally being exposed to a 30-minute video on careers in the music industry. Also, all nine provinces will have new emerging artist concerts taking place under the Music In Public Places (MIPP) banner, and other live music events. In a bid to promote greater understanding of careers in the SA Music Industry, the MIDI Trust has produced a 30-minute video, featuring Zola, Hugh Masekela and other renowned South African musicians and practitioners, which will be distributed free to 1200 schools nationally during SA Music Week. The video highlights some of the careers in the music industry - from lighting engineer to artist management - and informs learners of the specific requirements needed to embark on each career. Music in Public Places (MIPP), now in its second year, will roll out nationally taking music to audiences across the country for a week of free concerts in public places and spaces. In addition there are a number of other live events taking place under the Music Week umbrella. South African Music Week retains its primary partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture, whilst forging a new strategic partnership with Department of Education. New relationships have also been formed with the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and MTN Free 2 Speak. The South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) continues to support this project having been a sponsor since its inception. Should you require a video for your school, call Mike Sema on 011 834 1717 mailto:Mike-sema@samw.co.za All SA Music Week info, gigs, workshops at www.samw.co.za -------------- FRESHLYGROUND TO RELEASE DEBUT SINGLE, VIDEO, ALBUM, AND WEBSITE Things take their own sweet time in Cape Town, even if your group's name is freshlyground! This sprawling, seven-person musical family has been consistently collecting fans at their acclaimed live concerts over the past 16 months since they formed in early 2002, and are now about to make a lot of those people very happy with the launch of their debut jazz-pop single, 'Castles', its very cool accompanying video, and their first full album titled 'Jika Jika'. All will be revealed at the official Launch party to be held at Studio One in Cape Town on Friday 5 September. freshlyground's sound has been adventurously described as "Indigenous African folk mixed with jazz, reggae and dance hall music" but is truly a distinct combo of the different styles of the members of the group. The current line-up is Zolani Mahola (vocals, acoustic guitar), Josh Hawks (bass guitar, vocals), Aron Turest-Swartz (keyboards, vocals, percussion), Kyla-Rose Smith (violin), Simon Attwell (flute, mbira, harmonica), Justin Tonkin (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, sax), and Peter Cohen (drums). Vocalist Zolani is the pivotal focus of the group, and only joined after unofficially auditioning while singing loudly from the audience at an early gig when the group was known as Origin. The name was later unanimously changed to freshlyground during an Armchair gig in April 2002, when Zolani asked The Armchair crowd to vote on a new name for the band! The members of freshlyground are a workable blend of youth, experience and all-round musical talent. Zolani (22) has also studied drama at UCT, and landed the lead role of "Boniswa" in the high profile SABC1 television drama series, 'Tsha-tsha'. Josh Hawks was a stalwart of the early '90's Cape Town rock scene with groups like The Streaks and the Zap Dragons. Aron brings his incredible singing voice and composing skills, and Kyla-Rose has taught violin at outreach programs and travelled with the Vuyani Dance Theatre to perform at Centre de la Dans in Paris, for which she co-wrote the music and performed as principal violinist. Simon played the flute at age 15 in the Zimbabwe National Orchestra and at seventeen won a scholarship to Chethams School of music in Manchester. Justin has had the odd guitar lesson here and there, but is for the most part self-taught. On drums is SA music "veteran", Peter Cohen, who spent many years with Mango Groove following his successful Bright Blue days. Although still writing material for and performing with Bright Blue, Peter Cohen has been providing freshlyground with their essential, rock-solid groove. The launch of freshlyground's debut CD, 'Jika Jika', and their new website (www.freshlyground.com) will take place on Friday 5 September at Studio One (186 Bree Street, Cape Town). freshlyground will be playing, supported by DJ Tooti Frooti. Doors open at 9-30pm and entrance is R30. There is also a very cute video for 'Castles', featuring the band on an aircraft with Zolani as the air hostess, and that will also get an airing at the launch. The CD will also be on sale for the first time ever at the launch. But from then on it will also be available from the following outlets and sites: - African Music Store, Long Street, Cape Town - CD Wherehouse, Waterfront, Cape Town - One World - http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 or www.freshlyground.com For more information, e-mail mailto:freshlyground@webmail.co.za -------------- FINALISTS NAMED IN THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS Six bands will contest the 'Cape Town Battle of the Bands' finals at the Dockside Club in Century City on August 31. They are Gayan, The Idiots, Jam Rockers, Metallic Sunn, Nu Trend and Shelac Proof. The Battle series at Dockside is a revival of the Battle of the Bands, which was a huge attraction in the 'sixties and early 'seventies in Cape Town and pioneered open-air pop festivals in South Africa. Each band will be judged on stage presentation, musical ability and audience response. Only the music of the '60's era may be played. Cash prizes for the top three bands will be awarded. There will also be awards for the best lead and bass guitarists and the best drummer, keyboard player and vocalist in the opinion of the panel of judges. The judges are Mynie Grové, Derek Marks, Al Etto, Jerry Barnard, Stavro Michel and Peter Sorrell. -------------- SOWETO STRING QUARTET - NEW ALBUM AND ANNIVERSARY IN SEPTEMBER September will see the Soweto String Quartet celebrating its 25th Anniversary in the music industry. This will coincide with the official release of their much-anticipated fifth album, titled 'Our World'. The group's previous four albums were 'Zebra Crossing', 'Renaissance', 'Millennia', and 'Four'. For the first time ever, on 'Our World', Soweto String Quartet will perform an uplifting version of 'Summertime', featuring Khanyo Maphumulo on vocals, with the lyrics translated into Zulu (another historical first) by Concord Nkabinde, with a distinct home-grown twist. Although the group's members - Reuben (cello), Sandile (principal violin), Thami Khemese (second violin) and long time friend Makhosini Mnguni (viola) - work hard at expanding their international career, at its essence, this world-renowned quartet is as rooted to the soil of Africa as the Baobab tree. The members explained: "A global music is what we are continually searching for and Our World reflects how far we've moved into creating that sound, whilst remaining true to our heritage and returning to the heart of the South African nation". Other classic tracks on the album include 'Take Five' (SSQ goes reggae), a medley of Afrikaans songs (including 'Sarie Marais'), a spiced-up cover of Foreigner's 'I Want To Know What Love Is' (featuring Zulu lyrics by Khanyo Maphumulo), and an exquisitely rendered version of 'Pavan For A Dead Princess'. 'Our World' was produced by Bruce Cassidy and features the gifted pianist and composer, Themba Mkhize, pianist Johan Laas, multi-instrumentalist Pops Mohamed, bassist Concord Nkabinde, horn player Moses Khumalo, singer Khanyo Maphumulo, and the International Festival Orchestra amongst many others. SSQ will be celebrating their illustrious musical career spanning 25 years with friends and guest artists Vusi Mahlasela, Pops Mohamed, Ballet Theatre Afrikan and many others on Saturday, 13 September at the BIG TOP ARENA in CARNIVAL CITY. The event is open to the public and tickets are available through Computicket. -------------- THE ROLLIN' PARTY IN CAPE TOWN The Rollin' Party is happening in Cape Town on Sat 13 September. If you haven't been keeping tabs on Cape Town's original pop, rock, punk and ska scene this past year, this single event should bring you up to date. The Rollin' Party involves three venues, six of Cape Town's finest original bands, a bus with loads of free stuff on it, all for just R100 (if you get your tickets early). The party takes place on a bus that will travel around the Peninsula, starting at 4pm from The Mercury Live (43 de Villiers Street, Cape Town - The Shack Complex). The bus will travel first to The Whammy Bar in Tableview, where the excellent pop and rock outfits Cruel April and Death By Chocolate will kick off the entertainment. Thereafter, the party moves to the Independent Armchair Theatre, where the ska and punk chaos of Hog Hoggidy Hog and the Rudimentals will make you bounce. The final trek will bring everyone to the Mercury Live, where the dynamic hard rock duo Scarlet Host and Soulja will round off the ultimate travelling party. More about the bands: Death By Chocolate boast a strong fanbase in their native Tableview. Through the past year or so DBC has evolved into a solid live act with some pretty impressive rock tunes. Cruel April are an energetic three-piece who have fine-tuned their ability to entertain almost any crowd at any given occasion with fun pop-rock take-offs and harder driving riff-rock. Hog Hoggidy Hog are probably the longest running band in the line-up. The recently rejuvenated Hog ensemble is still causing chaos everywhere it goes, and who can really be surprised? Ska and punk at its absolute best. Rudimentals are stylish and suave, fun and fantastic. Successfully moulding ska, punk, ragga, and - just occasionally - dub, Rudis are probably the city's hardest working eight-piece band. Scarlet Host has been serving up dynamic live sets this year. One never knows what to expect from these costume-wearing, stage-decorating, practical joke-wielding progressive metal rockers. Soulja has been the most prolific of the city's rock bands in 2003. Hard work has resulted in one of the largest fanbases for a rock band in Cape Town, and that fanbase identifies with the sometimes aggressive, often-mesmerising hard rock message that Soulja conveys. Now there are several reasons why you should be on the bus: This is the first time that Cape Town's live rock venues have collaborated on a single event of this nature; You won't have to drive! And there'll be lots of free stuff on the bus, including goodies, drinks, and special offers. Venues and bands: Whammy Bar - Cruel April; Death By Chocolate Independent Armchair Theatre - The Rudimentals; Hog Hoggidy Hog The Mercury Live - Scarlet Host; Soulja The bus departs from Mercury Live at 4pm, and gets back for the final leg to end at midnight. It's simply too good to pass up. And it's limited to 100 seats! Contact: Anton Marshall URGE EVENTS MEDIA 072 2047539 ----------------------------------- 2.CHARTS ---------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3s OF THE WEEK http://www.SAmp3.com 1. [1] (1) Make It Your System - Lazarus ('Parallax View'/Indie) 2. [4] (2) Summer Sun - Zen Arcade ('Release'/Indie) 3. [2] (2) Geek - Jakkie Louw en Daai Band ('Klein Karoo Cowboy'/Afrimusik) 4. [3] (3) Fallacy - Not My Dog (Wolmer) 5. [9] (5) Affliction - Scarlet Host ('Do It Yourself Volume 1' EP/Indie) 6. [5] (2) Hillary - Mitsoo (Indie) 7. [15] (7) The Meaning Of Goodbye - James Stewart (Street Level) 8. [12] (8) Springbok Sampler - Springbok Nude Girls (Sony) 9. [6] (1) Fallen - Velve (Single/Street Level) 10. [14] (10) House (mix) Of The Rising Sun - Hot RS ('I Get So Excited'/EMI) 11. [8] (1) Madiba 1990 - Bright Blue (SAmp3.com/Bright Productions) 12. [11] (6) War - 12th Avenue (Demo/Indie) 13. [7] (2) Ugly - Springcan ('Wicked Demos'/WickedRock) 14. [19] (14) Milk Cow Blues - Delta Blue ('Inbluesstation/Merchant Records) 15. [10] (5) Race Past The Sun - Dolly Rockers ('Glory Glory'/Indie) 16. [25] (16) Humanarium - Bed On Bricks (Indie) 17. [18] (17) Makweru - Tananas ('Splashy Fen'/3eM) 18. [17] (17) Save Your Love For Me - Grant Nuss ('Diversity'/Indie) 19. [13] (1) Donkey Rattle - Felix Laband ('4/4 Down The Stairs'/African Dope) 20. [24] (20) Master Jack - David Marks ('The Hidden Years'/3eM) 21. [28] (21) Cosmo Girl - The Fallen (Indie) 22. [20] (3) Paralyzer - Ghetto Muffin ('Paralyzer'/Milestone) 23. [21] (12) Die Mamba - Piet Botha ('Die Mamba'/Rhythm Records) 24. [26] (24) Fabulous Day (Kwaito Mix) - Redd-Angel (Sexy Records) 25. [30] (25) Jaded Mind - Morning Haze (Indie) 26. [16] (3) Let's Get Naked - Evolver (Demo/Indie) 27. [22] (5) Bleed - Loogaroo ('Loogaroo'/Indie) 28. [-] (28) Crystal Clear - Seven Day Story (Indie) 29. [-] (29) Let Me Know - Ystervark ('Living It Up'/Indie) 30. [29] (2) Drop 'n Roll - Track 4 (Demo/Indie) -------------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS OF THE WEEK http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts This week [last week] (highest position) Title - Artist (Label) 1. [2] (1) No Warning - Jo Day (Legend) 2. [3] (2) Rocking Against The System Vol 2 - Various (RetroFresh) 3. [4] (3) Release - Zen Arcade (Indie) 4. [5] (4) Kicking and Screaming - Toxic Shame (Legend) 5. [1] (1) Chasing The Sun - Karen Zoid (EMI) 6. [10] (6) Back Seat Driver - Tait (Fresh) 7. [12] (7) Klein Karoo Cowboy - Jakkie Louw (Afrimusik) 8. [9] (8) Inbluesstation - Delta Blue (Merchant) 9. [13] (9) The First Lady And The Boys - Tamara Dey (Gallo) 10. [7] (7) The Present Is Passed (The Best Of) - No Friends of Harry (RetroFresh) 11. [6] (2) Homegrown Vol 2 - Various (EMI) 12. [8] (1) TNTLC - BOO! (BMG) 13 [20] (13) Drop The Debt - Various (Sheer) 14. [11] (9) Roger Lucey - 21 Years Down The Road (3eM) 15. [23] (15) The Remix Collection - Brenda Fassie (EMI) 16. [14] (2) Healing Destination - Mac McKenzie and The Goema Captains Of Cape Town (Afribeat) 17. [16] (1) Die Mamba - Piet Botha (Rhythm) 18. [24] (18) Sui - Benguela (Open Record) 19. [17] (6) Amandla! - OST (BMGSA) 20. [18] (1) Wrapped In Stone - Watershed (EMI) 21. [26] (21) Slow Rain (The Complete Celtic Rumours) - Celtic Rumours (Retro Fresh) 22. [19] (1) Mellow Drama - Phringe (USM) 23. [15] (3) Paralyzer - Ghetto Muffin (Milestone) 24. [29] (24) Johnny Clegg - A South African Story - Live (Value) 25. [22] (2) Ceremony - Cofield Mundi (Fresh) 26. [21] (3) Uit Ons Koppe Uit - Ekstra Dik (Indie) 27. [25] (2) Soil 7t7 - Soil 7t7 (Indie) 28. [27] (4) Confessions In Dub - Jerome Arthur (Forest Moon) 29. [28] (13) Mamani - Joy Denalane (SonyMusic) 30. [30] (2) Selfconscious - The Narrow (Intervention Arts) READ http://www.rock.co.za/files/sarock_legends_2000.html LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 _____________________________________________ 3. NEW, RECENT AND UPCOMING RELEASES INTERNATIONAL RELEASES: --------------------------- 'SUGAR MAN' RETURNS David Holmes and the Free Association have just released a new version of the Rodriguez classic, 'Sugar Man', featuring backing vocals by Rodriguez. The song was recorded in New York in April 2003 by David Holmes and Rodriguez, who drove in from Detroit especially for the sessions. The original version of 'Sugar Man' was the opening track on David Holmes' 2003 compilation 'Come Get It I Got It'. David Holmes is the iconic UK music producer behind the group The Free Association; a string of cool, compilation albums ('Come Get It I Got It', 'Bow Down To The Exit Sign', 'The Film's Crap, Let's Slash The Seats', 'Let's Get Killed'); and the soundtracks for recent movies like 'Ocean's Eleven', 'Out Of Sight', 'Analyze That', 'Buffalo Soldiers', and 'Stander' (the upcoming bio-pic about the South African bank-robbing, rogue cop). This new remake features the sultry vocals of the Free Association's lead vocalist, Petra Jean Phillipson, with Rodriguez himself on backing vocals. The single release also features two other remixes - the first is "an electro disco epic" by the well-known New York City House DJ, Maurice Fulton. The second is a crazier hip hop version by Gonzalez, with a monologue about "sugar puffs" and the like. The single will be officially released on September 1 by Mercury Records, but has already been picking up plenty of radio play in the UK. ------ MP3s ------ NEW MP3's: The Splashy Fen Collection 'Van Hunks en Die Duiwel' - Bill Knight 'Sign Language' - Famous Roaches 'Down' - Highway Jam 'Cross Wired' - The Kêrels 'Let The Sun Shine' - Larry Amos & Tim Parr Download all these tracks taken off the 'Splashy Fen - 10 Years Of Music Under The Mountains' live compilation CD at http://www.SAmp3.com by kind permission of Dave Marks from 3rd Ear Music. Read Kurt Shoemaker's review below. ----- CDs ----- HENRY ATE RELEASE 'SEVEN SONGS' Henry Ate has announced a new album release, and it's an official Bootleg CD called 'Seven Songs'. The CD will only be available for sale at Henry Ate shows. 'Seven Songs' is a limited edition (only 1000 copies in the whole world!) and is for sale on a first-come-first-served basis. 'Seven Songs' is also the first release on the AMP label (Ate Music Productions), and includes the tracks 'And And And', '27 Years', 'I Found Out', 'Falling Apart', 'Once', and live versions of 'Just' and 'Hey Mister'. The songs were recorded at RPS studio on the 7th and 8th of October 2002 during live sessions at the SABC. The first pressings went on sale last week at Henry Ate's Tsunami gig, and the band will be holding back 200 copies for their mailing list. If you would like to purchase a CD through the mailing list (from outside the RSA as well) you can send an email to Shaun at mailto:webmaster@henryate.com -------------- BENGUELA - 'SUI' [OPEN RECORD] The Cape Town-based Open Record label was established earlier this year, as a sub-label of Rhythm Records, with the intention of exposing and releasing some of the more experimental music currently being produced in SA by a group of progressive musicians. The official launch festivities are over and the first four CD titles to be released on Open Record are now available in SA (and overseas) in initial limited print runs of 500 copies each. While these explorations into the SA musical avant garde have left some mainstream music fans looking a little baffled (as at that recent Cape Town launch), there are still plenty of listeners keen to delve into some alternatives to the current standard stuff being produced in SA. The pick of these albums is the 'Sui' double-CD by Benguela, the Cape Town trio comprising guitarist Alex Bozas, drummer ("Sigur") Ross Campbell, and upright electric bassist Brydon Bolton. Benguela has been spreading its improvised ambient compositions around some intimate Cape Town venues for the past few years, amassing a strong and loyal following. This led to the trio being added to the bill for the recent North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town. 'Sui' was recorded live in front of 30 of their supporters, and features six new tracks with the titles: 'Southern Right', 'The Shunt Dynamo', 'Speed Queen', 'Beating Round The Bush', 'Six Strings And A Bucket', and 'Chewing The Cud'. It's an hour of trippy instrumental compositions, developed on the spot, with no lyrics, and small smatterings of applause after each track to bring one back down to earth. 'Sui' was described in a recent CD Wherehouse e-newsletter as: "an exhilarating manifestation of the trio's singular scraped, looped and warped conversations in search of an ever-elusive groove. Sculpting sound from silence, impending deep-dub inflections defer closure, ostensibly monosyllabic moods taking flight into a realm of muscular panoramic dialogues, where harmony and dissonance instinctively trace the oceanic current that spawned their name". You could say that! But if you want to describe these six tracks specifically to rock fans, specially the older ones who are more likely to be patient enough to give this album the time and attention it deserves, you could simply say that 'Sui' is very similar to the music recorded by Pink Floyd for the movie 'Zabriskie Point', but which only appears on bootleg collections of out-takes from that soundtrack. Know what I mean? I discovered this during the past week, while the Cape Of Storms was viciously living up to its nickname. 'Sui' sprang to mind when searching for something new to listen to that was clever, soft, with no lyrics or machines, and preferably and appropriately from my own freezing hometown. It took a few plays to figure out what these lads were getting up to, but after a while 'Sui' turned out to be something like a stripped-down, progish-rock, dub album, and it's getting better by the day! 'Chop Sui' (heh heh, very funny!) is the bonus 12-track CD in the 'Sui' package. This CD has a number of SA and international names - Captain Asthma, Brad Bird, Dror Eyal, Paul Riekert (Battery 9), Burnt Friedman, Felix Laband, James Webb and others - remixing tracks off the 'Sui' album from the other side of the plastic divide, and surprisingly coming up with some intriguing tracks in the process, seeing as how minimal the originals are. The other three initial releases on the Open Record label are by Enkeleen ('Ek Is Legio'), Alex van Heerden and Derek Gripper's 'Sagtevlei' (reviewed in a recent Digest), and 'Geiger Counter' by Brendon Bussy, and we will be getting to them in a while. But it is clear that with the release of these four initial titles into our brave new music world, Open Record has quietly staked its claim as one of the most innovative new labels in SA. Start with 'Sui'! (SS) All these Open Record titles are available online at: http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 www.openrecord.co.za -------------- THE ZAZONE.COM SA BAND SPOTLIGHT -------------------------------------- http://www.zaZone.com LAD, the dedicated webmaster of ZaZone.com, will be throwing a regular spotlight on one of the many SA bands currently affiliated to his SA music site: MORNING HAZE Morning Haze is a new four-piece Gauteng band made up of Phil Haycock on lead guitar, Em on bass, Jason on drums and Will McCabe on vocals and rhythm guitar. The band has shown stacks of promise, and if their 3-track CD, 'Coming Up', is anything to go by, the band will definitely be making it big. Their style of music is slightly different from other SA rock bands and their lyrics are thoughtful and well put together. The band are currently working on tightening up their live performances and getting as much gig experience as possible, and getting themselves known as a very exciting live act. They use inventive advertising methods with flyers, posters, stickers and SMS's to notify people of gigs. The band will be recording an as yet unnamed double track demo with 'Are These The Words' and 'Losing Faith (In Myself)'. They are in the process of planning a tour of Durban during 2004 and will be entering the upcoming Emerging Sounds 'Battle of the Bands'. Morning Haze's plans for the next few years include spreading their musical influence throughout SA and hopefully internationally. They hope to create a music video in the next few months and hope to crack a record deal and record a full length CD. While working hard they hope to have as much fun and build up as much experience as possible while conquering the SA music scene. They would like to play Woodstock and OppiKoppi amongst other festivals. They're intending to make Morning Haze a "household name". (Maybe call them "Fishpaste" then? - Ed.) 'Need' is an excellently thought-out song with really cool lyrics, and very thought provoking, for example: "I need my breath so that you can take it away". And then there's the excellent rhythm supporting the lyrics - 'Need' is definitely one of my favourite songs of this year. For more on Morning Haze you can visit http://www15.brinkster.com/morninghaze/ Sponsored by zaZone.com Promoting SA Music... http://www.zazone.com Download 'Jaded Mind' by Morning Haze (currently at #25 on the mp3 download charts) at http://www.SAmp3.com -------------- Email your MP3 reviews to mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=mp3reviews Download South African mp3's from http://www.SAmp3.com South African Music: Loud 'n Proud -------------- ONE WORLD http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 Selling South African Music To The World --------------- MORE REVIEWS --------------- More reviews can be found at: Open Record http://www.openrecord.co.za Amuzine http://rock.co.za/reviews.htm ______________________________________ 4.USA FOR AFRICA ------------------- Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music. VARIOUS - 'SPLASHY FEN: CELEBRATING 10 YEARS' [3RD EAR MUSIC] Spinning Splashy Fen brings to mind the Kerrville Folk Festival here in Texas. Remembering my many festivals as a staff volunteer in the office, I can imagine a festival with a South African flavour instead of Texan. I know the feeling of leaving a city, Austin, and driving to the country to enjoy rural quiet, music, laughter, and wonderful people. I've slept in a tent, drunk beer, stayed up late, woken up early, and gone back to my job in The World feeling refreshed. Disc One starts with pleasant evening music, traditional English folk, now-traditional folk from the Fifties folk boom, and even today's new folk, acoustic sets of "heavy wood", as Waldorf String Band describes how heavy they play. As we progress past sunset, each act adds energy until at evening's end we aren't ready for sleep, but for playing around our campfires. Names here familiar to this far away Yankee imagining sitting in front of the sound booth, are Silver Creek, David Goldblum, Willem Fourie, Syd Kitchen, Bill Knight, Miriam Erasmus, 14 Shabalala, Koos Kombuis, Mathew van Der Want, and Jennifer Ferguson. For home use, this CD will delight Saturday and Sunday mornings when one is renewing mental and physical strength for attacking a new working week. It does not abrade jaded senses, but adds beauty to the new world of those mornings when one has time to contemplate life, instead of only time to contemplate getting to work on time. The booklet pictures Kerrville-type scenes of people enjoying music, swimming, children playing, and tepees. Yes, I'd be at home at Splashy Fen. It has enough familiar to make me feel happily at home, and plenty of new to make me ebullient in the music. Splashy Fen must be an uplifting experience for the festival goers, like the Kerrville Folk Festival. Music truly brings people together and shows us what we have in common, doesn't it? READ http://www.splashyfen.co.za LISTEN Download a selection of 'Splashy Fen' mp3s at http://www.SAmp3.com BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=sf001/002 Kurt Shoemaker, Blanco, Texas mailto:kurt@sarockdigest.com _________________________________ 5.A NAARTJIE IN THE UK ------------------------ London-based John Samson gives his own twist on SA music: FACTORY - 'INDUSTRIAL ROCK' Factory had nothing to do with the UK record label of the same name that was responsible for the likes of Joy Division and the Happy Mondays. In fact they sounded nothing like what one expected to hear on the Factory label. They also did not make what one nowadays knows as Industrial rock. What they did do was make straightforward rock. Recorded at Tully McCully's Spaced Out Studios and under the watchful eye of Tully himself, these dudes took their guitars by the scruff of their necks and mixed ZZ Top blues with Status Quo straightforward no nonsense rock to great effect. Guitar solos abound while the drums pound and Ian Coché wraps his hard edged vocals around the songs. The opener tackles a rather touchy subject that few rock bands have been known to go near (least of all Shane MacGowan), and that's the topic of a visit to the dentist. Entitled '11 Fillings', the song is fortunately much more pleasant and the wailing guitar never puts your teeth on edge. Despite this brave start, there are much better songs on the album than this. The catchy '747' with its harmonised chorus probably takes top honours while 'In My Eyes' is a strong slower number which contains the interesting line of 'I'd love you even if I was blind'. The band seemed to disappear after this strong debut. Tough times must have caused the Factory to close down, laying off the workers. The machinery may have gone quiet, however this album is left as testimony to a time when the Factory was in full flow, churning out a fine product. John Samson, London mailto:john@sarockdigest.com _________________________________________ 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA -------------------- SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS http://rock.co.za/charts This week [Last week] Title - Artist SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS http://rock.co.za/charts This week [Last week] Title - Artist 30 YEARS AGO (24 August 1973) 1 [1] Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree - Dawn & Tony Orlando 2 [10] Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet - Maria 3 [2] Kentucky Blues - Lauren Copley 4 [3] That's Why I Love You - Richard Jon Smith 5 [9] Ashes Of Love - Dickey Lee 25 YEARS AGO (25 August 1978) 1 [1] Rivers Of Babylon - Boney M 2 [3] Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty 3 [2] Love Is In The Air - John Paul Young 4 [5] You're The One That I Want - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John 5 [4] So You Win Again - Copperfield 20 YEARS AGO (26 August 1983) 1 [2] Buffalo Soldier - Bob Marley 2 [1] Flashdance (What A Feeling) - Irene Cara 3 [4] Baby Jane - Rod Stewart 4 [3] Every Breath You Take - The Police 5 [8] Johnny B Goode - Peter Tosh 15 YEARS AGO (25 August 1988) 1 [1] Rise To The Occasion - Climie Fisher 2 [2] Dreaming - OMD 3 [4] Love Changes Everything - Climie Fisher 4 [3] I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue 5 [5] Underneath The Radar - Underworld ------------- CHART CHAT ------------- Lauren Copley's attempt to regain the top spot in 1973 looked doomed as she fell back a place, making room for Maria who shot up the charts from number 10 to number 2, putting serious pressure on to Dawn & Tony Orlando. Dickey Lee bounced back into the top 5 after having fallen to 9 the previous week. 'Rivers Of Babylon' became only the 4th song to spend 10 weeks or more at number 1 this week in 1978. Johnny Nash, Charisma and Daniel Boone were the only other acts to have previously attained such a feat. For those who disliked disco, it looked like help was at hand from Gerry Rafferty who climbed to number 2 with 'Baker Street'. 1982 saw 'Buffalo Soldier' regain the top spot from Irene Cara and possibly the only time that the top 5 featured 2 reggae hits as Peter Tosh jumped from 8 to 5. Tosh's unlikely hit was a reggae version of the Chuck Berry classic 'Johnny B Goode' and was taken from the album 'Mama Africa' which made number 9 on the SA Album charts. Climie Fisher spent a second week at number 1 in 1988 while Underworld spent a 3rd consecutive week at 5. Climie also saw 'Love Changes Everything' make a bit of a comeback jumping a position to 3. 'Dreaming' by OMD was peaking at number 2, their best performing single in South Africa. South Africans at number 1 this week: The Wedding - Jody Wayne (1970) Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - Jessica Jones (1972) Ramaja - Glenys Lynne (1976) Paradise Road - Joy (1980) Woodpecker From Space - Café Society (1985) South African New Entries this week: 27-Aug-71 Daar's Niks Soos Ware Liefde - Groep Twee 27-Aug-76 Too Late To Say Goodbye - Cornelia 27-Aug-76 Golden Ring - Tommy Dell & Caroline Du Preez 27-Aug-76 Candy - Geoff St. John 29-Aug-75 Kiss Me, Kiss Your Baby - Geoff St. John 29-Aug-81 Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain - Maria Tyl 29-Aug-86 Destined To Win - Tom Inglis 30-Aug-68 For Your Precious Love - The Flames 30-Aug-74 Hazy, Hazy (Crazy, Crazy) - Billy & Geli (Billy Forrest and Angelika Illman) 30-Aug-74 Just An Ever Lovin' Woman - Tommy Oliver 01-Sep-72 It's Too Late Now - Lauren Copley John Samson --------------- VINYL JUNKIES --------------- This section is for collectors of vinyl, both South African and International. MABU VINYL 34 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town Juluka - 'Work For All' (LP) Juluka - 'African Litany' (LP) Factory - 'Industrial Rock' (LP) David Kramer - 'Baboondogs' (LP) Neville Whitmill 'Insight' (LP) Cash paid for records in saleable condition. Jacques Vosloo (+27 21) 423 7635 mailto:vinyl@sarockdigest.com -------------- VIBES VINYL Stadium-on-Main, Main Road, Claremont This week's specials: Johannes Kerkorrel - 'Eet Kreef!' (LP) Winston Mankunku - 'Jika' (LP) Bernoldus Niemand - 'Wie is Bernoldus Niemand' (LP) Johnny Clegg & Savuka - 'Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World' (LP) Penny Croft - 'Penny Croft' (LP) Lesley Rae Dowling - 'Lesley Rae Dowling' (LP) We pay top prices for top quality. Want Lists Welcome! Call us at: 021-683 5676 mailto:claus@vibesvinyl.com Visit our website at http://www.vibesvinyl.com ----------- BIRTHDAYS ----------- 28 Johnny Gibson (1947) 29 Steve Hofmeyr (1964) If you have info on any South African artists' dates of birth, please Send them to mailto:brian@rock.co.za?subject=birthdays ______________________________________________ 7.SOUND SOLUTIONS --------------------- A Readers' Forum featuring a selection of the email requests, questions, searches, and other pieces of random info we receive each week at the Digest. Sometimes we can assist, other times we look to you, our collectively well-informed readers to contact these writers and help out as well. Thanks! -------------- THOSE "LED ZEP IN JHB" RUMOURS SHOT DOWN! Hi, I don't know where people get these rumours about a Zeppelin concert - in a recent edition of Mojo they in fact stated that they are not, at this stage of their lives, prepared to tour, which could take a year or longer. Their official website also mentions nothing about any tour anywhere, nevermind SA. Where have you heard this rumour? Thx for a good Monday read. Sean O'Riley mailto:seanr@abe.co.za Ed. - Okay, so I better not mention those "Slipknot live in SA in Sept" stories going around then. -------------- BLACK DIAMOND (Aidan Harper explains who "Black Diamond" were - not to be confused with "The Black Diamonds", a SA group from the '60's, requested by Chris Boyle in a previous Digest) Hi I was the sound engineer for Black Diamond, a CT band that was around in the 90's. The band consisted of Sascha Muller (Drums), Chris Akker (Guitar), Jon Durant (Bass) and, here's where it gets tricky... Their first vocalist Thomas Stono, now residing in London, sang 'Red Guitar' which featured on the latest episode of SABC3's "Going Nowhere Slowly". Vocalist number 2 was Helene Henn, who went on to sing a solo version of "It's Sad". Tashe Nortier was their third vocalist... she sang "Rock'n' Roll Will Die" and "Me and My Friends". Tasche is performing a concert at Durbanville High Auditorium on 23rd August (Tickets are available from aidan@ripchord.co.za at R80.00 each) Tikara joined just before Black Diamond split. Sascha, Chris and Tikara along with Chris' brother Nic formed the band Semisane who performed the BB1 theme song, and more recently, the hit song "Girlfriend Of Mine". Black Diamond released "Red Guitar" on Street Level's "Six From The Inside" CD, a six-track EP called "True Life Experience" and a single entitled "Me And My Friends" I hope this helps! Cheers! Aidan Harper Personal: mailto:aidan@ripchord.co.za Studio: mailto:info@ripchord.co.za -------------- THE (BLACK?) DIAMOND DOGS? Hi, I'm a South African who has been living in Australia for the past 6 years and have recently stumbled upon what I'm hoping is a much anticipated CD from an artist I followed quite religiously. I'm talking about Nik from an SA band called the "Diamond Dogs". I used to see them at places like the Roxy Rythmn Bar and Dylans in Rocky Street during the late '80's. There is a reference to Nik "Slade" AKA Pasifakis for a soundtrack album distributed through www.imaginites.com. Do you know if this is in fact the same Nik (the song titles do bring back memories) and if so how I can get a CD. The on-line store does not appear to work. Kind regards Dave mailto:davecole@bigpond.net.au -------------- BALLYHOO'S 'MAN ON THE MOON' Hi, Could you please tell me if this album is still available to buy? And if so where could I get it. And if there is a distributor in the UK or do I have to get somebody to buy it in SA and the ship it over? Many Thanks for your help Pieter mailto:peksteen@hotmail.com -------------- LOOKING FOR OOM! I hope you can help. I'm trying to track down a CD titled 'No Loitering', by a band called Oom. A few years back it was offered on mp3.com for sale, but it has since disappeared, and I can't find it anywhere. I had a downloaded mp3 version of a track called 'I Love The Rain', which had become one of my favourite pieces of music, but the disk it was on became corrupted and I lost my only copy. I can't find much information about them, except at your excellent Amuzine site. Neither SA Rock Files or One World had anything by them. Here's the Amuzine link: Amuzine - CD of the week archives (http://rock.co.za/archivescd5.htm). If you have any info on how to find the CD, or even a download of the song, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance for your help! Elizabeth Rock mailto:EArock@aol.com -------------- THE SMITHS ALBUMS I am desperately looking for a CD collection or tape if need be, of all of Richard Jon Smith's albums from the 70's - the 'Sweet Mama' album, and the live album from the Colosseum, Johannesburg. Has EMI released a compilation of this dynamic vocalist to celebrate, what was in those days, groundbreaking turf and fan-base ? Sue Charlton mailto:sjc@worldonine.co.za -------------- REQUESTS FROM CANADA Hello, Here are totally divergent requests from an expat in Canada: 1) I would dearly like to have a recording again of 'Backstreet' by The Outlet (Peter Vee was the lead singer if I remember correctly). I had the seven single. 2) Does anyone know of an mp3 of 'He'. It was a beautiful song by, I think, Hocus and if I remember correctly, it got banned by SABC. 3) And then there was an album called 'Animal Concert' that came out in 1973. It was a wonderful album for kids with songs about different animals, eg Hector the Hippo, Angie the Ape and Bongo the Baboon. Can anyone help? Many thanks Isabel de Kock mailto:ihdekock@yahoo.ca -------------- TRULY BATS! Howzit Were The Bats like really bats or were they ous what dressed up like bats? Also what were they doing out of hell? Johnny from Boksburg -------------- THE SISTER GIBBS? Hi there, I would like to know which South African lady sang the song 'First of May', by the Bee Gees, and where can this song be purchased as well as the song 'These Boots'? Is there a possibility that your site would start an mp3 search and download facility where we could pay a small fee for downloading SA and/or overseas songs with the artists' permission as I think SA had some excellent artists since the Sixties. Thanks Mark mailto:markmw@absamail.co.za Ed. - Jill Kirkland sang 'First Of May', and a version of 'These Boots...' was done by Foot C Foot C and appeared on the '5FM Showcase 2' complilation. -------------- THE NEW ST. JAMES (SMALL) BIBLE Hi, I know, I know .... Tri-nations, Trent Bridge. The volk is down and depressed. But hey, here's something to cheer you all up, read on: In the beginning God created day and night. He created day for rugby matches, going to the beach and braais. He created night for going jolling, dossing and braais. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Second Day. On the Second Day God created water - for surfing, swimming and braais on the beach. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Third Day. On the Third Day God created the Earth to bring forth plants - to provide tobacco, malt and yeast for beer and wood for braais. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Fourth Day. On the Fourth Day God created animals and crustaceans for chops, boerewors, steak and prawns for braais. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Fifth Day. On the Fifth day God created an oke - to go to the rugby, enjoy the beach, drink the beer and chow the meat and prawns at braais. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Sixth Day. On the Sixth Day God saw that this oke was lonely and needed a chyyna to go to the rugby, surf, dop beer, chow and stand around the braai with. So God created chyyna's, and God saw that they were good okes. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came and it was the Seventh Day. On the Seventh Day God saw that the okes were tired and needed a rest. So God created Chicks - to clean the house, bear children, wash, cook and clean the braai. Evening came and it was the end of the Seventh day. God sighed, looked around at the twinkling braais, heard the hiss of opening beer cans and the raucous laughter of all the okes and chicks, smelled the aroma of grilled chops and sizzling prawns, and God saw that it was not just good, it was better than that, it was damn good ......... IT WAS SOUTH AFRICA! Homesick! GARY R Somewhere In Europe! -------------- GOT A QUESTION? Please email any musical questions to mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=soundsolutions ----------------------------- THE DIGEST CLASSIFIED ADS ----------------------------- To advertise in this section please email: mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=classifieds -------------- MERCURY LOUNGE NEWS We welcome Birthdays, Staff Xmas Parties and going away parties at our Venue. There is no charge at Mercury Lounge. We can open earlier and supply a DJ. Talk to Kevin or Sean for more details Once a month we will be holding a Saturday Afternoon All Ages event and we are looking for young Bands and DJ's to perform with the more well-known muso's. We also need to get in touch with the kidz to let them know about it. If you have brothers or sisters under 18 then send us their email address or SMS number for inclusion on our all ages list. Thanks Sean & Kevin 43 De Villiers Street Zonnebloem Cape Town Tel: 021 465 2106 Fax: 083 118 2275919 Email: mercuryl@mweb.co.za See http://www.sagigs.com for Mercury Live and Lounge dates and details -------------- MUSIQUIZ! I have created a new music board game called MusiQuiz. It is non-electronic and is basically a simple but enjoyable game with exciting graphics. I have a full working prototype of my design which includes a fold-out board, question/answer boxes, player tokens etc. All I now need is someone who is keen to have a look at it with a view to financing/licensing/publishing the game. As with any new Idea, I realise the difficulties involved in trying to get the project going. Well over one thousand questions and answers have been created specifically for the prototype and the information has been checked and verified. A further one thousand five hundred questions have been drafted. These questions and answers were skilfully created to fit in with the different categories in the game and range from easy to fairly difficult. The prototype has been tested on people aged between 10 years and older with very positive results. What makes this game unique is that it deals with all aspects of music. A Quicktime.mov (Mac), or Windows.wmv (PC) 30 second video clip (1 mb) of the game in action is available for e-mail purposes - please advise which file format you would prefer. Should you wish to see the game in more detail a five minute video clip, together with the rules are available. If you would prefer to see the actual prototype, this can be arranged if you are in the Gauteng area. Yours sincerely, Carlo Kaminski Hands on Images Johannesburg mailto:kaminski@iafrica.com 083 458 1747 -------------- MAIDEN LEAGUE RECORDS Maiden League Records is looking for a couple of artists to join our band roster and to become one of the label's founding bands. We are looking for artists who are preferably established and can fit the label's ethos of diversity and originality. We are currently in negotiations with some of SA's hottest rock acts, and the project that is Maiden League looks to be one of great promise, all the more reason to set up an audition or send us your demo's. This is a serious venture with some serious plans for the near future so if you are interested in being a member of the family read below: An audition can be set up by doing the following [Cape Town only!]: In the Northern Suburbs contact Adriaan Pienaar on 0725963231. He will most likely be dealing with all things Northern. If you are in the Southern Suburbs contact Sean Looney on 0732616824. He'll be available to check out all bands Southern. Demos: Make sure your demos are appealing; at the end of the day that's how we know what we're dealing with. If the music is good so should the presentation of your demos, it shows us that you care 100% about being an artist. If you could supply us with anything additional such as photos, biography's, video's etc. it would be more than appreciated! This is open to ALL local and international bands. Send the demo's to: Maiden League Records 4 Valentino Drive Kirstenhof Cape Town 7945 We would like to receive all demo's/audition requests before September 15th. Any later dates can be discussed. Hope you have a great day, and looking forward to be involved with you in one way or another soon. Maiden League Records Team -------------- VAGABOND MUSIC & WEB http://www.vagabond.za.net Get your band or business online. We design from scratch or take over the maintenance when your hotshot designer gets bored with updating. Clients include: www.freshmusic.co.za, www.rhythmrecords.co.za, www.eiservices.co.za, www.pietbotha.com, www.gregsgolftours.co.za, www.25hourstudio.com, www.jamesonline.co.za (James Stewart) and www.tait.co.za Contact Brian on 0825678779 or use the form at http://www.vagabond.za.net/contact --------------- SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC QUOTA COALITION Support this SA musicians' initiative, looking to greatly increase the amounts of SA music played on the nation's radio stations. Join the movement, sign up, or read more at http://www.samqc.org.za -------------- GET YOURSELF A NEW REDIRECTABLE EMAIL ADDRESS Are you tired of complicated hotmail or yahoo email addresses, or is your corporate address very uncool? Or is your favourite nickname already taken? For only R150 per year we will supply you an email address such as mailto:yourchoiceofname@rock.co.za which will redirect to your current address. Choose from the list below: sarockdigest.com rock.co.za samp3.com saklank.com sagigs.com sugarman.org Email: mailto:CanIgetAnewEmailAddressPlease@rock.co.za for details. -------------- The Sound Solutions and Digest Classified sections are sponsored by: SOUND SOLUTIONS - a private music library in Cape Town that offers music searches, and the sourcing and recommending of songs and music soundtracks for television, film, and radio productions and commercials. Contact: Stephen Segerman - (021) 461-9541 mailto:sugar@rock.co.za ______________________________________________ 8.LIVE MUSIC --------------- ------------------- UPCOMING EVENTS ------------------- Watch out for: THE JHB INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL - The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival (to give it its full, official title), is celebrating its fourth year in Newtown, Johannesburg, on 29 and 30 August. More than 150 musicians - 47 from abroad and over 100 from southern Africa - will thrill jazz lovers at the Market Theatre, Turbine Hall, Newtown Music Hall, formerly known as the Mega Music Warehouse, Horror Café, Niki's, The Lab, Kippies Jazz International and the Corporate Village Stage, which is being specially erected for the festival. SOWETO STRING QUARTET - SSQ will be celebrating their illustrious musical career spanning 25 years with friends and guest artists Vusi Mahlasela, Pops Mohamed, Ballet Theatre Afrikan and many others on Saturday, 13 September at the Big Top Arena in Carnival City BRIAN FINCH & KEN E HENSON - Legendary SA Folk duo now on an (SA) East Coast Tour. http://www.rock.co.za/brianfinch THE V&A WATERFRONT CELEBRATES SA MUSIC WEEK - Some of the very best South African musicians will be performing live at the V & A Waterfront from 25 -31 August in celebration of SA Music Week. The V&A Waterfront's SA Music Week Festival will consist of live performances and facilitatory workshops for aspirant musicians. THE ROLLIN' PARTY IN CAPE TOWN - Urge Media is hosting The Rollin' Party on September 13 2003. and involves three venues and six of Cape Town's finest original bands - Scarlet Host and Soulja (Mercury Live); The Rudimentals and Hog Hoggidy Hog (Independent Armchair Theatre); Cruel April and Death By Chocolate (The Whammy Bar) - a bus with loads of free stuff on it, all for just R100 (if you get your tickets early). POWERZONE ROAD SHOW - August-September national tour with The Finkelstiens, Marlowe, Prime Circle, and The Parlotones SAFM PRESENTS 'LIVE JAZZ' ON THE SQUARE - Friday 29th August - Come down to Sandton Square btw 7pm-9pm. Relax & dine out to SA's premier Jazz pianist Paul Hanmer, accompanied by Rob Watson on drums & Denis Lalouette on Bass guitar. Open to the public. No Cover Charge! A DOPE NITE OUT IN LONDON - Thurs 4th September at Elektrowerks (7 Torrens St, behind Angel tube station). This event kicks off Groovevine's promotion efforts for African Dope in the UK and should be a cracker with Max Normal's return to the UK after a 2 year gap and Godessa's first appearance in the UK..... plus Sibot and legendary Ninja Tunes DJs SPYRO GYRA - Internationally acclaimed jazz group, Spyro Gyra, will perform at Cape Events Centre [His People's Centre] at N1 City on Wednesday 27 August 2003. Galaxy Events has pulled off a scoop by securing a one-off performance in Cape Town before the group jets off to Johannesburg for the Joy of Jazz Festival on 29 August. GODESSA AT PUKKELPOP - SA's dopest female mcs Godessa will be burning up the stage at Belgium's prestigious Pukkelpop festival from 29-31 August, as part of the OppiKoppi/Pukkelpop culltural exchange SLINKY WORLD TOUR FEATURING MAURO PICOTTO - 5fm music and Liquidreams Productions present superclub Slinky on their world tour featuring DJ icon Mauro Picotto, who will perform two exclusive dates on Friday the 05th September at Truth in Johannesburg and Saturday 06th September at the Good Hope Centre in Cape Town. THE CAPE TIMES 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' - It's the finals on Sunday 31 August! Six bands will contest the finals at the Dockside Club in Century City on August 31. They are Gayan, The Idiots, Jam Rockers, Metallic Sunn, Nu Trend and Shelac Proof. JOE SAMPLE - The Jazz maestro and member of the legendary quartet, The Crusaders, is heading to South Africa this August for two performances, as part of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival series on the 28th of August at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg, and on the 30th at the Cape Town International Convention Centre SEPULTURA - WitchdoctorRecords.com, deliverers of The Haunted and Entombed to SA stages, will be bringing Sepultura to South Africa in September. WOODSTOCK 5 - The 2003 version begins on Thursday 25th and runs until Sunday 28th September at its new home at Roodeplaat Dam, just north of Pretoria. Confirmed bands include Tweak, Wonderboom, Mean Mr Mustard, Pink Noise, Cutting Jade, The Narrow, Zen Arcade, Jo Day, Soil 7t7, El Camino, and Thirteen. X TOUR 2003 - The extreme music tour that is currently taking Cape Town by storm is officially up and running! With two shows down and three to go those who have had the privilege to attend will tell you... This Tour Rocks!! Featuring Six Of Nine, Flint, Neshamah, 5 Star Society, Sidearm 66, Flint, Serving Suggestion, Sidearm 66, and Not Guilty. Details of all these events at http://www.SAgigs.com -------- SA PUNK -------- By Daniel Neville Gig of the Week: CAPE TOWN - BOOGALOOS TYGERVALLEY Sat 30 August (R25, 5:30pm) With: Solarpop X-Tour Neshamah 5 Star Society Six Of Nine Not Guilty Sidearm 66 Serving Suggestion Flint See http://www.SAgigs.com for details and other SA Punk gigs ----------- LIVE IN SA ----------- OPPIKOPPI 2003 Hond Uit 'n Box Uit - In Northam Carina Laubscher was there.... Yes. You can once again veg out on that dusty farm just outside Northam while kief tunes singe your nasal hair and turn your body into an extra from "Reanimated". Why? The wind, dust, cracked sinuses, itchy and scratchy eyeballs, sneezing ... and then there's the cold that only comes at night. It slashes through your tent and cuts you into bite-size ice cubes. And the boozing. Also, the food. Bring enough. And there will always be ice and Smirnoff Spin in town. Even sleeping pills for the DJ-tent shift from 1:00 to 6:00 the next morning. Don't forget the hammer because you cannot hit a tentpole into the ground with your foot. There will be pain. Enough bedding is an unspoken rule. And don't spend your CD-money on booze. There will always be that one gig - the one that taunts you and takes out your kneecaps without losing a beat. You must - oh please you must have a CD-kitty. Oppikoppi lasted for three days (but lots of dudes and dudettes were camping from Tuesday already) and each day emanated multiple music personalities. You could mosh and scream "pphhooaahhrrr!!!" like the lead vocalists in Wickhead, Pestroy, Orange, The Narrow - ah hell man, you could stage-dive in your skivvies and you'd land on a bank of writhing and yelling bodies at any given time. Eager to check out Not My Dog's new sound, I stumbled through the dark in the direction of the main stage - and a few minutes later, stricken with grief, I decided to drown my sorrows in a litre of gin. It's not the same anymore. Yes, Albert had the passion, but those possessed guitars overpowered his voice. I checked out the crowd and a lot of glum (and sober) faces were spotted. However. Joy was spread by Tidal Waves - what a sight to see the crowd bobbing and jamming like a giant oil slick. These guys can make a mummy smile. Backstage, Paul van de Waal and Jonathan Martin were doing the Tidal-jig and on the horizon we could see Mars winking like a new red star. Awesome. Forty-five minutes later Jack Hammer followed suit. And the screaming started. Piet Botha and his men did a set so harsh and raw and thick with testosterone, the rockers let their hair down (literally), it was torture but we screamed for more. And the guitars ruled. Quieter sounds were those of Andries Bezuidenhout. He made us remember the real Oppikoppi spirit with his "Die Ballade van Drakula Havenga". We sat in the sun, sipped beer and listened to Brixton, ghosts, strange people, and memories of the Abelarde. Then, Trike put a few ripples in the pond with their angry lyrics about real life. Some thought Drikus Barnard and Esmé Evakwaad's art was harsh. Others listened to "Luislang" and "Kruispad", but the tale about "Skaamkoekie en Snorkelman" brought on a relieved (however nervous) titter through the crowd. Luna had the top stage - late afternoon. She started with "Thunderstorm". By the third song, people were buying CDs. This wisp of a girl with the voice of a wrathful muse showed just how stunning songs are written and played. The bluesy "Grapevine" and "Beautiful Day" are just two of her keepers - get her 7-track CD "Luna" at her gigs. The Soil 7t7 dudes had us rukking and rolling on our feet, in trees and on wooden benches, while we chanted "Can I get some, can I can I get some!!!" What a big in-your-face noise, never shy, a pale but insane guitar and tunes that will make you grovel for more. Let Soil's rhythm show you the method in the madness. Those drums, those freaking drums. YUM. It was late when Dan Patlansky and the Mississippi Muthers started playing. Hooo-haah. Dan did something deep and blue with that '62 Fender Strat that made people say for days afterwards: "Hey, did you hear that guy with the funny name? BLOODY HELL!" Sheer blues bliss filled the cold night air and even the boozers at the bar stopped to listen. Kobus! kicked butt. Two new songs from the brooding dark duo, called "Karel Void" and "Ons Ry In Die Kar", had us cackling with glee, and "Die Hoenderman" was manic and freaky. They wore black leather. There was smoke, sweat and wild hair - and Francois roared while Theo and guitar burned. Arrgggghhh!!! New Porn was next. A lot of festival-animals came out of curiosity. Albert Frost and Arno Carstens had this strange nervous energy-thing going, while Brendan Fury played the violin like a sneering butler with a bug up his nose. It worked. Behind him Jerome ripped at the drums and the bass machine thumped some oomph into the scene. And "Another Universe", that hot but delicious abomination called "Hiroshimama" and "Neon Girl" took a lot of hearts and ears. After a few gulps of Tassies, we were ready for Karen Zoid. She entered the stage with an ice-cool attitude while speaking about Johan Erasmus, some dweeb who said her song "Deurmekaar" sounds like one of Alanis Morisette's songs. She showed us with an electric guitar how the intro of a song is built - told us more about the first eight, then twelve notes. Then she yelled: "Johan Erasmus, this is for you - UP YOURS!" and started jamming with "Taxi". We went bonkers. One dude clambered into a thorn tree and sat there, moshing and shaking his legs until the tree shook like a tumbledryer. And he never fell out. We pointed and laughed like witches. Karen did "Dinosour" and "Dit Maak Nie Regtig Saak Nie", and then became a little quiet before announcing her engagement to Don Reineke her guitarist (Congrats!! - Ed.), and then proceeded (above the yelling and dilly screams) to sing "Engel". Of course the crowd sang louder than Karen while Don managed to look happy and acutely embarassed at the same time. The band ended with "Afrikaners Is Plesierig" while we bent our bodies into strange positions, the thorn tree shook some more, the wind blew its cold breath into my clothes and my voice finally disappeared down a parched pair of dusty lungs. I tasted an Oppikoppi like no other. Can't wait for the next one. Carina Laubscher Melville, Jhb Ed. - Carina is the editor of the Afrikaans music e-mag SA Klank - issue #11 is out now! Subscribe at http://www.saklank.com -------------- ----------- GIG GUIDE ----------- The SA Rock Digest list of recommended gigs can be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com Please send all gig info to mailto:sugar@sagigs.com?subject=gigs in a plain text e-mail by Friday 12noon. ___________________________________________ 9.INFO ------- ------ LINKS ------ Links to artists, gig guides, resources, record labels, recording studios, music trivia and more at: http://www.sarockdigest.com/links ---------------- SUBSCRIPTIONS ---------------- To subscribe - please send e-mail to: mailto:subscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=NewSubscriber Address changes - please send an e-mail to: mailto:subscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=SubscriberAddressChange To unsubscribe - please send a blank e-mail to: mailto:unsubscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=Unsubscribe ------------ BACK ISSUES ------------- http://www.sarockdigest.com/archives Online and keyword searchable ----------------------------------- PRESS RELEASES & CONTRIBUTIONS ----------------------------------- Please submit all press releases, contributions, reviews, gig & festival dates, requests, searches and comments to mailto:sugar@sarockdigest.com?subject=SARockDigest -------- EDITORS -------- Brian Currin & Stephen Segerman mailto:editors@sarockdigest.com?subject=SARockDigest --------------- CONTRIBUTORS --------------- John Samson Kurt Shoemaker Carina Laubscher Tertius Louw Daniel Neville Wicked Mike Gabi Muller Don Bryce LAD Proofed by Ronx A SUGAR MUSIC PRODUCTION http://www.sugarmusic.co.za <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>