SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE #235 http://www.sarockdigest.com Established 27th January 1999 2 February 2004 ------------- IMPORTANT! ------------- If you would like to send off an email to the Digest about anything, you are always very welcome to do so ... but please resist the urge to simply "reply-to" this newsletter. If you would like to contact us, please rather send an email to: mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=Digest ---------------------- IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE ---------------------- This week we celebrated our 5th birthday with a big iced cake, flashy e-streamers flying all the way around and down Digest Towers, and spontaneous cries of "hurrahs", "SA rock rocks", "Loudly South African", and "Up the Digest!" from our small but clearly happy staff, who had been getting steadily ripped on a combo of Red Bull and tea (with two sugars!) and chocolate Digestive biscuits, which they thought was "very apt". But to mark this milestone anniversary, we thought we would go back and show you what the very first SA Rock Digest (edition #1) looked like as it went out on email to the first 15 subscribers on January 27th, 1999. My how the little blighter has grown! That first, short edition of the Digest can now fit quite snugly into our 'History' section below, where you can read the whole thing. Boy have we learnt to huk! Brian Currin was the editor of the SA Rock Digest for those first editions, with Stephen Segerman editing the Amuzine website. But the two SA music web publications were soon joined into one common content entity with the Digest going out on the Monday, and the Amuzine website updated with that week's info on the Tuesday. The two now share a co-editing role - don't they say "two eds are better then one"? - with Brian as the Technical Editor and Publisher, and Stephen handling the Content Editor role. And, as always, our sincere thanks, admiration, and kud-ous go out to all our contributors - with very special thanks to John Samson, Kurt Shoemaker, Tertius Louw and Carina Laubscher - who have supported us through the years, and of course to you, our subscribers, and other readers, without whom we'd still be talking to ourselves ...... On the current SA music front ... high profile SA band Prime Circle have signed an international deal with Universal/Next Plateau ... there is some jazz news this week with the announcement of most of the artists who will be appearing at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town in April - young Cape Town sensations, freshlyground, join names like Angie Stone, Stanley Clarke, and Abdullah Ibrahim on one of the strongest festival bills for years ... Taking place that same Easter weekend (Thursday 8 to Monday 12 April), but on the other side of our country, is Splashy Fen 2004, and the organisers are offering some special early limited discounted tickets until the end of February. Anthony Bumstead pays a living tribute to a legend and giant of the South African Rock Music industry called Edgar Bullen ... SA Idols winner, Heinz Winckler, will be releasing a single into the German, Austrian, and European markets via BMG Germany in March ... Patric van Blerk is one of the people behind the 'Capetown Sound' studios and has been updating us on a string of new releases from Dawnay, The Rockets, and even Belinda Silbert ... Colin "Black" Verncombe is heading to SA to record his new album We have new mp3's from Six Of Nine, Zero Tolerance, and Sam Paddock ... 'Hadeda' is a musical collaboration between Nibs van Der Spuy and Barry van Zyl. The project name is a bit of fun, with two English-speaking Afrikaans guys writing songs with an African flavour and lyrics in Afrikaans, Zulu and English ... One of South Africa's top singer-songwriters, David Abbate, has just released his fourth solo album, titled 'Crush' ... And Benjy Mudie's Retro Fresh SA reissue label has released its first title for 2004 - it's Hawk's 'Africa She Too Can Cry', and Brian Currin has all the info. LAD was very impressed with the band Niche, whom he saw supporting Liquid Sky at The Mercury last week, and tells us all about them ... John Samson reviews 'Hypocrites Unite' by Danny de Wet and the Lowveld Garage Band ... Kurt Shoemaker reviews the best of The Flames ... Strawbs want to tour SA ... Wicked Mike was at the RP Studios Emerging Sounds Competition in Durban and sent us a full report. This coming weekend (Friday 6th to Sunday 8th February) sees the popular Savanna Up The Creek Festival taking place from the on the banks of the beautiful Breede River, near Swellendam. Catch Arno Carstens' New Porn, freshlyground, The Rudimentals, Wonderboom, Flat Stanley, Tumi and the Volume, and some top class comedians, or just have a cool swim in the river. There's also the usual weekly mp3 and album charts, recommended SA gigs, letters to Sound Solutions, Digest Classifieds, old SA charts, and what's new on the shelves at Mabu Vinyl and CD and Vibes Vinyl. And that is some of SA music, this week ... ---------------- EDITOR'S NOTE ---------------- If you miss any issues of the Digest, then you can still read each week's Edition, in full colour, 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. ------------------------------------- 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 (104-107FM) on Monday evenings between 9 and 9.30pm. ----------------------------------------- THE SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK ENCYCLOPEDIA ----------------------------------------- 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 SA CD STORE ----------------------------------- Selling South African Music to the World http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 ------ GEMM ------ GEMM is your best source for those otherwise impossible-to-find music titles on Record or CD! http://sugarmusic.gemm.com ----------- CONTENTS ----------- 1.NEWS: Prime Circle, North Sea Jazz Festival, Splashy Fen 2004, Edgar Bullen, Capetown Sounds update, Colin Vearncombe, 2.CHARTS: Top 30 SA mp3s & albums 3.NEW RELEASES: SA mp3s & CDs: Six Of Nine, Zero Tolerance, 'Hadeda', Hawk, David Abbate, Niche. 4. USA FOR AFRICA: The Flames 5.A NAARTJIE IN THE UK: 'Hypocrites Unite' - Danny de Wet and the Lowveld Garage Band 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA: Springbok Radio charts, birthdays, The First SA Rock Digest 7.SOUND SOLUTIONS: Letters and requests, a Readers' Forum 8.DIGEST CLASSIFIEDS: Mabu Vinyl, Vibes Vinyl. 9.LIVE MUSIC: Events round-up, RP Emerging Sounds, SA Punk. 10.INFO: Subscriptions & contributions ___________________________________________ 1.NEWS -------- PRIME CIRCLE SIGNS INTERNATIONAL DEAL David Gresham, MD of the David Gresham Record Company, has secured an international deal for Prime Circle. The deal with Universal/Next Plateau is for the world, with the exception of Scandinavia, which will go to Warner Brothers Music Sweden. The David Gresham Record Company will continue to promote and record the band in South Africa and worldwide rights remain vested by The David Gresham Record Company in South Africa. MD David Gresham has been working on the deal for the last 6 months, which was finally announced at the annual world music trade fair, Midem, held in Cannes, France. Says Gresham: "We are so proud to establish a relationship with these companies and to give an awesome South African band a shot at the international market! We are all so excited and happy for the band!" In these times, when it is a known fact that the majors are laying off artists and cancelling agreements, this deal for Prime Circle is a major breakthrough. Prime Circle have had two number 1's, 'Hello' and 'Let Me Go' on 5fm alone. The third consecutive single, 'My Inspiration', off their debut album, 'Hello Crazy World', entered 5fm's charts at #39 on 25 January 2004. Their first single to go to radio internationally, will be 'Hello' in the spring of 2004. ------------------------ HEINZ GETS GERMAN RELEASE Due to some phenomenal local and international demand, double platinum recording/performing SA artist, Heinz Winckler, will be releasing a single into the German, Austrian, and European markets via BMG Germany in March. The release of Heinz' latest album is scheduled for April 2004. This album is yet another stepping stone towards Heinz's international career, which was firmly established at World Idols recently when he was voted #4 in the world and #2 in the U.S.A. The single will feature songs from his first album, such as 'Next Stop Happiness', 'Chasing Shadows ' (the theme song for Disney's 'Treasure Planet'), and the ever popular 'Soledad'. Heinz has been actively involved with the creation of this album and has written some of the songs as inspired by his journey thus far. From the 19th February, Heinz will be performing at The Blues Room, Sandton, Johannesburg. Last week Heinz welcomed German Idols winner, Alexander Klaws, to Cape Town. Alexander was a fellow competitor in the recent World Idols competition and has chosen Cape Town as the location to shoot his latest video. Since World Idols, Heinz's website (www.heinzw.co.za) has experienced such a massive volume of traffic that the site initially crashed several times. Fans will be happy to hear that the server has now been upgraded to cope with the amount of traffic it is experiencing. Requests from fans have mostly been to find where they can purchase his CD's. -------------- ANGIE STONE, STANLEY CLARKE, ABDULLAH IBRAHIM AND FRESHLYGROUND JOIN CASSANDRA WILSON, MIRIAM MAKEBA, FEMI KUTI, AND JONATHAN BUTLER AS HEADLINERS FOR NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL - CAPE TOWN 2004 The North Sea Jazz Festival - Cape Town will be celebrating its 5th anniversary in 2004 (hey! snap! - Ed.) with some major changes from previous years, and will also happily be coinciding with the launch of South Africa's "Ten Years into Democracy" anniversary celebrations. So a party of epic proportions is expected. Rashid Lombard of esp-Afrika is again helming the dynamic management team for the 2004 festival, alongside his Dutch partners, Theo van den Hoek and MOJO Concerts. The members of the festival's management team are confidently looking forward to another successful staging of the Jazz Festival in 2004. The first notable change is that North Sea Jazz Festival - Cape Town, "Africa's Grandest Gathering", as the huge festival is now affectionately known - will be taking place at its new home at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on the Mother City's Foreshore. With this timeous change of venue, the organisers have responded to the attendees' needs and will be able to stage a far more comfortable and user-friendly jazz festival at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, which will be the festival's home for the next 13 years. This move also raises the possibility that the festival's traditional four venues - Manenbergs, Kippies, Baseline, and Rosies - will be increased to 5 stages. In another change, the 2004 event will be staged in April, instead of the traditional last weekend in March, as has been the case for the previous festivals. This enforced change is due to temporary capacity constraints, so the 2004 event will take place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th April, but will be reverting to its traditional March-end staging from 2005. The festival line-up, which will again be the traditional, evenly split contingent of over 34 International and African performers, is already almost complete, with the latest additions including Angie Stone, Stanley Clarke, Abdullah Ibrahim, Raga Afrika, Loyiso, Azymuth, Alvin Dyers Quartet, Freshlyground, Daryl Andrews Jazz Band, Hiroshima, Soweto Kinch, Tasha's World, and the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band. US soul diva, the acclaimed Angie Stone, will be bringing her glorious voice and outstanding live performance to the festival for the first time. This veteran singer/songwriter worked with rap trio Sequence, acid-jazz combo Vertical Hold, and alongside D'Angelo on his 'Brown Sugar' album, before releasing 1999's classic soul record, 'Black Diamond', followed by the equally-lauded 'Mahogany Soul' album, both featuring Angie Stone's mature and sexy neo-soul, R&B style. Jazz fans will be thrilled to hear that Stanley Clarke will also be coming to the festival. Clarke has had an illustrious career, from his work with Chick Corea in 'Return To Forever', and with George Duke in the Clarke-Duke Project, to his successful solo career and albums, and his work as a composer, conductor, orchestrator, arranger, songwriter, and record producer. Hiroshima have been performing their unique combination of distinctively Japanese elements for over 25 years, as have Brazilian trio, Azymuth, with their "samba doido" (crazy samba), a power blend of Brazilian rhythms, jazz, and funk. Tasha's World is a very popular Dutch hip soul act; Raga Afrika is an Indo-Afro Fusion Band with an "East meets Africa" sound; and Soweto Kinch is the acclaimed young British alto saxophonist whose debut album, 'Conversations With the Unseen', successfully mixed post bop jazz and rap. From South Africa there is pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, one of SA Jazz's most adored and respected elder statesmen, who joins fellow Capetonians, the popular Alvin Dyers Quartet and The Darryl Andrews Band on the festival bill. The Darryl Andrews Band is a 12-piece Latin-Funk band featuring some of the finest jazz musicians in Cape Town. SA singer, Loyiso (Bala), began his career with the Drakensberg Boys' Choir and was later a member of the TKZee Family before launching his own successful brand of R&B and soul; and the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band are an exciting young addition to the festival bill alongside the more mature performers. Freshlyground burst onto the Cape Town scene over a year ago and are currently promoting their very successful debut album, 'Jika Jika', with a series of sold-out concerts around the Cape. The seven-person ensemble is sure to charm the Festival audience with its dynamic Afro-world-jazz hybrid sound on songs like 'Castles', 'Mali', and 'Ocean Floor'. Freshlyground's first appearance at the Festival is a deserved honour for the members of the line-up which features vocalist Xolani Mahola, Justin Tonkin (guitar), Kyla-Rose Smith (violin) Aron Turest-Swartz (keyboards), Josh Hawks (bass), Simon Attwell (flute), and Peter Cohen (drums). These artists join a list of other confirmed acts that includes: Miriam Makeba, South Africa's universally-respected vocalist who will be performing with TRIO (Severieno Diaz de Oliveira, Leopoldo Fleming and William Salter); Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Cassandra Wilson; Cape Town's renowned jazz vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Butler; SA jazz singer Gloria Bosman; saxophonist Toon Roos and the Toon Roos Group; trumpeter Basilio Y Márquez with his own septet, Eclipse. Also appearing are The Lou Donaldson Quartet, featuring the legendary jazz keyboardist Dr.Lonnie Smith; Femi Kuti, the eldest son of Fela Anikulapo Kuti and a World star in his own right, with his 17-piece band, Positive Force; SA saxophonist McCoy Mrubata; the Joe Lovano Trio; Feya Faku (on trumpet and flugelhorn) in collaboration with Dutch musicians Gully Gudmunsson and Mete Erker; and the Ngcukana Brothers (Ezra, Cyril, Fitzroy, Claude, and Duke). Finally, there's the Jonny Cooper Big Band with vocalist Donald Tshomela; saxophonist Sadao Watanabe; Sakhile with Sipho Gumede, Mabi Thabejane, and Khaya Mahlangu; and the 'Sax African Summit - Let Freedom Ring', which features the talents of saxophonist Jackie McLean and altoist Rene McLean with special guest saxophonists James Moody and Gary Bartz, and also featuring Hotep Idris Galeta, Nat Reeves, Ronnie Burrage, and Okeyrema Asnate. South African and international jazz fans have already begun arranging and booking tickets, trains, flights, accommodation, and travel packages for the festival in April. The organisers have been working with SAA to ensure that a large variety of travel packages are available. Details of these are available from SAA at +27 11 978 1145 or on their website www.flysaa.com There is also a North Sea Jazz Festival - Cape Town 2004 hotline at +27 83-123-JAZZ (or 5299) and line-up updates and other festival info can be found at www.nsjfcapetown.com The confirmed Gold sponsors for the North Sea Jazz Festival - Cape Town 2004 are once again MTN Group, SAA, SABC and Standard Bank. The Silver sponsors for the 2004 event are SAB and SA Tourism. Other Sponsors and/or funding principals include the Department of Arts and Culture, CD Wherehouse, Musica, MMINO, Western Cape Government, City of Cape Town, SHELL, TELKOM and Ambassade van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden. 2004 will also see one other unavoidable change from previous years, as the 5th anniversary of North Sea Jazz Festival - Cape Town 2004 will see the first increase in the price of tickets for the two-day event. The new ticket prices will be R260 (single day) and R399 (weekend). Tickets are available at Computicket. For more information contact Thompson n Team (TNT) Tel: (021) 465-3314 Fax: (021) 461-3669 or mailto:thompsonnt@xsinet.co.za -------------- CAPETOWN SOUND UPDATES Patric van Blerk, now with 'Capetown Sound' Studios, has been passing on lots of info to us about some of the current SA pop artists we should pay attention to, and some of their upcoming releases, in early 2004. Firstly there's the "return" album from David Abbate, called 'Crush', which was recorded in David's current hometown, L.A. and is released on the Bowline label. Read more about 'Crush' in the 'CD's' section below. SA soul-pop man, Dawnay, looks set to continue his journey with a second album on EMI called, ahem, 'The 2nd Coming'. First single off the album is 'Brandy' which is already No.3 on P4 radio in Cape Town. CT. Jannie Moolman is "half-way to Gold" with his debut album, simply called 'Jannie Moolman', released through Gallo SA. Patric has been working for some time on the debut album by brand-new, super-fresh super-singer Brennan Holder, and that album, titled 'Inside' (EMI), has just been released. First single is called 'Be Still' and that track has already been playlisted on a number of stations and is also in production as the first video. Brennan Holder recently signed up to star and sing as "Raoul" in the spectacular upcoming SA production of 'Phantom Of The Opera'. Lorraine Shannon's 'revamped' debut album from 2003, called 'Do You Know Where You're Going To' (Gallo), is about to be re-released. The new album features the version of the Diana Ross title-track that was used in the third Old Mutual 'Green' commercial recently shown on SATV. That track features the vocals of Sani Gamedze. Lorraine Shannon's CD has five new vocal tracks as well as a fabulous duet with Robin Walsh. The "ever-ready, always-workin', longest-surviving-band-in-the-land", The Rockets, are back in the charts on P4 Cape Town with 'Dreamin Of You' off their current album, 'Sweet Lady' (Bowline). There is also a new SA compilation, perfect for overseas visitors, called 'South Africa: We Are Growing' (Bowline), that has a range of styles from Kwaito to Boerequanga to Kaapse Klopse to great SA pop. The collection includes Dawnay's 'U Touch Me', Vicki Sampson's 'African Dream', Joy's 'Paradise Road', and some reggae from The Rockets with 'Weeping'. Last but not least, there's a quiet, peaceful, and beautiful album called 'Guided Meditations' (Bowline) by Belinda Silbert, the star of the TV program, 'Making Contact'. It's got gentle, soothing sounds, and inspiring words of wisdom, perfect to drift off to sleep with ... goodnite! -------------- SPLASHY SPECIAL OFFER [SAVE R70!] Splashy Fen - Easter Weekend - Thursday 8 April to Monday 12 April Splashy Fen 2004, "the ultimate outdoor experience", is offering some special limited discounted tickets that will cost attendees R225.00. This offer is valid until the end of February. The festival organisers have released a limited number of discounted tickets to the following outlets: Burn Nightclub, Umbilo Rd - Durban, Game Stores throughout KZN; Durban City, West Street, Pavilion, Pinetown, La Lucia, Pietermaritzburg, Empangeni, Kokstad, Newcastle Also: Rythmic Beat Value Centre - Springfield Park Durban Gateway Theatre Of Shopping - Umhlanga Rocks Durban Airport - Domestic Arrivals & Departures Park Meadows (Opposite East Gate) - Gauteng If you purchase a ticket from any of the above Rythmic Beat stores you will qualify for a bonus R50.00 Rythmic Beat Backbeat voucher on presentation of your ticket at the festival gate - so you save R120.00 Computicket If you are unable to purchase discounted tickets from the above outlets or if the tickets are sold out, go to Computicket nationwide - ticket price is R250.00 (valid until the end of March) Splashy Fen Farm Ticket prices at the festival gate: R295.00 per person Sunday 11 April day pass: R150.00 per person (tickets available only at the festival gate and you are allowed to sleep over) Kids 12 and under get in free Visit the website for updates, news, competitions, programme etc. Tell your friends to join the mailing list. www.splashyfen.co.za -------------- A LIVING TRIBUTE TO: EDGAR BULLEN By Anthony Bumstead I would like to pay a living tribute to a legend and giant of the South African Rock Music industry. He scratched a message into the dust of our Oppikoppi campsite and it was simply wonderful to meet up with him after all these years of missing each other. The man's name is Edgar Bullen. Edgar was brand manager for Martell during SFW's heady days. A DJ at varsity, he had a passion for live music. He influenced his SFW colleagues which resulted in other brands like Savannah, Mainstay, Hunters and Graca to get involved in the music scene. Edgar simply helped everyone - concert organisers, artists, production teams ... you name it!! I ran my first concert at my camp called Up The Creek on my 40th birthday in 1990. Edgar held our hand as he did with Dagga Dirk's Wingerdstoks and the late Frank Frost's Hangklip and Grahamstown concerts. A pub lunch at the Dros was the normal starting point for a sponsorship application (always on Edgar's expense account!). Eisbein, 20 beers, 2 Tequilas, leaving by 5pm, never 100% sure on what had or had not been agreed on but knowing that Edgar has essentially said yes. If he did not have the budget, he would always cajole stock from his colleagues. At the early Up The Creek festivals which were called Mini-Woodstocks Edgar used to personally drive the big red 8 ton truck to Swellendam, loaded with all the sponsorship booze, all his mates on mattresses and sometimes the sound equipment which was always borrowed from various sources; mainly band members. His arrival as you can imagine was fairly essential to the show going on, so, we would get messages from friends (I think the first 4 concerts were only attended by friends) as to how far the red bomb had progressed. If Edgar ran late, the show ran late - simple!! If a band could not make their slot, which happened rather frequently, we would simply offer their money to another band usually the Blues Broers and on the show would go. Edgar has left the corporate world, sacrificed his fat salary, his expense account and company BMW and is now a marketing consultant and has a sound hire business. He has supported us oldies in the industry, so if you need sound in the Cape, give him a shout. There are few musos in the 40-year vintage that did not receive assistance from Edgar and SFW - Piet Botha, Koos Kombuis and Valiant Swart, to name just a few. Anthony Bumstead (Blue Moon - Nelspruit) Mailto:renate@soft.co.za -------------- BLACK NEWS As reported in the Digest towards the end of last year, Colin Vearncombe, known to pop fans as Black, will coming to Johannesburg soon to record his new album. These recording sessions have been postponed to mid-February so that Colin could write more songs. These recordings will now be happening from 18-28 February at Radiopark studios with Neal Snyman as Engineer. Colin Vearncombe will be bringing Camila (backing vocals) and Callum McColl with him for the recordings, and will be working with SA musicians Concord Nkabinde on bass and Barry van Zyl on drums. -------------- FROM SPACE TO FEVERTREE You may remember them as 'The Space Committee', the Johannesburg band who had a 2003 hit with 'A Million Miles'. Well, the band signed to Musketeer Records in August 2003 and have been in the studio for the last two months recording an album which is due out in mid-April. The band has also changed its name to Fevertree. Details at: www.fevertreeband.com -------------- DISCLAIMER!! We always enjoy receiving the occasional newsletter from the Gauteng band, Nimbus. It's called the 'Nimnews' and apart from info from the band and gig dates and reviews, it always has some very funny content. Like this week where they decided to add the following disclaimer to the bottom of the newsletter. Disclaimers in general have become very po-faced and threatening, so this one is much better.... :: disclaimer etc. the email address you have given us will not be sold or made available to anyone, ever. if you provide us with your cell number for sms updates of upcoming gigs, we will not share your number with anyone, ever. we do not advertise in the nimnews. we may, however, thank our band's sponsors every now and again in the hope that they'll give us wads of cash. nimnews makes every attempt to keep the newsletters very small in size and quick to download. sometimes you may not be able to receive the newsletter as some service providers boot out emails with picture attachments. as a solution we provide a text-only version of the newsletter. ask and ye shall receive. some service providers also kick out emails containing certain unsavoury words so we make every attempt to avoid such atrocities. nimnews also attempts to keep the volumes less than one a week and more than one every two weeks, but we're not perfect. we're not even close. the purpose of the newsletter is to keep our fans and other interested parties up to date with the latest happenings in the band and to provide a schedule of upcoming gigs. we happily receive suggestions for improvement, or emails telling us how wonderful/terrible our newsletter is. we take no responsibility for any harm encountered while reading this email, morally or otherwise. please share the newsletter with whoever shows interest. Writing the nimnews is an arduous task (i'm in a sweat right now...though that's for a different reason) so please reciprocate by coming to see one of our gigs. as nobody ever reads this far down into a disclaimer i would now like to end a sentence with a preposition in. Nimbus are at www.nimbusexperience.com Newsletter and contact: theband@nimbusexperience.com ---------------------------------------------------- 2. CHARTS ---------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3s OF THE WEEK http://www.SAmp3.com 1. [2] (1) Sobriety Friend - Old Mol ('Rock The Bedsprings'/Legend) 2. [6] (2) Rise - Sonar ('Bitterwaste' EP/Indie) 3. [4] (3) Duiwel Kom Ons Haal - Springcan ('Are You Confuzed?'/Indie) 4. [8] (4) Lovesong - The Dolly Rockers ('The Heat'/Indie) 5. [1] (1) Fokofpolisiekar - Fokofpolisiekar (SAmp3.com/Rhythm/Bowline) 6. [3] (3) Mowgli - Zero Tolerance ('A Perfect Life'/Indie) 7. [11] (7) Met My Stukkende Kitaar - Koos Kombuis & Valiant Swart (''n Jaar In Die Son'/Rhythm/Bowline) 8. [5] (5) Life Away - My Shade ('Bedtime Musick'/Indie) 9. [14] (9) The Countdown - Bluescream ('Bluescream'/Indie) 10. [15] (10) Step Outside - Luna ('Luna'/Indie) 11. [16] (11) Blah Di Blah - Drop Dead Gorgeous ('Melt with Me'/Indie) 12. [7] (1) Hands Down - Track 4 ('Demo'/Indie) 13. [17] (13) To Confide In - Lazarus ('Parallax View'/Indie) 14. [21] (14) Antipodean Dirge - Tim Wells ('Elephant'/Indie) 15. [9] (1) All The World - Zen Arcade ('Release'/Indie) 16. [12] (4) Twisted - Believable Addiction (Indie) 17. [10] (10) My Favourite Song On The Radio - What Now?! ('Let Us Be Heard'/Wicked Rock) 18. [22] (18) Afrikaner Surfer Boy - Vanessa Van ('Leef Die Droom'/Bowline) 19. [13] (3) Face - Ystervark ('Living It Up'/Indie) 20. [19] (1) Above My Room - Jo Day ('The Truth'/Indie) 21. [20] (2) Time To Change - Grant Nuss ('Diversity'/Bowline) 22. [18] (8) Anything - Mike de Jager and Adrian Clark ('With These Hands'/Indie) 23. [28] (23) Take You Down - Glow (Witchdoctor Records) 24. [27] (22) Seether Sampler - Seether ('Disclaimer'/Musketeer) 25. [25] (1) Things 2 Consider - Skwirmish ('The EP'/Indie) 26. [24] (4) Vi@gra La Buena - Nukular Stompers ('Can Of Worms'/Street Level) 27. [-] (27) Saad van 'n Psigopaat - Abel Kraamsaal ('Woorde Op 'n Wynboks'/Indie) 28. [-] (28) Bliss - Toyland ('With Every Breath'/Witchdoctor Records) 29. [26] (6) Scream (demo) - Velve (Street Level) 30. [-] (30) The Master Plan - Blood Island Raiders ('For The Sake Of Clarity'/Witchdoctor) -------------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS OF THE WEEK http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts This week [last week] (highest position) Title - Artist (Label) 1. [3] (1) 'n Jaar In Die Son - Koos Kombuis & Valiant Swart (Rhythm/Bowline) 2. [1] (1) More Fire - The Rudimentals (Indie) 3. [4] (3) The Heat - Dolly Rockers (Indie) 4. [10] (4) African Dope Sound System - Various (African Dope) 5. [11] (5) Humanarium - Bed On Bricks (Indie) 6. [2] (2) Melt With Me - Drop Dead Gorgeous (Indie/Bowline) 7. [5] (3) Power - Tribe After Tribe (RetroFresh) 8. [7] (7) Flat To Round - David Foster (Rhythm/Bowline) 9. [12] (9) Muti Media - Kalahari Surfers (African Dope) 10. [13] (10) 21 Gunslut - Soulja (Indie) 11. [8] (1) Rock The Bedsprings - Old Mol (Legend) 12. [6] (4) Luna - Luna (Indie) 13. [9] (2) Perelsvoordieswyne - Best Of - Johannes Kerkorrel (Gallo) 14. [16] (14) With Every Breath - Toyland (Witchdoctor) 15. [21] (15) Blomdoorns - Derek Gripper (Open Record) 16. [15] (1) Jika Jika - freshlyground (Freeground) 17. [17] (3) Breathe Sunshine - Various (Amabala) 18. [26] (18) As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand - Fokofpolisiekar (Rhythm) 19. [14] (1) The Truth - Jo Day (Indie) 20. [20] (2) Hello Crazy World - Prime Circle (David Gresham Records) 21. [23] (1) Die Mamba - Piet Botha (Rhythm) 22. [19] (12) Can Of Worms - Nukular Stompers (Street Level) 23. [25] (1) Steady On - Moodphase 5ive (African Dope) 24. [-] (24) Boerecountry - Blomkrag (Indie) 25. [28] (25) Naked EP - Hog Hoggidy Hog (3 Chord Records) 26. [22] (1) Another Universe - Arno Carstens (Epic) 27. [30] (2) Sui - Benguela (Open Record) 28. [18] (3) Diversity - Grant Nuss (Indie/Bowline) 29. [29] (1) Chasing The Sun - Karen Zoid (EMI) 30. [27] (5) Tassenberg All*Stars Volume 4 - Vari-ous (Trippy Grape/Bowline) READ http://www.rock.co.za/files LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 _____________________________________________ 3. NEW, RECENT AND UPCOMING RELEASES ------ MP3s ------ SIX OF NINE - 'CLOSE TO ME' (INDIE) This excellent Cape Town band has released their hot, new single, 'Close To Me', and it is immediately available, exclusively on SAmp3.com. Six Of Nine will be interviewed on CCFM in Cape Town at 21:30 on Tuesday 3rd February. -------------- ZERO TOLERANCE - 'LIVING AS NUMBERS' (INDIE) This is the second track to be released as an mp3 off the Zero Tolerance debut EP, 'A Perfect Life'. Featuring the band's trademark collision of ska, punk, and Cape Town suburban angst. -------------- SAM PADDOCK - 'GONE AWAY' (INDIE) We received this demo EP from a new Cape Town singer-songwriter called Sam Paddock and felt you really need to hear the first single, called 'Gone Away', which is a moving ballad about an African child's loss of his mother. Sam is a 22 year-old student, currently completing his honours year of a Bachelor of Business Science degree at the University of Cape Town. During his school years, Sam played in a band called Cold Turkey, as well as numerous variety shows and band-slams by himself. Since matriculating he has made various live appearances and also plays an acoustic set at a local folk club from time to time. The Demo was recorded at Tracking Station, and features the tracks 'Gone Away', 'Scars and Reasons', 'You', and 'Literally'. -------------- All the mp3s listed here are available to download at http://www.SAmp3.com - the biggest South African mp3 website in the world. --------------- CDS ------ 'HADEDA' - VAN ZYL, VAN DER SPUY & VENNOTE Take two English-speaking Afrikaans guys, drummer Barry van Zyl and guitarist Nibs van Der Spuy, who just happen to be great musicians, writing songs with an African flavour and lyrics in Afrikaans, Zulu and English. Mix in some well-known friends, every one a star in their own right: Shawn Phillips, Concord Nkabinde, Carlo Mombelli, Laurinda Hofmeyr and Neo Muyanga. The resulting CD is a unique musical collaboration called 'Hadeda', to be launched with two special concerts at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch on 6 and 7 February. Barry van Zyl is a Johannesburg-based master drummer, percussionist and lecturer. As a member of Johnny Clegg's band since 1999, he has toured extensively. Recent performance and/or recording credits include: Shawn Phillips, Colin Vearncombe aka 'Black', The Hothouse Flowers, Ernest Ranglin, Oliver Mtukudzi, Paul Hanmer, Anton Goosen, Valiant Swart, Tony Cox, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The English Chamber Orchestra, Arno Carstens' New Porn, Laurinda Hofmeyr, and The Soweto String Quartet. Nibs Van der Spuy is a guitarist, singer, composer and teacher from Durban. Nibs was leader, founder and composer of the seminal Durban band, Landscape Prayers, releasing highly acclaimed albums and playing all over the world. He also has two solo releases to his credit, as well as an ongoing musical partnership with Gito Baloyi of Tananas fame. Later this year Nibs will return to Italy to tour with the Modena City Ramblers. All the music on the CD, 'Hadeda', was composed by Barry and Nibs and recorded in Durban as fresh and unrehearsed as possible - one or two takes only. Then the instrumental tracks were given to guest singers and instrumentalists to interpret without any restrictions. Stylistically it's a diverse mix, but with a South African flavour. The music is all acoustic - no electric guitars or keyboards. Half the songs are instrumental while half have vocals/voices. The emphasis is on melody and interesting rhythms. 'Hadeda' will be launched at Oude Libertas and distributed by Rhythm Records. The title of the album was apparently Frank Opperman's idea: a loud but curiously beautiful indigenous bird that all South Africans identify as one of the sounds of home. The artists joining Nibs and Barry on stage for the two Oude Libertas concerts have all contributed to the album. The Guests on 'Hadeda' include: Shawn Phillips (title track), Neo Muyanga, Laurinda Hoffmeyer, Jana Cilliers, Concord Nkabinde (Zulu voices), Carlo Mombelli, and last (but not least!) 2002 Grammy-winning producer, composer, arranger Paul Buckmaster! Folk legend and rock pioneer Shawn Phillips needs no introduction, being one of the most fascinating and enigmatic musicians to come out of the singer-songwriter boom of the early 1970s. Fretless bass player Carlo Mombelli spent more than a decade in Germany and performing in Europe, recording a number of acclaimed albums, before returning to South Africa to share his experience locally. Concord Nkabinde is a bass guitarist whose world/jazz style debut album, 'Concord - The Time, The Season', was voted album of the week on Kaya FM and he was also voted artist of the week on SAfm last year. Neo Muyanga is best known as the other half of the popular acoustic guitar-playing duo Blk Sonshine, together with Masauko Chipembere. His debut solo album, 'The Listening Room', was well-received, making the dreadlocked artist a household name. Laurinda Hofmeyr originally made her name as a songwriter for Laurika Rauch, but has grown in stature as one of the most prominent performers, pianists and composers on the Afrikaans music scene, having released two very successful albums, 'Perd Oor Die Maan' (1999), and 'Ligdag' (2003). Please note that some recent performances at Oude Libertas have sold out - book early to avoid disappointment. Book per telephone at 021-809 7380 or come to the Oude Libertas Box Office, weekdays between 09:00 and 17:00, Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00 and always one hour prior to performances. Visit the website at www.oudelibertas.co.za -------------- HAWK - 'AFRICA SHE TOO CAN CRY' (RetroFresh, freshcd137) Here is a quote from an email received in 1999 from Krister in Sweden: "I am 24 years old and a university student. When I was about 6 or 7 or so I got hold of this fantastic album, Jo'burg Hawk's 'Africa she too can cry' from 1973. This has haunted me thru the years and I find it an all time great. I suppose that the chance that their album ever got out on CD are minimal. That's unfortunate since my only vinyl is really torn down and scratchy." OK, Krister, your wish (and that of many others) has been granted. At last this classic album from the 70's has been re-released on CD. This album has actually been released in 3 different versions; the first was in 1972 a year or so after the phenomenal 'African Day' album. In 1973 'Africa She Too Was Cry' was released in the UK (and Europe) by the Charisma label (home of Genesis at the time) with a revised track listing and credited to JoBurg Hawk. In the late 90's an unofficial CD with the same title was released by the Japanese Never Land label. Despite the fact that this was a pirate CD, it was also more of a compilation than a re-issue, as it featured tracks from all 3 Hawk albums. After much deliberation and discussion (and lack of master recordings) Benjy Mudie of Fresh Music decided to release the UK version of 'Africa She Too Can Cry' with bonus tracks culled from some singles-only releases and the elusive 'Live And Well' album, which was not actually a "live" recording, despite its title. The 'African Day Suite' is a re-recorded and extended version of the side-long epic which originally appeared on 'African Day'. It tells the story, in spoken words, lyrics and music, of a rampaging elephant that threatens to destroy a tribal village and has to be killed. The fact that the censors missed the analogy to the oppressive apartheid regime at the time is amazing. Freedom's Children's Ramsay Mackay wrote a major portion of the material for this album, and though he did not play on it, his influence is strongly felt. Mackay's compatriot in Freedom's, Julian Laxton, was a Hawk member by this time and his guitar work here is subdued but legendary. The catchy 'Dark Side Of The Moon' song has nothing to do with the Pink Floyd classic album, and in fact was released almost a year before that album's debut. Bonus tracks include the original version of the much-covered 'Orang Outang' (Kenny Henson's Harambee, Margaret Singana, Brian Finch and more have all recorded it) which was also penned by Ramsay Mackay and released as a single in the UK in 1973. The obscure 'Kalahari Dry' song was used as part of an ad campaign for Groovy cooldrink (remember Groovy?) and released as a single in South Africa in November 1972. The original vinyl single was found lurking in Tertius Louw's extensive collection and digitally transferred by him for this CD re-issue. The Chicago-meets-Osibisa styled 'Mumbo Jumbo' is another Ramsay Mackay composition which deserves wider exposure. The closing track of this CD re-issue is the beautiful ballad 'In My Youth' (from 'Live And Well') which sounds like it could have been written for the stageshow 'Hair'. Audrey Moutaung's voice soars on this one and is then balanced by the earthy tones of Ornellas. Excellent and detailed sleeve notes are provided by Raymond Joseph including recent interviews with vocalist Dave Ornellas and guitarist Julian Laxton. This is truly an album of Africa and a must-have for every music fans collection. (BC) READ http://www.rock.co.za/hawk LISTEN http://www.freshmusic.co.za/retrofresh.htm BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=hawk -------------- 'CRUSH' - DAVID ABBATE (BOWLINE) One of South Africa's top singer-songwriters, David Abbate, has just released his fourth solo album, titled 'Crush'. David, now living in Los Angeles, received fame in South Africa in the '90's with numerous chart-topping songs including 'I'm Yours', 'Rising Sun', 'Do You Remember', 'Touch the Stars', and 'The One'. To his list of credits, David Abbate has performed live to over 100 countries, in television shows like Miss World, Miss South Africa, Supermodel, and recorded with top musicians on numerous albums. He is currently working with Pete Amato, famed for producing Leanne Rimes and writing for Ricky Martin in Los Angeles on his latest album project. He looks to reproduce in the US his considerable South African success - four No. 1 songs, "Best Male Vocalist" award at the South African National Awards and the "Ithuba" Songwriting Award. David performs constantly to a star-studded audience at the Polo Lounge located in Beverly Hills Hotel. It is here that he has come to know the very top entertainers in the music and film industry from Lionel Richie and Madonna to Dustin Hoffman, Russel Crowe and Gwyneth Paltrow. David is also making himself a name in the film industry in Hollywood by way of his music being used in TV and Film projects. This singer-songwriter with his band compiled an album of songs with compelling lyrics set to memorable melodies. The blending of acoustic sounds, moving lyrics and powerful vocals, alongside Los Angeles musicians Brian Bielski on drums, Jarrett Lesko on bass and Dan Nolton on guitar, give him substance and depth. And this local musician has not forgotten his roots here in South Africa as fans request his songs on local radio stations. --------------- THE ZAZONE.COM SA BAND SPOTLIGHT http://www.zaZone.com LAD, the dedicated webmaster of zaZone.com, usually throws his regular spotlight on one of the many SA bands currently affiliated to his SA music site. NICHE Niche have been around for two and a half to three years now. The band recorded an album at Paris Studios in their first year, but felt that their work could become much better and therefore did not release the album. Their song "Maybe" was playlisted on 5fm for 6 months and the band was featured in the Oct/Nov issue of Stage magazine when they won the "Stage Best Performance Award". The band started out with Steven Winter and Caleb Hill who are the band's songwriters. They started the band as a duo about 7 ago. They are now joined on stage by Max Edwards on backing vocals and bass guitar, Nick Ornellas on drums and most recently Mark who plays the Sax. Niche can be seen at Mercury playing with The Dave Foster Band & I55 on the 28th of Feb and every 2nd Sat of every month at the Acoustic Cafe till end of 2004! Their website will be up by March this year. Niche would also like to get into festivals and some concerts around the country. They've been writing quite a bit of new material over the last few months and are looking for backing for an album which they hope to release by the end of the year. The band is excited about their creative progress at this point and is growing musically as well as performance-wise. Look out for Niche -- they provide a show and sound well worth seeing. If you're in an SA Band or are an SA artist and would like to appear in this slot please mail mailto:tony@zazone.com Note: zaZone.com information: zaZone.com is now WAP enabled! You can now see the gigs per area or by artist/band by visiting http://www.zazone.com/wap on your cellphone. Watch out for more announcements of interesting things happening at zaZone.com! Sponsored by zaZone.com Promoting SA Music... http://www.zazone.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. Kurt is away this week, so we look back at one of his classic reviews. THE BEST OF THE FLAMES These guys take a song and make it theirs -- the singers are utterly convincing. The Flames have soul chops down, but they don't just go through the motions: they convey feelings with each song. One feeling I get from every Flames song is sincerity, as if any given song were Flames-penned out of their own heartbreaks or joys. The Flames do other people's songs but that doesn't make them a cover band. As mentioned, The Flames take a song and make it their own. Their choice of material is excellent, ranging from crooners such as "For Your Precious Love", "When Something's Wrong with My Baby", "A Place in the Sun", to stompers such as "Knock On Wood", "Hold On I'm Comin'", and "Land of a Thousand Dances". "Try a Little Tenderness" has always been one of my favorite songs, and still is. The big horn finish of "Hold On I'm Coming" or "Restless" is exciting. The plaintive melody of "When Something's Wrong with My Baby" sticks with one. These and other songs, sixteen in total, make this best-of set a consistently satisfying CD of solid and sincere soul and R&B. While the slower, crooning, emotional songs often stand out on this CD, much of the material is composed of mid-tempo boppers and uptempo whamma-jamma tunes ("whamma-jamma" being a positive, superlative adjective in retro-reviewer-speak). In other words, The Flames sometimes slow the pace down for the lovers in their audience, but the rest of the time they let the dancers break a sweat. The basic CD liner notes give little more than some praise, a few tidbits of info, and the listing of the five musicians -- not even a clear photo. Four of the musicians handle vocals, but if the singer's voice is clear, strong, and catches your attention, it's probably Blondie. "Purple Haze" is a hard-hitting version of Jimi's song. I've heard many versions of "Purple Haze" because it was a favorite of all the bands that played high school dances in the Cazenovia High School gym in Upstate New York. Anyway, heard through headphones or by speaker blast, this version sounds like one Jimi would have gotten a kick from. The busy psychedelic sounds are all right, but somewhat distracting at first. The vocals convince (as they convince on all of these Flames tracks). This best-of collection is the work of another fine South African group with a few albums that could do with re-releasing. If you're still not convinced, check out "The Best of The Flames" and maybe Blondie will give you a better understanding.... READ http://www.the-flames.com BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=telcd2432 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: HYPOCRITES UNITE - DANNY DE WET AND THE LOWVELD GARAGE BAND "I'm a proud South African, That's why I cringe, when those ous from Counting Crows try to sound like Just Jinger". Those are some of the words that a certain Daniel Rudolph de Wet suggests should be used in a 'New National Anthem'. A bit of a change from Coarse Hair Sick ill air lê e:Africa hey Danny? For those not in the no, Danny de Wet was one of the ous that made up the brilliant one album wonders Electric Petals, but is probably better known as the drummer of Wonderboom. Along with the Louw Felt Garage Band (a side project it seems), Danny explores the world of Religion and I think it's safe to say that organised religion is not one of their favourite things. 'So let's throw a hand grenade at every promise made by people who take your money in God's name and say you're saved' from 'Angrynade' will give you an idea of where this album is lyrically pitched, although it has to be said, that that's probably the angriest it gets. Described as "a collection of gospel songs including five secular tracks", 'Hypocrites Unite' is not only questioning of religion, but also has a political edge to it. There's a Hendrix-esque 'N'kosi Sikelele iAfrika' bridge in a fine cover of the Radio Rats' 'Fanny Magnet' and with lines like 'Jah Boot in a Babylon, South African hi-jack the Chevy on the levy', there are subtle and some not so subtle observations on life in the Knew South Africa. De Wet is one of the cleverest lyricists in SA, with puns like the song title 'Angrynade' and word plays like 'A small mouthful or two of falafel or pita, Put the Peter into Paul'. As on the Electric Petals 'Polynation' album, he shows a great knack of including lines from or name checks of well-known groups. In 'Healthy Wealthy Preacher Creature' he sings "I'm so happy I could cry. Tears for Fears, it's a Rapid Eye Movement - Everybody Hurts, It's a Mad World". Musically this album swings from rock to township jive to reggae/ska to a great Led Zep impersonation on the closing track 'God Speaks In Tons' which also includes a snippet of the Petals 'Thank you For The Book'. Not for the faint hearted or easily offended on the religious front, but it is a challenging album set to a great beat. John Samson, London mailto:john@sarockdigest.com _________________________________________ 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA -------------------- THE VERY FIRST SA ROCK DIGEST #1 [What follows is a copy of the Digest that was sent out on 27 January 1999 - to 15 subscribers.....] -------------- SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE NUMBER 1 In this issue: Introduction Memories are made of this Freedoms Children Where's my Tuxx? Lost drummer? Info wanted The Hidden Years Japanese pressings of SA Rock Classics?!? The A-Cads, anyone? Top Ten favourite SA rock songs ________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Welcome... This is a discussion forum for anything about South African rock music; past, present and future. Read it, digest it, enjoy it, add your comments and tell your friends.... _________________________________________________ MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS I am a South African who was a teenager in the early 70's and remember going to Ciro's in Jhb to see bands like Clout and Ballyhoo by train, as I was not old enough to drive (or drink for that matter). I currently live in California and met up with an old friend and started reminiscing about the good old days in SA and started remembering all those great bands that unfortunately never gained the recognition they deserved. Memories of Saturday morning concerts at the Coliseum, as well as the Ellis Park and later Free People Concerts came flooding back. -- Craig B I am glad I survived the 70's and 80's. Anybody that used to go to the Canterbury Inn, Stealers, Hout Bay Hotel, Mowbray Hotel, Beverly Hills Hotel and 1886 will know what I mean. South Africa had some good bands and I am glad I had the opportunity to experience most of them first hand. -- Piet Obermeyer {Ed: I was in the army at Youngsfield in CT in the late 70s and remember seeing McCully Workshop at the Canterbury Inn, Charles G and John T at Stealers, Baxtop at the Chelsea, Joe Parker at the Century Hotel, Omega Ltd at the Clifton, Ballyhoo at the Rotunda, oh the memories....} You may recall the great Israeli band, Jericho? I had a wonderful opportunity to see them rehearsing with Hawk in the Sandown Town Hall in 1971. The following day, they both featured in an open-air concert with the likes of Freedom's Children, Razamatazz and a whole bunch of great bands. Those were the days, my friend.....! By the way, both Jericho albums have been available on CD (Repertoire) for about five years. And the days at the Branch Office restaurant in Jeppe Street, Jhb? Duncan MacKay was the greatest thing since multi-speed vibrators - SA's answer to Rick Wakeman, Lee Michaels and Rick van der Linden! -- Leon Economides TIDAL WAVE are remembered primarily for the vastly and incomprehensibly over-rated "Spider Spider" and the indifferent "Mango Mango". The B-side to "Spider" was infinitely better ("Man on a String") but their best ever (again in my humble view) was "WITH TEARS IN MY EYES" which was vaguely popular in late 1969 (pre-"Spider") but which is extremely hard to find; frustrating for me as it is well within my personal top 40. In Kimberley in 1971 Tidal Wave and Otis Waygood appeared as a double bill. Probably the second best concert I've attended. (The best was undoubtedly Barclay James Harvest who were less remarkable after the departure of Woolly Wolstenholme). Tidal Wave - in concert - were asked to do "TEARS" but declined, saying acoustics not right and a full orchestra needed to do it justice. Oh, I think they had members who hailed from (the then) Rhodesia. -- Peter Alston I have lived in California since 1990 and have explored other business ventures but over the last few years developed a keen interest in Rock and Roll collectibles and memorabilia. I've also been having flashbacks to my teens and have wonderful memories of the South African music scene in the 70's and early 80's. Thanks again for you excellent sites and if you or anyone else you know ever needs help locating music gear or related items I would gladly do research or send info (I know how expensive equipment is in SA) -- Craig Ballen ________________________________________________ FREEDOMS CHILDREN [Freedoms Children] is perhaps most closely associated with the ASTRA album (1970/1). Less frequently encountered or spoken of is its predecessor KAFKAESQUE which includes such marvellous numbers (apart from the title track) as "Mrs Browning" and their best ever - in my humble view - "Eclipse". Another song of merit was the appropriately (for now) titled "1999" which the lead singer tried to revive last year apparently without much success. -- Peter Alston {Ed: Kafkaesque (the album) was actually titled "Battle Hymn Of The Broken-Hearted Horde" and was released in 1968. "1999" comes from the "Galactic Vibes" album in 1972.} Read more about these albums at: Battle Hymn (including sleeve notes) http://www.rock.co.za/files/battlehymn.html Galactic Vibes http://www.rock.co.za/files/vibes.html Astra (including cover scan) http://www.rock.co.za/files/astra.html _________________________________________________ WHERE'S MY TUXX? I'm interested in finding out what happend to the black guy in Just Jinger. His name was Tuxx and I think he played bass, it was supposed to be the beginning of inter-racial rock but as soon as JJ got popular the guy just disappeared and there has been no trace of him since, there has been rumours of him disappearing to Zimbabwe and also rumours of him and cocaine. -- Craig Gibbs _________________________________________________ LOST DRUMMER? ...does anybody happen to know anything about a drummer called Tony Awin? He was a South African-born drummer who moved to the UK in the early 70's and featured with a power rock trio called Incredible Hog. They released a single excellent album, also available on CD, called "Volume 1", and split in 1973. They did write enough material for a second album, but this never materialised. I've subsequently heard that an unknown German label managed to get hold of these "lost tapes" and is in the process of putting together a CD of this material. I'd really like to get a chance to interview Tony about these "lost tapes" as well as about the band, so if anybody can help, I'd be extremely grateful. -- Leon Economides {Ed: listen to Leon and Phil Wright on Dinosaur Days on 5FM, Sunday nights from 11.30pm, great stuff!} ________________________________________________ INFO WANTED The BAND: FACTORY The year: Hmm about 1985 somewhere The song: I want to fly in a 747 Name of the album: ????? Lead Guitar: Andre Meyer Song was played on the Martin Bailie show a lot on Radio 5. I think he might have even had a hand in putting the album together. I HAD this LP - but when I left South Africa it stayed behind. Does anybody know if there is a CD version of this album and if I can purchase it online? I have tried One World already - its not on there. Thanks for any help. -- Nico ________________________________________________ THE HIDDEN YEARS (extract from long posting on message board) The irony is that if we do not [remember the music], the apartheid security establishment would have had the last laugh! Their aim - to prevent us from listening to ourselves - would have been achieved. -- David Marks, Third Ear Music's Hidden Years Project {Ed: Great comment Dave! I remember receiving lectures in the army on the evils of playing records backwards (!) and how corrupt Zappa was, etc, etc...} ________________________________________________ JAPANESE PRESSINGS OF SA ROCK CLASSICS?!? (extract from posting on message board) ...Suck, Abstract Truth's Totem, Duncan MacKay's Chimera, Otis Waygood's Ten Light Claps and another great SA hard rocking band, Wildebeest, with their Bushrock Live album, have all been released in Japan on a label called Never Never Land, supposedly taken from the Pink Fairies album of the same name! These discs have obviously been mastered from vinyl, but they are of very good quality and the sleeves have been very professionally reproduced in a unique "mini LP" format, very different to a normal CD. -- Leon Economides ________________________________________________ THE A-CADS What about the A-Cads, circa 1965? I may be biased (I was the guitar player), but they were considered to be an exceptionally heavy-duty band at the time. -- Richard Laws Not many people realise that the A-CADS were a SA group. They had a one-hit wonder with "Hungry for Love". Before that I believe they provided backing vocals to another outfit, whose name escapes me. -- Peter Alston {Ed: Dick Laws, the guitarist, backed Tommy Roe on his 1969 SA tour.} ________________________________________________ TOP TEN FAVOURITE SA ROCK SONGS Here is a list of my favourite SA rock songs, as of this moment! (in alphabetical order): 1. Cape Axe - Jorge Carlos 2. Eclipse - Freedom's Children 3. Goeie Nag Generaal - Piet Botha 4. Making Out With Granny - Falling Mirror 5. Sarajevo - Jack Hammer 6. Sex - Pressure Cookies (featuring Willem Moller) 7. So Cold - Hotline 8. Sugar Man - Just Jinger 9. The Thin Red Line - Julian Laxton 10.Who Killed Kurt Cobain - Koos Kombuis Subject to change without notice. Send me your lists and I'll post them here. The "rock" genre is wide-open, so don't get bogged down too much - if you like a song, say so... My favourite POP song list is of course, very different to this list. Coming soon: The South African Rock List site - watch this space for details. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The SA Rock Digest is compiled by Brian "Vagabond" Currin from the "Too Good To Be Forgotten" internet message board and e-mails from various Digest members. Any suggestions on format or content will be gratefully received, but may be ignored. Want up-to-date news, reviews and interviews on South African and international music, with a healthy dose of humour? Visit Sugar's Amuzine site at: http://rock.co.za/amuzine Want to unsubscribe from this e-mag? I hope not, but if you really must, then just send me an e-mail, saying "I'm bored" or "get me out of here" or "I've had enough" or whatever, I'll get the idea, eventually. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> And now we return to the current Digest..... -------------- SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS http://rock.co.za/charts This week [Last week] Title - Artist 30 YEARS AGO (1 February 1974) 1 [1] The Peacemaker - Albert Hammond 2 [2] Photograph - Ringo Starr 3 [3] Sorrow - David Bowie 4 [5] The Wonder Of Your Love - Jody Wayne 5 [4] Angie - Rolling Stones 25 YEARS AGO (2 February 1979) 1 [9] Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees 2 [7] Stumblin' In - Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman 3 [15] My Life - Billy Joel 4 [1] Kiss You All Over - Exile 5 [13] New York Groove - Ace Frehley 20 YEARS AGO (3 February 1984) 1 [1] All Night Long - Lionel Richie 2 [2] Karma Chameleon - Culture Club 3 [3] Say Say Say - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson 4 [4] Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack 5 [6] Major Tom - Peter Schilling 15 YEARS AGO (4 February 1989) 1 [1] The Locomotion - Kylie Minogue 2 [2] She Wants To Dance With Me - Rick Astley 3 [5] I Want Your Love - Transvision Vamp 4 [16] Wild Wild West - The Escape Club 5 [3] Domino Dancing - Pet Shop Boys http://rock.co.za/chart ------------- CHART CHAT ------------- For the 3rd week running, the top 5 in 1974 comprised of the same songs. Albert Hammond spent his second at the top while Jody Wayne was enjoying his highest placing since 1970's 'The Wedding'. In complete contrast, the top 5 of 1979 saw a huge shake-up with only Exile surviving from the previous week. Suzi Quatro was brought across to RAK records by Mickie Most who had lived in SA for a number of years. With 2 SA top 10 hits under her belt, teaming up with Smokie's Chris Norman produced her highest-charting hit to date. Billy Joel had just missed out on top 5 fame with 1978's 'Just The Way You Are' but came screaming into the top 5 with 'My Life'. One time Kiss member Ace Frehley (born Paul Frehley) also leapt into the top 5 with the foot stomping 'Back In The New York Groove'. Peter Schilling managed to track down 'Major Tom' after David Bowie had lost him a few years earlier. The German singer took the song to number 14 in the US and 42 in the UK. His album 'Error In The System' from which the single was taken even made 61 in the US. 1989 saw Kylie extend her run at the top to 11 weeks. England's Escape Club launched a valiant effort to knock her from the top spot with their US chart-topping 'Wild Wild West'. However, there would only be one week for them to do so as the following week's charts would be the last singles chart produced, so tune in next week to learn the answer to the Trivial Pursuit question 'What was the last ever number 1 single on the SA charts?' South Africans at number 1 this week: Substitute - Clout (1978) South African New Entries this week: 06-Feb-76 Let Me Into Your Life - Flood 06-Feb-82 You're So Good To Me - Hotline John Samson ----------- BIRTHDAYS ----------- Feb. 1 - Pierre de Charmoy (1961) Feb. 6 - Bob Marley (died 11 May 1981) Feb. 7 - Danièle Pascal Feb. 12 - Dave Marks Feb. 14 - Syd Kitchen Feb. 15 - Greg Georgiades Feb. 20 - Nibs van der Spuy (1966) Feb. 21 - Brian Finch (1947) _____________________________________________ 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 and erudite readers to please contact these writers and help out as well. Thanks if you do! -------------- STRAWBS WANT TO TOUR SA! Dave Cousins, from the legendary band Strawbs, is looking for an agent to assist with a proposed acoustic trio tour during 2004. Please contact strawbs@rock.co.za?subject=strawbs -------------- TEACHER'S PET! Hi, I am an English teacher at Rand Park high school, and have the dubious pleasure of being in charge of drama. Tired of the cliched, staid plays, I have written my own revues. This year I am doing a musical based on the history of South African music, from the Volkspelers to today. I have found so much information on your site and it has given me so many ideas, so I guess I just want to say thank you. Bridget Webster Mailto:bridget.webster@randparkhigh.co.za Ed. - You're welcome Teach! -------------- SWEET SONGS Dear Sir/Madam, I am trying to locate the publishing department of Sugarmusic. In the last 18 months Sugarmusic have given me the world rights in English to 'Gira con me Questa Notte' ('This Crazy Heart') and Andrea Bocelli's 'Romanza' ('Do you love me'). About 5 months ago I submitted my translation to 'La luna che non ce' ('Lovelight') but I have not received a reply. Universal Music here in Sydney is not very helpful. I would appreciate if you would forward this email onto the right people. Thank you. Sincerely, Roberto Mailto:admin@rockgroup.com.au Please try http://www.sugarmusic.com - we are http://www.sugarmusic.co.za a South African company and not the Sugar Music publishing company you are looking for. -------------- I-RAP-A-HO????? Hi (shouldn't that be "How") I have been trying to find an mp3 by a band called Arapaho (SA band). The song is called 'Butterfly Angel', do u know where I could find this track? Also about the Mothermix series of CD's that came out ages ago, a song on there called 'Housemaster' or something on 'Mothermix 3'. I've searched the net all over and can't find these CD's anywhere. I'm living in the UK now so it's even harder. Just wondering if u could help me in any way. Thanks! shaun Mailto:maskedhysteria@blueyonder.co.uk -------------- QUO VADIS Q-ZOO? Hi, What has happened to Owl and Lavannah {of QKumba Zoo later known as QZoo - Ed}. Where are they now? Thanks! Patty Mailto:apollard@diisd.org -------------- PIP CD? Hi Is there a CD by Pip Freedman, the South African comedian? If so, can I order one? Also, is there a 2nd CD on the John Berks fun calls? I have the first. Thank you, Dr Stanley Solarsh. (I am an ex-pat South African) Mailto:smsolarsh@hotmail.com -------------- SGQ GET ANOTHER FAN Hi, I saw Southern Gypsey Queen playing at Boneyards in Jeffreys Bay on December 16th. A very good up-and-coming young band from Molteno in the Eastern Cape. Very impressed with young drummer by the name of Paul Wilson that plays just like the late John Bonham from Led Zep. Hope they will be at Splashy this year. Ian Durban Mailto:denisevt@freemail.absa.co.za -------------- ITS A CONSPIRACY!! Hi, I don't see anything on the Peanut Butter Conspiracy [on the SA Rock Files website] - what happened to them? Thanks Hendrik Mailto:pipefab@mweb.co.za -------------- IS IT LEGAL?? Hi, I saw the ad in the Digest Classifieds section about restoring LPs to CD. Is this legal?? Thanks, Mike Ed. - We asked Terence (see his ad in the Digest Classifieds below) to explain the legalities of this process... Q: Is this legal? T: Yes, most definitely. Making a copy of a copyrighted sound recording is legal as long as both of the following two conditions are met: 1. You own the original LP or recording, and 2. You will keep the CD transfer for your own use. - If you are the copyright holder or the work is in the public domain there are no restrictions. Q: How about copyright issues? T: The copyright laws allow the person that has purchased a musical recording to make a copy of the music they purchased on a different medium. Example: you buy the CD, then record it on a cassette to listen in the car. That is legal. It would not be legal if you then give (or sell) the cassette tape to Aunt Becky. That would be illegal. - Also, the copyright laws allow a person to make a copy of the recording for safekeeping (or archiving). Frequently you see that on copyrighted software. Some companies even tell you to make a copy for safekeeping, in case your original copy gets damaged. - What we do, is we make a copy from the original medium to CD, and return BOTH recordings to the client. If we also perform a sound restoration, we charge a few extra Rands to cover our labour and equipment costs (kind of like a restoration artist that restores a painting, or an old silent movie). -------------- SPRINGBOK RADI-OU Hi Guys, Thanks a ton for the publication which we, the readers find hugely informative! Having been a SA muso for some 36 odd years (Flashbax, Good Vibrations and The Staccatos) it's really great to see the old names come up here and there. Also my company (Hands On Promotions) books many function bands both in Jhb and Cape Town - interesting that many of the musos stemmed from the great bands of the 60's! I and a few friends of mine are desperately looking for audio material from the old Springbok and LM radio days. I had a brilliant audio tape which had snippets from a few LM hit-parades, programme intros, time announcements ... "Check your time by the LM chime..." and the well known station ID signatures as well as loads of Springbok memories - but, as they say "never loan music to pals - you will simply not get them back!" Too true..! Should you have any contacts in the above regard I would be extremely happy to have them - our contact details are listed below. Thanks a ton, Kind regards, Dick Mackridge Mailto:entertainment@hands-on.co.za Ed - Hi Dick - All the old radio audio files you can shake a stick at are at: http://www.pumamouse.com Springbok Radio http://pumamouse.com/southafricanotr.html LM Radio http://pumamouse.com/othersaradioserviceslmS.html Have fun... -------------- HAPPY HAPPY!! 1) Hi Guys, Congratulations on a great production and a mine of information, Happy birthday and many more, Rupert Mellor. 2) Hi, Happy Birthday to SA Rock Digest, long may you live. Sincerely, Nigel Thompson Ed. - Thanks to Rupert and Nigel and many others for all your warm birthday wishes!!! -------------- CAN'T WAIT MUCH LANGE! Hi, When are we going to see Shania Twain in South Africa? I've seen a few of her shows on TV and DVD and she is one of the best performers I've ever seen in my life! Some artists lose some magic when performing live and then it does not sound like the original sounds you're used to. Currently she has a world tour with performances in Europe and USA, etc. Her husband Robert John (Mutt) Lange used to produce music in SA in the early 70's. Hope somebody will be able to convince her to visit SA. Thanks, Cobus Mailto:jmnieuwoudt@icon.co.za -------------- HELP MET DANIE Hi, I am looking for a site on Afrikaans music. In specific, Danie Niehaus. Is there a site where I can find this? If I do not know the title of a song, but I know some of the words, is there a site that I can go to, submit the lyrics and it will give me the name of the song as well as the artist??? Thanx Ammi Mailto:jbbrick@mweb.co.za -------------- JOHNNY GREGG AND JULKA? Hi, Trying to order e void, little sister and johnny gregg and julka but cant find a site to convert $ to rands with debit card. Please give me a site to go on to who will to the card thing right and convert the money as I take the order (sic) cheers mark Mailto:mark46c@hotmail.com ED. - Try http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 -------------- STILL LOOKING FOR THE SPRINGBOKS Hi, Can anyone please help - I want to know which was the last Springbok Hits LP in the series. I have no. 73. Thanks Ed for telling me that the last LP in the Pop Shop series was no. 51. Someone told me that there was a no. 52 but I am sceptical. I do have no. 51 (and the whole set up to no. 51.) I am also still looking for the following: (I know I have asked before but maybe someone can help). Title - year - LP & track artist ? (composer) record co (comments): 'Shine on' - 1980 Springbok Hits 48-12 (I Townley) flying duck CAN THE ARTIST BE JOHN TOWNLEY? 'Whole lot of woman' - 1976 Springbok hits 30-04 (Davies) Leatrec Also looking for the seven single of 'Just tell her that I love her' by Tommy Oliver (only available on seven single ala Tommy. He never released that song on an LP and is looking for this). Thanks. Kobus Mailto:jgb1900@yahoo.co.uk -------------- NAGUAL CD'S Hi, I am trying to contact someone from the group Nagual, or someone connected to the group, in order to find copies of both their albums on CD. Thanks, Stephen Mailto:sugar@rock.co.za -------------- NAME THAT SONG, PLEASE! Hi, I was in SA in 1975-76 and a song from then has really haunted me since. The only line I can recall is "Alone until my 18th year". It is a love song, and any help you can offer would be appreciated. It was played on the SA radio all the time around that time. Regards Michael J. Atkin Mailto:michaelj.atkin@ntlworld.com Ed. - This song was called 'Rocky' and was sung by Austin Roberts from the US... it went to #1 in SA in 1976, #22 in UK and #9 in US. This is a bouncy, poppy song, but it's lyrics would be more suited to a Country and Western tear-jerker. It's the story of young Rocky who finds his love, marries her, together they have a baby daughter, then the mother dies. "Now it's back to 2 again". Tissues all round. -------------- D'OH! Some ou once charfed me that Peter Vee and his group joined up with the Simpsons to form Buffalo Springfield. Can yous very fi that? Johnny from Boksburg -------------- 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 -------------- C.A.N. [COASTAL ARTIST NETWORK] Important Meeting!! When: Monday 2nd February @ 6pm to 7.30pm Where: Baxter Theatre Sound Studio - Burg Street Parking & Entrance (next to Rustenburg Primary cor. Main Rd. Why?: what's on the agenda: Report back on 2003 Whazzup 2004 Urgent mobilisation underfoot and we need your input Music Awards - YES IT'S HAPPENING! Questionnaire - what do you want? what do you need? what is your dream? Database sharing Funding Elect Portfolio Managers Petition to be signed (FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T YET!) BE THERE! Mynie Grové (Founder C.A.N. © 2002) mother groove music p.o. box 423 milnerton 7435 cape town telefax: 021-552-9640 Mailto:amagroove@mweb.co.za -------------- ITS DANIÈLE'S BIRTHDAY! Danièle Pascal, one of South Africa's most celebrated artists will be celebrating her birthday on Saturday 7 February 2004. Danièle a chanteuse in the tradition of Edith Piaf, is an influential force on the entertainment circuit, since her arrival in South Africa. Danièle is renowned for her interpretations of the music of Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel and Leonard Cohen, and to many she is synonymous with the spirit of romance that the French café song has given the world. Happy Birthday Danièle! mailto:leoproductions@intekom.co.za -------------- MACLEAN MASTERING INFO Hi, Best wishes and lots of music for 2004! The dust has settled after the very successful Red Bull Music Academy which was held at 32 Jamieson Street. Our mastering suite was home to Spectrum 91.3 FM radio station for the duration of the academy, which gave us the opportunity to host many of South Africa's best DJ's and some distinguished international guests (the tapestry of signatures and great graffiti on the studio doors is testimony to this). Maclean Mastering now shares a switchboard with Planet Art studios, please make a note of our new landline number: 021-4240404. If you would like to communicate with us via email, our address is still mailto:mastering@maclean.co.za May it be a brilliant year for you all. Best Regards David Maclean -------------- GUITAR TEACHER REQUIRED - PINELANDS AREA Young and enthusiastic SA Rock Digest reviewer, Michael Currin (aka Curmic), wishes to develop his appreciation for music by learning to play guitar. Please contact curmic@rock.co.za?subject=teacher if you are a guitar teacher in the Pinelands area of Cape Town. -------------- RECORDS RESTORED TO CD Have your favourite LP transferred to CD with full colour label and box printing. We restore the LP music/tracks in order to extract the original sound, before transferring them to CD. Only single copies are made and returned with the LP. What is done... 1. Firstly, your precious LP is put through our professional record cleaning machine to ensure that we start with as pure an original sound as possible. 2. We then play the record on the very best audiophile equipment (Thorens turntable, SME arm with Shure V15-III cartridge) and capture the music at a high sample rate, into our "Top of the Range" computer. 3. The Vinyl background noise and "Fried Eggs" sounds are gently removed from the recording. 4. Any remaining "Pops" or "Clicks" are isolated and repaired and the tracks are separated as on the original LP. 5. Then, and only then, do we copy the sound to CD. 6. Finally, the LP cover is scanned front and rear, reduced to fit and printed in full glorious colour. A label is printed for the disc itself in full colour, as on the original. Contact: Terence Tel: 021-787-0205 or Cell: 082-939-077 Email: Mailto:tegner@absamail.co.za -------------- SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC QUOTA COALITION Support the SAMQC, as 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 --------------- MUSIC SHOPPING -------------- GEMM GEMM is your best source for those otherwise impossible-to-find music titles on Record or CD! http://sugarmusic.gemm.com -------------- MABU VINYL & CD Cape Town's finest record and CD store is now at the intersection - "Where the four streets - Long, Buitensingel, Kloof, and Orange - meet" Visit our new CD Stall on the Pavement Piazza in front of the shop opposite the Long Street Baths. Mabu stocks SA and International Record and CD titles, and a growing list of independent SA CD and CD-R releases - including a large range of all the African Dope releases. Latest Vinyl additions: Star Mabaso - 'Sing La-La-La' (Very rare LP) OST - 'The Warrior - Ipi 'n Tombia' with Margaret Singana (LP) Juluka - 'Scatterlings' (LP) Basil 'Manenberg' Coetzee - 'Sabenza' (LP) Jack Hammer - 'Jack Of All Trades' (Sealed LP) Jeremy Taylor - 'Jeremy Taylor' (LP) Latest independent SA CD additions: Bed On Bricks - 'Humanarium' (Bowline) Bluescream - 'Bluescream' (Independent) Daniel Friedman - 'High Society presents: 14 Steps towards Self Actualisation' (Independent) Brian Finch - 'Never Look Back' (Independent) Fokofpolisiekar - 'As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand' (EP) (Rhythm) freshlyground - 'Jika Jika' (Independent) Forest Moon - 'Forest Moon' (Independent) Goema Captains Of Cape Town - 'Healing Destination' (Mountain) Hog Hoggidy Hog - 'Naked' EP (3 Chord) Kalahari Surfers - 'Muti Media' (African Dope) Lazarus - 'Parallax View' (EP) (Independent) Lions Of Zion - 'Iternal Fire' (Independent) MoodPhase5ive - 'Steady On' (African Dope) The Rudimentals - 'More Fire' (Independent) Not The Midnight Mass - 'Live At The Planetarium' (Independent) Nukular Stompers - 'Can Of Worms' (Independent) Soulja - '21 Gunslut' (Independent) Various - 'Silvertab Harambe Dope Sessions' (African Dope) Various - 'African Dope Sound System' (African Dope) Various - 'Cape Of Good Dope' (African Dope) Various - 'Breathe Sunshine' (Amabala) Various - 'A Moment In Cape Town' (Revised edition) (Afribeat) Zero Tolerance - 'A Perfect Life?' (EP) (Independent) This week's Best Selling CDs at Mabu Vinyl & CD are: 1. 'Jika Jika' - freshlyground 2. 'Steady On' - Moodphase5ive 3. 'More Fire' - The Rudimentals 4. 'African Dope Sound System' - Various 5. 'As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand' (EP) - Fokofpolisiekar We buy and sell LP's and CD's Please contact: Jacques or Stephen (Ph): 021 423 7635 (Cell): 082 534 6006 mailto:mabu@sugarmusic.co.za Mabu Vinyl & CD Shop 2 Buitenkloof Centre 8 Kloof Street, Gardens. Cape Town -------------- VIBES VINYL Stadium-on-Main, Main Road, Claremont This week's specials: Petula Clark - 'Where did we go wrong' (LP) Fisherfolk - 'Rest Awhile - Fisherfolk in South Africa' (LP) Manfred Mann - 'Mann Made' (LP) Kenneth McKellar - 'Kuier by ons' (LP) Psycho Reptiles - 'Have beans will travel' (LP) Sakhile - 'Phambili - African Echoes Volume 1' (LP) Mike Shannon and the Diamonds - 'Mike Shannon and the Diamonds' (LP) Andy Stewart - 'Andy Stewart in South Africa - White Heather Concert' (LP) Tribe after Tribe - 'Power' (LP) Dionne Warwick - 'Dionne Warwick's Greatest Hits Vol.1 - featuring Track of the Cat' (LP) We pay top prices for top quality. Want Lists Welcome! Call us at: 021-683 5676 Postal address: PO Box 24045, Claremont, 7735. mailto:claus@vibesvinyl.com Visit our website at http://www.vibesvinyl.com Website catalogue now also at Gemm and Netsounds: http://www.vibesvinyl.gemm.com and http://www.netsounds.com/vibesvinyl -------------------- ONE WORLD - ONLINE SA CD STORE Selling South African Music to the World http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 -------------- WEB SERVICES -------------- VAGABOND MUSIC & WEB (now part of the Sugar Music Group) Get your band or business online. We design from scratch or take over the maintenance when your hotshot designer gets bored with updating. Our design philosophy is to create sites that pull people in and keep them coming back, through user-friendly designs, good web architecture and cost-effective web-marketing. If you want a quick, friendly and fun website, then Vagabond Music Web is your answer. Vagabond Clients include: Jam Alley Music Shop Joint State Duncan Mackay Bluescream Street Level Fresh Music Rhythm Records Entertainment Industry Services Piet Botha Off The Edge 25 Hour Studio Gregs Golf Tours 4 Sure Golf Tours James Stewart Tait Bright Blue Jack Hammer Janie Jones Brian Finch Soil 7t7 Rodriguez Steve Louw and Big Sky Lorraine Shannon Joe Public Please contact Brian on 082-567-8779 or visit http://www.sugarmusic.co.za for more info. --------------- DIGEST CLASSIFIEDS DETAILS * To have your advert featured in the Digest Classifieds, and to find out the prices to do so, please contact mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=classifieds The Sound Solutions and Digest Classified sections are sponsored by Sugar Music: Sugar Music promotes, publishes, markets, informs, exposes and spreads the good word about SA Music in all forms and genres through its various web and media channels including the SA Rock Digest, Amuzine, SAmp3.com, SA Gigs, SA Klank, the SA Rock Encyclopedia, the SA Rock Hall of Fame, the One World online CD store, Sound Solutions, SAfm, and Mabu Vinyl & CD. Contact: Stephen Segerman - (021) 461-9541 mailto:sugar@rock.co.za ______________________________________________ 8.LIVE MUSIC --------------- ------------------- UPCOMING EVENTS ------------------- Full details at http://www.sagigs.com Watch out for: NIBS VAN DER SPUY AND BARRY VAN ZYL'S 'HADEDA' - Friday 6 and Saturday 7 Feb at Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch. HOMEGROWN- The biggest drum 'n bass night in South Africa is back with a firing line-up on Saturday 7 February at Mercury Live THE FMR JAZZ WORKSHOP BIGGISH BAND - Having conquered the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch in December and the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre during the Jazzathon 2004 earlier this month, the JWBB is now moving on to the Helderberg Nature Reserve 'Envirotheatre' on Sunday 8 February. CHAMELEON LAUNCH - Wednesday 4 February sees the launch of the exciting new Jazz Funk band, Chameleon, at the Harbour Music Club (now at The Acoustic Cafe) in Muizenberg. Chameleon are Luke Townsend on Alto and Soprano Saxophones (ex-Loud Shirts), Wolfgang Wunderlich on keyboards (Madame Freak, Chapter X), Crick Lund on double bass (ex-Truly Fully Hey Shoo Wow Band) and Kevin Gibson on drums (session drummer for Jimmy Dludlu, Johnny Clegg and many, many others). TUKS RAG 2004 - Tuks Rag and OppiKoppi Productions combine forces to bring us a bumper show and line-up. More than 20 artists will feature at this year's celebrations from 12 - 14th February at the TUKS Rag Farm and the Sin Bin Café. TUKS RAG PRESENTS: KOOS KOMBUIS AND PIET BOTHA IN CONCERT - These artist will perform together at two shows at the Blue Crane Restaurant in New Muckleneuk on the 9th and 11th of February. KOOS KOMBUIS 'SOLOU' - At the Tuks Rag farm on Thursday the 12th of February, and at the Centurion Theatre on 13 and 14 February DIESELBOY AND MC MESSINIAN - SA Tour 2004: Johannesburg 7 Feb @ Carfax THE RUDIMENTALS - Cape Town's ska-punk sensations have lined up a string of gigs over the next few weeks. SAHARADJA - Indonesia's top World Music Band is making its South African debut and will be performing at THE SHOWCASE, at Banbury Cross Johannesburg, in February 2004. HAPPY FOUR TWENTY - This Cape Town band is sporting a new line-up and have announced their gigs for early-2004 including the Up The Creek Festival 2004 (Friday 6th February) VUSI MAHLASELA AND JUDITH SEPHUMA - Vusi Mahlasela and Judith Sephuma, two of BMG Africa's biggest names, will be headlining gigs at the Giant Steps Music Festival at Spier in Stellenbosch in March 2004. BOO! IN LONDON AND EUROPE - BOO! are back in London for one show only on Friday the 6th of February at the Halfmoon in Putney as part of their current European Tour THE WORLD IN A GUITAR - This acclaimed musical show has been touring nationally over the past few months and is now heading towards Durban (Sneddon Theatre - 20 January - 8 February) and East London (Guild Theatre -13 - 14 February) FOKOFPOLISIEKAR - New Cape Town Afrikaans punk band promoting their debut EP, 'As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand', around the Peninsula with some Gauteng gigs in the pipeline. JULIANS - Julian Laxton's very popular music venue has moved to 120 Republic Rd, Malanshof, Randburg, and is re-opening again. -------------- UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS IN SA: COUNTING CROWS - The popular US band, fronted by Adam Duritz, will be returning to SA in March to promote their new, greatest hits album, 'Films About Ghosts' LIMP BIZKIT - Edgars and 5FM Music in association with Big Concerts are proud to announce the upcoming South African tour by Limp Bizkit, who will be kicking off their tour in Cape Town on the 2nd, before heading to Durban on the 4th and then Johannesburg on the 6th of April. WITCHDOCTOR RECORDS ANNOUNCES SA TOURS BY ENTOMBED, AND KATAKLYSM - Entombed, those Swedish masters of metal return to our shores for two exclusive shows in April, and Kataklysm, the Swedish masters of metal, return to our shores for two exclusive shows in May SMOKIE - This successful '70's/'80's pop group is still "firing on all five cylinders" and will be touring South Africa in 2004 on 'The Hit Box Tour '04' from 25 February onwards. NEW MODEL ARMY - Alter-Ego Productions is proud to announce the forthcoming tour to South Africa of this "legendary" band in March 2004 -------------- SA MUSIC FESTIVALS SAVANNA UP THE CREEK 2004 - The popular Savanna Up The Creek Music Festival will again take place from the 6th to the 8th February on the banks of the beautiful Breede River, near Swellendam. SOUTHERN CROSS MUSIC FESTIVAL - The three-day Southern Cross Music Festival is known as "The Friendly Festival" and takes place from 19-22 March 2004 in the Hidden Valley in KwaZulu Natal THE CAPE TOWN FESTIVAL - The Cape Town Festival is the Mother City's premiere arts and cultural showcase, bringing together the best in local and international dance, visual arts, music, film, photography, spoken word, theatre and nightlife - 14 to 22 March 2004 NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL - CAPE TOWN 2004 - "Africa's Grandest Gathering is about to celebrate its 5th anniversary in April 2004, and it will be doing so in style in its new home at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on the Mother City's Foreshore. With Angie Stone, Femi Kuti, Stanley Clarke, freshlyground, Abdullah Ibrahim, Cassandra Wilson and Miriam Makeba. SPLASHY FEN 2004 - One of our country's best loved open-air lifestyle celebrations promises the freshest ever delights for body and mind on the Easter weekend, April 8 - 12 -------------- RP EMERGING SOUNDS COMPETITION The next regional finals being held at the Coliseum Show Bar at Caesars, Gauteng, takes place on Sunday, February 8. To find out which bands from the Vaal and Johannesburg will be joining Mr Smug from Durban at the event be at either Perfect Manhatten or Tempos this coming weekend. Groups wanting further information or who wish to enter the RP Studios Emerging Sounds event in Johannesburg, Pretoria, the Vaal, the Free State or in Durban can contact Simon "Squire" Foulds on 082 770 7524. For further information regarding RP Studios contact Peter Jaquire on (011) 714 4666. Upcoming: Saturday, February 7 Tempos · Prai · So Called friends · Blueprint · Swivel Foot · Surreal Sunday, February 8 - regional finals of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds Coliseum Show Bar - Caesars Gauteng · Mr Smug [See Wicked Mike's review of the recent Durban leg of the RP Emerging Sounds competition] -------------- THE FMR JAZZ WORKSHOP BIGGISH BAND NEWS The FMR Jazz Workshop Biggish Band has progressed from the 'amphibious dives' of Observatory to the stylish 'Amphitheatre Circuit' of Cape Town -- and what a fine collection of outdoor venues our beautiful city has to offer! Having conquered the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch in December and the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre during the Jazzathon 2004 earlier this month, the JWBB is now moving on to the Helderberg Nature Reserve 'Envirotheatre' on Sunday 8 February. Being a rowdy 19-piece band of musicians, this style of venue also really suits the band's 'outgoing' (ughh..) nature .. The concert at the Hout Bay Amphitheatre last week was part of their 3rd season of summer concerts. On 8 February they are at the Helderberg Nature Reserve in Somerset West for a Sunset Concert. This event is hosted by the Friends of the Helderberg Nature Reserve who run an Educational Environmental Centre. This brings many young learners from the Helderberg area including Macassar and Nomzamo in order to teach them about the conservation of our rich heritage, and especially about conserving our fauna, flora and water. The Educational Environmental Centre is run by volunteers and they supplement the salary of a conservation officer (until recently his salary was paid for by the Friends). In order to generate funds they run this mini Kirstenbosch-style Sunset Concert Series in the Reserve on Sunday evenings from 17:30 to 19:00 with gates closing at 20:00. More info about the Helderberg Nature Reserve available on their web site. At both these gigs the JWBB will be performing its trademark repertoire of original Big Band Jazz, composed for them by the likes of Mertyn Barrow, David Ledbetter, Douglas Armstrong and Jannie 'Hanepoot' van Tonder, as well as some new arrangements of South African classics by Zakes Nkosi, Hugh Masekela, Dollar Brand, Chris McGregor, etc And then to continue in this vein of 'theaataar', the JWBB will be at Masque Theatre in Muizenberg on Sunday 7 March. The JWBB is an amateur Big Band based in Cape Town, and led by trombonist Jannie 'Hanepoot' van Tonder. The JWBB plays original compositions written for the band, as well as arrangements of South African Jazz standards. Saxes: Chris Dippenaar, John Ntshibilikwana, John Thorne, Graham Thorne, Nick Green Trumpets: Charlie Heyes, Douglas Armstrong, Dumani Katywa, Stuart Bowen Trombones: Andrew O'Donoghue, Shelley Williams, Simon Hough, Matthew Grant Rhythm (gt, pno, bs, dms, perc): Rick Beckman, Ralston van der Schyff, Sidney McKinnon, Mike Horne, Keith Coxon More info: Mailto:jannie@bigband.co.za / 072 189 2481 or phone Cynthia at the Jazz Workshop on 424 4956 or check out http://www.work.co.za/userwebs/jannie/jwbb -------------- FINDING YOUR WAY UP THE CREEK - AND OTHER DETAILS Your Savanna Up The Creek 2004 tickets are safely hidden in your wallet, cupboard or underwear drawer. Good for you! This weekend, February 6 to 8, are marked as the most important days of the musical year. How to get there - From Cape Town, take the N2 out of town and drive out past Somerset West. Just before Swellendam, you will see signposts indicating a road to Infanta. Turn right onto this dirt road. After a while, you'll see a signpost indicating the way to Infanta and Malgas. Turn left here and behold! the Savanna Up The Creek entrance. Another left turn takes you into the driveway - head down to the gates and enter for a weekend of music, comedy, food, pampering and fun. The other question asked by wise festivalgoers across this fine land is "What should I bring?" Since we're being helpful, let's answer that question, too. It's the height of summer now, so bring water-resistant sunblock, swimming kit and a towel. There's a beautiful river at the campsite, and it's a great place to spend time between all those live performances. Nights can get chilly, so be wise and bring jackets and jerseys for when the sun goes down. Sleeping under the stars can be fun, but bring along your tent, tent pegs, sleeping bags and pillows to make the great outdoors a little more like home. With so many good-looking, crazy and brilliant musicians and comedians wandering around, it's a good idea to bring a camera so that your memories last a little longer. Video cameras and tape recorders are not allowed - let's keep South African music honest. Stow some extra cash in your wallet because CDs and other goodies will be on sale during the weekend. Haven't got your tickets yet? It's not too late! Mark February 6 to 8 as the most important weekend on your musical calender, and book your tickets now. Contact Claudia (021) 671 4360 or mailto:claudia@felix.co.za; or Sandra on mailto:upthecreek@felix.co.za. -------------- UPCOMING WORKSHOPS AT PAUL BOTHNER MUSIC The Paul Bothner Music branch in Plumstead, Cape Town has announced the first in its 2004 free music workshop series. The first workshop is called: "Communicating with Your Fan Base via the Internet" and will be presented by Digest co-editor, Brian Currin. This free workshop looks at the Internet as an affordable way for musicians to build an online community through the use of email newsletters, gig and tour announcements, news of album launches and gig photos. This event is a must for any band or musician wanting to increase their visibility and improve on their public image. This workshop will be held on Monday 9 February 2004 - from 6:30 to 7:30pm At Paul Bothner Music, Plumstead. Please note: Seating is limited, so arrive early. Call (021) 674 4030 for more details. The second workshop is called "Studio Recording" and is a free workshop, brought to you by Paul Bothner Music, and hosted and presented by Street Level Music Productions, one of the country's most creative and productive recording studios. This intensive, one-day workshop will cover the process of recording a song performed by a live band in a studio. Attendees will gain valuable insights from the Street Level team, using some of the latest studio technology, and be shown the procedures of setting up equipment, recording the multi-track parts and doing the final mix down. This workshop will be held on Saturday 14 February 2004 at 9 for 9:30am to 5:00pm at the Street Level Studios at Unit 12B, 3rd floor New Market Junction, Cape Town. As space for this free workshop is limited to 20 persons, booking is essential. Contact Newton Wetter on (021) 674 4030 or email Mailto:info@bothner.co.za to book your place -------- SA PUNK -------- By Daniel Neville ZERO TOLERANCE.....WHO?...WAIT AND SEE. .. After taking quite a substantial break over the last two months Zero Tolerance, the punk/ska core outfit from Cape Town, are going to make a return to the South African underground scene. You may be going..."Who are these guys?" well you can find out by going and visiting www.SAmp3.com and downloading 'Mowgli' their first release. When they return, expect a slight line-up change and a darker more sinister sound. You can also ask yourself "who is the real Mowgli" (see what I mean by sinister) and "who plays ska core?" To answer all these questions and more you are just going to have to....well, wait and see. -------------- SEDWICK - 'THE REALISATION OF PURPOSE'.....COMING SOON This long standing Cape Town three-piece has finally, after a long break from the scene, decided to have a go at releasing an EP. The EP will contain some older tracks as well as some new ones. You can go to www.sedwick.co.za to download the first single off their new EP. There will be two main launches of the EP, the first will take place at Claremont Civic Centre on Friday the 20th of February. It is only going to cost you R15 to get in and you get to see Serving Suggestion and Captain Stu and the Llamas (who have just broken on to the scene with a bang). The second launch will take place at the Purple Turtle, and will feature The Doppler Effect, Skanking Nelson and Zero Tolerance. The date of that show is still to be announced. Watch this space for a full exclusive review of Sedwick's 'The Realisation Of Purpose' CD. -------------- SA PUNK GIGS: Wed 4 Feb - EAST LONDON - Nahoon Methodist Church - (R10, 7pm) Matt Allison - Folk And Faith Tour Kennington Rd. Acoustic Show! with: One Thousand Hours and Matt Allison (Cape Town) Fri 6 Feb - CAPE TOWN - BREEDE RIVER - Up The Creek The Rudimentals Hog Hoggidy Hog Fokofpolisiekar Freshly Ground Bed On Bricks Wonderboom Moodphase5ive Tumi & The Volume and loads more! 3 days, 18 bands!!! Book at Computicket or Chameleon Indabas (021) 671 4360 Fri 6 Feb - PRETORIA - HAT-TRIX - (R20, 8pm) WrenchProductions & PunxRecords Presents: The Stevie Wonderfuls 2 Strikes Against The Terrorist Misled R5 beers Sat 7 Feb - CAPE TOWN - WIPEOUT CAFE, MUZENBURG - (R20, 9pm) Muizenberg Madness with: War-on-Salt, Some Kind of Wonderful, Sedwick, Half Price Sat 7 Feb - BOKSBURG - TROTTERS - (R30, 8pm) Hostile Hostages: Come join us for a night of mayhem with: Humphrey the Teacup Jerboa Mel Gibsons band 2 Strikes Against The Stevie Wonderfuls Daniel Neville Mailto:daniel@neville.za.net See http://www.SAgigs.com for details and other SA Punk gigs. -------------- LIVE IN SA -------------- THE RP STUDIO'S EMERGING SOUNDS COMPETITION IN DURBS - SOME FEEDBACK! Wicked Mike was there.... It's ironic that Durbs has the warmest rain, yet people here usually allow that to alter their going-out plans. So when it poured trucks, I was perturbed and at 8.30pm this seemed justified (hardly anyone inside). I delayed the kick-off until 9pm and felt like a president who'd made a good executive decision when (within that half hour) more than 100 rockers arrived. The night did present problems. In the beginning (as already stated) God created rain. He followed up with three Christians standing immediately in front of the entrance for three hours in attempts to save patrons from the sins of rock 'n roll. It is a deterrent to happy drunkards but I'm happy to say that despite their repeated attempts, I'm still a sinner. It's a pity that they never came inside to see the responsible crowd and the music that was being created for them. The second problem was that the Winston Pub is muggy at the best of times. Unfortunately, the aircon broke to emphasise that fact (between sets, everybody went outside to improve their gaping fish look). The aircon guy then failed to arrive and is still missing (never fear - we'll hunt him down and punish). On the plus side, super rock chick and owner, Belinda, has promised it'll be fixed and that she'll add another extractor fan within a fortnight. The competition went well! Sound was great (compliments to Raymond from Squeal) and the bands gave it their all. Bored, first up, delivered their best set to date because vocals were clearer and stronger. Mr Smug then got the place hopping (actually, it was flapping arms with heads attached running around in a circle). It was a reaffirmation that they are one of the best punk outfits in the country. Third World Awakening are new hard rockers who brought the biggest crowd with them. They show potential and that, combined with their enthusiasm, means that we'll be seeing a lot more of them. 2 Flye, like Bored, are residents of Sleepy Hollow (aka Pietermaritzburg). It's interesting that a small town can produce such solid rockers as they are. It then came down to the judges (James from Snac Media, Ailsa from Going Places SA, and Aidrian from Livewire Productions). They were fair but tough. The end result left three bands within 10 points of each other (out of 150). The winner, however, was streaks ahead with a 40 point difference. Proof that punk smells stronger than anything else, it's a BIG congratulations to Mr Smug who'll be heading to Caesars Palace on Feb 8th to compete against more of the best that SA has to offer. The next Durban leg will strike on Feb 13th. You'll get hardcore punk, pop rock, rock and hip-hop hard rock jammed into one great evening. Crossing Point, Sitter, Azure and Detach will be in action. Wicked Mike www.WickedRock.co.za ----------- GIG GUIDE ----------- The SA Rock Digest list of recommended gigs can be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com Please send all gig info, in a plain text e-mail by Friday 12noon, to: mailto:sugar@sagigs.com?subject=gigs ___________________________________________ 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 e-mail to: mailto:subscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=SubscriberAddressChange To unsubscribe - please send 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 AND PUBLISHERS ---------------------- Brian Currin & Stephen Segerman mailto:editors@sarockdigest.com?subject=SARockDigest --------------- CONTRIBUTORS --------------- BC - Brian Currin SS - Stephen Segerman JS - John Samson KS - Kurt Shoemaker CL - Carina Laubscher (Katvrou) TL - Tertius Louw SN - Shiloh Noone DN - Daniel Neville ML - Moonshine Lee LR - Lindsay Ravenscroft NN - Nadia Neophytou WM - Wicked Mike DM - David Marks DS - Don Sweeto LAD - LAD MC - Michael Currin (Curmic) JFB - Johnny From Boksburg And others too numerous to mention, but gratefully acknowledged! 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