Temperatures are rising as Festival fever hits the City of Saints. Handing yourself over to the fever might be one way to overcome the bitter cold around these parts, but another way to get warm is by joining the crowds at some of Festival's live music venues.
Temperatures are rising as Festival fever hits the City of Saints. Handing yourself over to the fever might be one way to overcome the bitter cold around these parts, but another way to get warm is by joining the crowds at some of Festival's live music venues.
You may not be aware, but a number of these talented offerings in the music line-up are actually Grahamstown locals who aren't necessarily on the Festival programme.
One regular on the all-year round live music scene is Danielle Bowler, currently a Masters politics student at Rhodes University. She said that although she's already involved in the Main programme, she'll also be performing under the radar this year.
The 23-year-old solo artist describes her music as very “soul sounding with a street edge”.
“If Kanye West, Alicia Dell and Ella Fitzgerald had a child; that would be my music,” she said. “I’ll be playing at the Sound Kiln, Champs, Pirates and Monastery.”
Another local group fast developing a local following (especially with the ladies, it seems) and becoming an attraction at the Lowlander is the interesting and entertaining trio Rough Draft.
“We knew we had made it when someone threw a bra at us the other day,” joked Keith Van Winkel (drummer).
Rev Gary Griffith-Smith (guitarist) said that although they cover a variety of 60s and 70s music, they prefer blues and want to head more in that direction.
The band can be heard in action in the Lowlander most nights and won't be charging an entrance fee. “We love taking the p*** out of the crowd and it’s free,” said the band's Jack-of-all-trades, Sean Bryan (vocalist, bass player, keyboard player and guitarist). “So come have a good time!”
Another band ripping up some catchy blues tunes at Festival is SunshiP.
Consisting of Anton Brink (bassist), Strato Copteros (drummer, backing vocalist), Larry Strelitz (guitar, lead vocalist) and Rick Van Heerden (saxophonist); the group combines a variety of influences ranging from Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters to Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd, with lyrics adapted from the works of local poet Robert Berold. Their sound can be described as an epic, punk-rock meets blues vibe.
Although the addition of Van Heerden’s sax led to many branding them a jazz group, Copteros assures that they are much more than that. “Rick has the ability to produce some very dirty sounding sax,” he said, “since then our sound has evolved naturally and smoothed out.”
Although some of their more recent sounds are much tighter, he assures that they can still loosen up and play off each other when needed.
This year will be the group’s third year performing at Festival and they can be found playing at venues like Champs, Lowlander and possibly the Sound Kiln.
If some head-banging grunge music is what you're looking for then Counting Backwards will be performing three gigs at Slipstream Sports Bar. Their grunge style, influenced by bands such as Nirvana, Seether and The Black Keys promises to be a hit.
In an email interview, bassist Cal Thompson told italGrocott's Mail/ital that they like to make “dirty, sexy music with a raw, grungy feel”.
He is accompanied by Devin Isemonger (guitarist and vocalist), Eric Isemonger (lead guitarist) and Craig Dickie on drums.
With these only providing a taste of the local talent performing, other possible groups to watch out for are The Devil Sent Me Back, Lu Fuki, Rob Thompson, Dave Knowles, The Footnotes, The Gentleman Callers and Shackles and Bones.
