Monday, July 19, 2010 03:16

Programme 2010

The full programme is still being finalised. Please check back regularly for updates.

Ard Matthews

Having wowed thousands of fans with his solo set at Splashy Fen in April, Ard Matthews heads to White Mountain this year to perform his signature brand of acoustic rock. Expect to hear some of the timeless, relevant and engaging songs that have made Just Jinjer one of South Africa’s biggest selling rock bands of all time!
www.ardmatthews.com

Barry Thomson

A critically acclaimed guitarist and vocalist, Barry Thomson has performed in numerous productions over the years and in 1999 co-wrote the Vita Award winning show ‘The Guitar That Rocked the World’, which will again run at the Sneddon Theatre in August this year. From solo acoustic gigs to in-your-face rock and roll, this versatile and passionate musician never fails to entertain and is a familiar face at the Heritage Theatre in Hillcrest, KZN, where his hit show ‘A Taste of Thomson’ enjoyed four successful seasons and where he is currently performing in ‘Rock Legends 2’.

Jack Mantis Band

Peace, love and politics. This is what you’ll find in the music of the Cape Town-based Jack Mantis Band. These gypsy rockers will make love to your ears while taking you on a caravan of musical bliss that is best experienced in their live performances. With Mantis’s booming voice, acoustic guitar and didgeridoo; Jon Case's rich, rhythmic charm; Jimi Curve’s artful bass grooves; and Dom Beningo’s eclectic mastery on the keys, audiences can expect a joyful journey of swaying passion and pounding rhythmic jams.
www.thejackmantisband.com

Jaspar Lepak

A 29-year-old singer/songwriter from Minneapolis, Jaspar Lepak’s original blend of folk and country music will set your feet tapping and your heart singing. With a voice that is startlingly clear and beautiful, and lyrics that expose a brave vulnerability and art for storytelling, this is an artist who truly connects with her audiences. Having performed across the American Midwest for six years, Lepak relocated to Durban, South Africa in 2009 and recently released her fifth CD.
www.myspace.com/jasparlepak

John Ellis

Having headed up Tree 63, one of the most successful rock acts in South African history, Durban-born and raised John Ellis has followed a musical journey that has taken him across the world and finally back to his roots here in South Africa. Embarking on his highly anticipated solo career with the recent release of his debut album ‘Come Out Fighting’, Ellis brings the unmistakable voice of Tree 63 back, but with a rockier sound that is sure to strike a chord with old and new fans alike.
www.johnellis.co.za

Joshua Grierson

Cape Town born-and-raised singer/songwriter Joshua Grierson totally enthrals all who have the good fortune of experiencing the raw emotion of his live performances. Described by critics and fans alike as passion-filled and heartfelt, Grierson’s unique mix of Folk, Blues and Alt-Country is a must for those who enjoy deep, questioning lyrics and melodies resonant of another time. www.myspace.com/joshuagrierson

Machineri

Cape Town band Machineri will be showing their ‘softer’ side at White Mountain this year. Known for their predominantly distorted blues-rock sound, the band was formed in 2008 and comprises Sannie Fox (ex Mama Know Nothing and Black Betty) on vocals and guitar, Andre Geldenhuys on guitar, and Daniel Huxham on drums. Several of Machineri’s tracks have been included in the score for ‘Long Street’, a feature film due for release in South African cinemas later this year and in which Fox also has the lead role. www.machineriband.co.za

Margaret’s Daughter

Once upon a time, not so long ago, Margaret had a daughter. She called her Adri-Mari, or Ami for short. Fast forward several years and Margaret’s Daughter, with her unique voice and rhythmic acoustic guitar playing, has established herself as one of South Africa’s top up-and-coming singer/songwriters. Since the start of her collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Etienne Ghyoot in 2002, Margaret’s Daughter has released three albums and performed extensively in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Spain.
www.margaretsdaughter.com

Meri Kenaz

With a voice that is simultaneously powerful and soothingly warm, Cape Town-based Meri Kenaz is a singer/songwriter whose performances and lyrics touch the soul and captivate all who listen to her. This is an artist whose authentic brand of alternative acoustic music or ‘Soul-Folk’ is fast catching the attention of audiences hungry for something fresh and insightful.
www.merikenaz.com

Nibs van der Spuy

Renowned for his diversity as a singer, songwriter and masterful acoustic guitarist, Durban’s Nibs van der Spuy has built up a loyal fan-base both at home and abroad, and recently released his sixth solo album and third international offering, ‘A House Across the River’. From his collection of acoustic and electric guitars to the use of Indian tabla and the sitar in some songs, and a Puerto Rican Cuatro guitar in another, watching Nibs perform live is a visual treat! Equally memorable are his poignant and insightful lyrics and the beautiful stories he tells through his music.
www.nibs.co.za

Redhand Blues Band

One of Johannesburg’s premier deep blues bands, Redhand combines African blues with American jazz and swing, bebop and R&B to create a sound that’s fresh and new, yet still reminiscent of the two-tone, shoe-tapping 30s. Delivering seriously black blues, and steaming through music heard originally on crackly turntables during the Great Depression, Redhand are energetic, up-tempo and up-beat – after all, just because it's blues doesn't mean you can't dance!

Shannon Kenny & Alan Judd

Performing jazz-infused folk rock and blues, Shannon Kenny (vocals) and Alan Judd (guitar) first teamed up in 2003 and have gone on to earn international acclaim. Having performed in concerts and festivals in Turkey, Tunisia, Bulgaria and Latvia, where she won various awards, Kenny is also a familiar face on the local jazz and blues circuit. Besides being an accomplished guitarist and pianist, Judd is a composer and arranger and also runs a private recording studio. The duo is currently working on a new acoustic album.
www.youtube.com/pokenny

The Kickstands

Calling their music an ‘acoustic jam explosion’, The Kickstands are all about putting a unique spin on the progressive elements of acoustic guitar-playing in combination with strong vocal hooks and solid song-writing. Comprising Rudi Greyvenstein and Gary Nixon, the duo’s influences range from classical and Spanish to the guitar revolutionaries of CandyRat Records. The Kickstands are based in Durban and are currently recording their debut album.
Find them on Facebook >>

Tresor

Known to many as the golden-voiced frontman for Durban-based outfit Maisha, Tresor is a self-taught Congolese singer, songwriter and acoustic guitarist who relocated to South Africa from the DRC in 2007. With a style that incorporates elements of soul, afro beat, reggae, R&B, rock and world music, Tresor sings in Swahili, French and English. He has worked on various charity projects, including writing and recording a song for ‘Doctors Without Borders’, which was used in their documentary ‘Wounds’.

Vusi Mahlasela

One of South Africa's most celebrated musicians, Vusi Mahlasela is known for his distinct, powerful voice and poetic, optimistic lyrics. With a sound that is a hybrid of folk, world, blues and soul, Mahlasela is also an accomplished guitarist, percussionist, composer and arranger, who has toured the world and performed alongside the likes of Alicia Keys, Dave Matthews, Josh Groban and Angelique Kidjo at shows that include Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebration in London's Hyde Park and, most recently, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Kick-off Concert in Soweto.
www.vusimahlasela.com

see the 2009 programme >>