RAKA 2011 Line Ups:
In the proud RaKA tradition of preaching to the saved in terms of popular and off-beat, surprising or downright obscure musos performing breathtaking acoustic shows in a beautiful intimate setting… this year’s lineup will in no way disappoint. It is full bodied, fat with talent, great tunes and soulful tales from across borders, musical and physical. Here’s the lowdown (as highlights are impossible to pick out):
Friday nigth takes off with multi-genre, multi-instrumental duo Margaret’s Daughter, fresh back from their Mexican odyssey to the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival. Things get kicking with the “dirty kitchen rock” of The Brothers Goodkat. This Stellenbosch five-piece’s music is a full-bodied, sexy, slam-down-your-whiskey-glass-for-another style of Rock ‘n Roll Blues with a narrative, folkloric edge that keeps listeners captivated. Also back by popular demand: Capetonian guitar & loop station maestro Louwtjie Rothman (of SA’s got talent fame), followed by Ramblin’ Bones, the new acoustic blend of mellow from the lead singer of Fuzigish, Jay Bones. Then it’s the tight alternative rockers 3rd World Spectator, followed by Paarl indie rockers Youth.
Saturday morning is an easy rise with girly duo Aanklank (Pretoria), followed by folksinger Shotgun Tori (Jozi), Simon Swerwer (Stb), multi-SAMA-awarded Willim Welsyn (Stb) and all the way from the DRC, Jason Tamba with his fusion of various styles and genres such as Afro-Jazz, Makosa and even Latin. The Saturday afternoon slot sees returning Raka “rakkers” such as Hugo Brand (former drummer of eF-eL), singer-songwriter Johannine (acoustic folk, solo act lead singer of new indie rockers Stepdog) and Capetownian guitar marvel Gary Thomas, with his brooding stomp box-and-guitar illusions. Between these old favourites, you’ll see some newcomers and new combos flexing their unplugged muscles, such as Dane Taylor (of the blues trio) and Gerdus Oosthuizen (New Holland guitarist, doing his very own very new thing on the Raka stage).
The sunset slot is a promising high point with ghoema folky Les Javan, rated as one of the country’s best composers and guitar players, and a key member and driving force behind the Delta Vastrapgenootskap, an informal society of rural Afrikaans musicians and traditional songwriters of the Cape. He shares the stage with the extremely popular and versatile, boundary shifting, contemporary singer-songwriter Riku Lätti. They’re followed by Manouche, who charmed everyone out of their tents with their very early slot at last year’s Raka and have kept up a growing presence with their unique brand of gypsy jazz. Another returning favourite is The Pretty Blue Guns, followed by headliners Foto Na Dans. This masterful progressive rock band, known for their classical chord progressions and powerful synth-driven sound giving a rare (indeed a FIRST EVER) acoustic performance, is not to be missed. Then for the late night groovy with Nelspruit funky fusion band No One’s Arc, followed by new kids on the Afrikaans rock block, VoortVlugtend.
And don’t think Sunday at RAKA is just about packing up and dreading Monday. As always, we go the whole twelve bars with the Sunday Blues, a powerhouse Blues lineup more steamy and gritty than ever before. First off the mark are the new kids from Bellville, Ballistic Blues, followed by Dane Taylor and then a special treat: the
Blues Broers (version 5), the returning veterans whose members have been showing us how it’s done across three decades and various famous blues and rock outfits besides this one. From this first crossroads encounter it just gets better as more magicians enter the stage, Basson Laubscher, and finally Albert Frost.
See below for the full who when where.
