Checked Zebra began in 2004 when Rob, Luke and Dayne started jamming on a weekly basis. Inspired by such bands as Cat Empire, Mad caddies, Sublime, Incubus and Red Hot Chili Peppers, the band has progressed into what it is today, a 6 piece rock reggae vibe with Cape Town groove. Joined by James on Trumpet, Neil on trombone, and Jonno on 2nd guitar, the band works together to bring good vibes through their music wherever they go.

Eksteen Jacobsz formed his own project, The Sick-Leaves in 2004 following a two year stint in London where he played in the band The Infidels who toured the local scene extensievely including opening for The Libertines. This South African band is more than just a clever name, they’re the freshest thing local rock has seen in a long time. The band has also succeeded in producing an unique spin on a genre that refuses to die out.” Nikki Temkin – Sunday Times, 2007.

This Cape Town based 5 piece Indie Rock band with a distinct sound that is catchy and unforgettably REBURN, have been labeled as one of South Africa’s top bands by the media and there steadily growing fan base. Looking for the party? Just follow the signs to REBURN’s next gig.

Collective jams, sleazy sweet mumbles. Put it in, turn it on, turn it up, turn it up, switch tracks. You like…you want more. Dance like you feel it. Stand back, look out. Look through the haze, crazy days keep it laid back track to how it all began, sing the songs they sang. You want it, you want it now, you want it. Falsetto sounds from Cape Town, listen close with your clothes off. Think new, fresh, experimental, grooverock… think The Plastics

Ashtray Electric, brings you a fresh new sound that is a delicate mixture of foot-tapping beats and rolling riffs. Not adhering to commercial beats, Ashtray Electric is taking the SA Music Scene by their very own handshake of music that is inspired by a large selection of musical styles and genres.

Gang of Instrumentals is a critically-acclaimed South African urban-pop group, founded in 2002. This Johannesburg based group consists of Tumi ‘Lady Naturelle’ Masemola, Mandla N- Pimville spokesman, and ‘Bongo’ Riot Zungu. Their innovative musical style is a mixture of hip hop, street rap, pop, soul, R&B, ragga, reggae and rock, with elements of kwaito and house.

aKING is a melodic Pop-Rock band. The band was formed when Hunter Kennedy and Jaco Venter from Fokofpolisiekar, teamed up with friends Laudo Liebenberg and Hennie van Halen, joining their combined creative forces in making music that expresses their shared experiences and influences. aKING is an audio diary of life and survival in the suburbs.

Goldfish are a true South African success story. The easy-going nature of Dom and Dave off stage belies their fearsome live show and an unstoppable ambition to take on the worlds best. With 6 months of touring overseas this year, appearances at Glastonbury, Ultra Festival Miami, Sensation White and Get Loaded in the Park, a residency at the worlds’ most revered super club Pacha Ibiza, as well as performances alongside artists Basement Jaxx, Faithless, Paul Oakenfold and Erick Morrilo amongst others, the Fishies are taking their Cape Town sound to the world.

Dave Ferguson’s solo show, uses only harmonica, human beat-box and vocals, recording live loops and then layering and building those loops to construct a song. Nothing is pre-recorded so once a song is played it’s gone. Doing mainly originals and some Blues/Americana and other unnexpected surprises thrown in for good measure. Genre classification would have to be something like “Trans-Blues & Country-Dub”. Although it’s a solo act it’s not your typical singer-songwhiner type show, expect more in your face dance-style grooves served up in a Deep-South style…Showcasing the incredible range and expressive qualities of the harmonica.

Wrestlerish is the brain child of singer/songwriter Werner Olckers. The project initially began as simply laid out acoustic songs that were recorded in his bedroom by producer Jacques Du Plessis and made available free for download as The Jackal EP. After a year’s musical sabbatical in London and overwhelming response for the EP, Olckers returned to South Africa with a catalogue of new material and recruited Du Plessis as a full time member of Wrestlerish. The two quickly reworked the songs for a live performance and made a shinning debut. Olckers has also been known to deliver intimate and heart wrenching solo performances.

The Jack Mantis Band is a musical journey, oriented around acoustic guitar with energy driven grooves and soulful songs about love, relationships and living today. The music of the Jack Mantis Band has South African flavours entwined with rock, blues, jazz and world groove. With soulful songs to listen to, and songs of dance.

What Dan Patlansky can do with a six-string Fender Stratocaster at the age of 28, most critically acclaimed guitarists will never quite achieve in a lifetime. In only ten years on the music scene, Dan Patlansky is one of the busiest and most respected blues artists to ever come out of South Africa. Constant touring as a teenager, won Dan the hearts of even the most hardened blues critics.

An eclectic mix of music that culminates into a cohesive whole, the album is an artistic offering that I know will bring many hours of inspired and enjoyable listening. Taking you on an aural journey that starts with the neo soul track “Thank you for the music” and ending with the contemplative “Electric Ju‐Ju”. Created and preformed by Rus Nerwich.

THIEVE is a pop-rock band from Cape Town consisting of Andrew Davenport, Fed Den Hartog and Philip Erasmus (previously from Ashtray Electric, Die Helde and New Loud Rockets respectively). The band formed November last year, and have been working on pre-production for their debut album since then. Catchy melody supported by strong guitar-based instrumentation and groove makes their sound easy to listen to and radio friendly. The early support they have accumulated from musicians and fans alike, makes the anticipation of their album all the more agonizing.

Captain Stu, brings you an urban twist with a tightly executed, energetic and eclectic blend of ska, funk, rock and reggae while skillfully incorporating as many of their varying influences as possible. Captain Stu now stand as a six piece group of dedicated and professional musicians with a large and loyal fan base which stretches throughout the country.

Formed December 2005, Desmond & The Tutus plays an infectiously awesome blend of Rock ‘n Roll, Indie Kwela Pop and Genius. You will have fun or else you will die. Not because we’re going to get all offended and poke your eyes out with sharp sticks or anything but rather because you’ll be trampled to a bleeding pulp by all the happy dancers jumping around like little crazies.

Freshlyground formed in early 2002, and is made up of seven talented and diverse musicians from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Fronted by the diminutive but dynamic Zolani Mahola, the band exudes a live performance energy that has been the bedrock of their success. The experienced rhythm section of Peter Cohen (drums) & Josh Hawks (bass) is complimented by guitarist Julio Sigauque, keyboardist Seredeal Scheepers, Simon Attwell (flute, mbira, sax and harmonica) and violinist Kyla Rose Smith. Although hailing from diverse backgrounds, between them the band’s members weave a musical magic that is highly infectious and undeniably groovy.

Just Jinjer, comprised of Ard Matthews (Vocals, Guitar) Brent Harris (Drums, Vocals) Denholm Harding (Bass, Vocals), is the biggest selling rock group in their home country of South Africa. The group released their first album in 1996 and immediately rose to a level of fame and acclaim rarely seen before. Since then, this longstanding group has set the benchmark for melodic rock of the most affecting kind, selling over a quater million albums spanning over a decade and six studio records.

Prime Circle enter 2009 as the leading rock band in South Africa, buoyed by several explosive live performances, a gold-selling album, significant radio play and, waiting in the wings, a bold assault on the international market. That Ross Learmonth, Dale Schnettler, Dirk Bisschoff, Neil Breytenbach and Marco Gomes have dominated the rock scene in South Africa is hardly surprising. After all, prior to 2008, the five-piece had supported the release of their first two albums with a commitment to hard work and through a workmanlike approach to gigging and a brace of radio hits, rapidly built up a loyal fan base.

The Black Hotels are an indie rock band from Johannesburg. Their first release, a five-track EP, made them one of the most critically acclaimed SA indie bands of 2007 and 2008. The band’s sound is a mixture of indie rock and alt-country, having been compared to the likes of Interpol, The Go Betweens and REM. From the 50’s to current day guitar bands The Black Hotels are influenced by them all, inspired by their own individual record collections and the number of great artists that affect them.

EJ von LYRIK hails from a township called Mitchell’s Plain on the Cape Flats, Cape Town, South Africa. She has been writing and performing her own material eversince she started working on music as a career in 1997. EJ is a vibrant performer and loves the stage as much as the studio. She also has passionate views on human rights and believes music is a spiritual gift, and this is very evident when listening to her lyrics and musical productions.

Gazelle is a small but colorful part of the African Renaissance promoting the growth and world view of any African born art. With a completely unique take and The Urban African chic scene, Gazelle is crossing the divides between Electro, disco, funk and pop, a colorful fashion palette and a sense of pride in what African contemporary music, art and fashion can become. Gazelle is scene definition in action.

The Little Kings began as an acoustic duo in 2007. Despite being relatively new to the SA music scene, the Cape Town-based band have rocked some awesome venues and events. This year saw some changes to The Little Kings who are now gigging as a three piece but still delivering the inspiring “rock-reggae-fusion” sound their fans have come to love.

Cape Town-based singer-songwriter Simon van Gend has been writing songs since forming his first band in the early nineties. Originally inspired by songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Paul Simon, he has developed a style of writing and performing all his own, mixing soulful melodies with lyrics that chart new territories in the internal world.

Son of a Thousand Blues was started on 2004 by Federico Fernandez; the band has been evolving since then as one of the most versatile and eclectic bands that South Africa has to offer. The band is composed of Federico Fernandez (Argentina) on Guitar and vocals, Lucky Nhla Nhla Mwelase on lead vocals Nicolas Rochecouste (Mauritius) on drums and percussion and Mzwandile Kunene (South Africa) on bass. The name comes from remembering the times when Federico used to listen to all those blues records, trying to imitate the licks of thousands of blues players.

In a musical scene dominated by just a handful of starkly hewn genres, 340ml brew a music concoction that pulls down boundaries with ease and is set to make a lasting impact on the global music scene. The group’s music is all about plump bass notes, beats that get fans tapping the table, guitarwork that’s just the right balance of melodic and low-key and vocals at times seem like another instrument in the musical mix.

Bed on Bricks is a unique feature on the South African musical landscape – a band whose sound is not easily defined, does not fit comfortably in any specific genre, thereby not appealing to a specific group of listeners. Yet they’re a regular feature on the main stages of the country’s major music festivals, have a diverse and fanatical following as well as proving to be an inspiration for countless other musical acts.