Freshlyground's old-school nationwide tour

The band's partnership with Nedbank will result in Freshlyground perform in remote parts of South Africa that are often deprived of entertainment of this stature.

A throwback to old-school rock n' roll touring, the seven-piece group will pack up their lives, instruments, sound equipment and roadies, and hit the road in a variety of tour buses and vehicles.

The tour will visit cities, towns and townships stretching from the coast all the way to Sun City.

The band has specifically chosen smaller theatre environments in order to create a sense of intimacy, so early booking is essential. Audiences can expect evenings of intimate storytelling and dramatic musical performance.

Giving back to communities

Furthermore, Freshlyground and Nedbank have teamed up to "give back" to communities and will be staging six free concerts in township venues across South Africa.

"This is just another way Nedbank continues to make things happen, allowing thousands of music lovers and Nedbank clients across South Africa to join in the 10 year celebration of this award-winning group. This is in keeping with our commitment to the development of arts and culture in South Africa through the Nedbank Arts & Culture Trust since 1994," said Ciko Thomas: Nedbank's managing executive of consumer banking.

Sometimes politically sensitive issues

Since the band's first studio album "JikaJika", which was released in 2003, Freshlyground has grown to become part of the fabric of the new South Africa with their music taking on the optimistic and lighthearted strains of Desmond Tutu's rainbow nation while continuing to touch on topical and sometimes politically sensitive issues. It's precisely this optimism and relevance which has led to their appeal across economic, racial and political divides in South Africa.

Catch Freshlyground at one of 29 venues nationwide between 28 October and 4 December for a one-off retrospective event will see the band performing popular material from all four albums, including "JikaJika". For a full list of dates and venues, go to www.freshlyground.com or www.facebook.com/freshlygroundsa

For a chance to win tickets to any of the concerts, simply "like" Freshlyground's Facebook page and enter your details: www.facebook.com/freshlygroundsa