News South Africa

Top rock bands to appear at the V&A Waterfront

Five South African bands are to take to the stage in the Amphitheatre's Summer Concerts between Wednesday, 26 and Sunday, 30 December, 2012, at Cape Town's V&A Waterfront.

First up will be energetic local band Hot Water on Wednesday, 26 December between 6pm and 7pm. Hot Water's music incorporates elements of traditional South African music such as kwela, mbaqana, sakkie-sakkie, ghoema and kwasa-kwasa blended with folk, blues and indie pop rock.

On Thursday, 27 December, between 6pm and 7pm, popular pop rock band macstanley, previously known as Flat Stanley, will show the audience why they are in demand with European audiences. In addition to well-loved favourites, the band will also perform tracks off their new album "Lucid, Alive and Dreaming", which has just been released. Although still following the same popular formula, some of the new tracks have a raunchier rock edge to them and Andy Mac's distinctive vocals are sharper than ever.

Bringing an element of Michael Buble and Josh Groban to the week, vocalist Selim Kagee will wow visitors with his incredible vocal range on Friday, 28 December between 6pm and 6.30pm. Kagee's classical training enables him to deliver a romantic combination of classic and pop songs in both English and Italian.

Talented female musicians

Following on from Kagee between 6.30pm and 7pm, will be Sterling EQ, a quartet of talented female musicians who fiddled their way to winning a SAMA Award, becoming only the second all-girl group ever to win one of the coveted awards. The band's fusion of classical, kwaito, pop and rock music leads to a distinctive and contemporary sound.

On Saturday, 29 December the lively and highly energetic band The Rudimentals will entertain the crowd between 6pm and 7pm. This eight-piece ska-reggae outfit from Cape Town regularly perform at top music events and festivals and have released three albums to date. Great vocals, trombone, saxophone, flute, flugel, trumpet, guitars, drum keyboards and percussion define the band's unique, eclectic sound.

To round off the week on Sunday, 30 December between 6pm and 7pm, ex-Just Jinjer musician and vocalist Ard Matthews will perform tracks off his newly released album "First Offerings". Many of the new tracks were written during Matthews' journey through India and other countries, and while they're described as left-of-centre they still carry that trademark sound his fans love. But fans can still expect to hear some of their old favourites.

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