Founded in the Boland town, Wellington, amaBhulu? have played to crowds from Rosebank to Riebeek-Kasteel, and were selected to perform a gig at the Grand Parade FIFA Fan Park, during the FIFA World Cup.
Band front man Heiné du Toit described their off-centre musical repertoire as "Unashamedly eclectic - a funky, quirky jumble of folk, kwela, riel, blues, reggae and country, wittily interwoven with 'ethno bongo' boere-orkes."
Influences are diverse, ranging from local folk icons David Kramer and Nico Carstens, to Willie Nelson and Pink Floyd, "liberally spiced with 'World Music', biased strongly in favour of the African continent".
In the words of Du Toit: "amaBhulu? reflects an eternal search for the weft of bastardy within the South-African sound-loom. There are no sacred cows, and we borrow and reinterpret freely, while paying tribute to the rich musical heritage of South Africa's polyglot cultures.
"Our songs pulse with every question that bedevils human existence - from cultural alienation and affiliation, to love and loss, and the elusive, existential quest for our spiritual nature - all presented with tongue firmly in cheek." This irreverent musical ethos is reflected in the ironic name amaBhulu? ("Are we Boere?").
Although the band's original, acoustic compositions are rooted in vernacular Western Cape Afrikaans, they draw from a broader South African cultural experience, and a thorough grasp of the language is by no means a prerequisite for enjoying their gigs.
The amaBhulu? line-up consists of Heiné du Toit (vocals and guitar); "Elmez" Badenhorst (piano-accordion and harmonica); Dawid de Villiers (banjo and bass), Hendré Retief (percussion) and "token Pommie" Natalie Mason (viola).
amaBhulu? will be interviewed on Bush Radio 89.5, on Sunday, 12 September on Toast Coetzer's "The unhappy hour" between 7 and 8 pm.
"Die Wis en die Onwis" CD is available via www.amabhulu.co.za or as downloads from www.rhythmonline.co.za.
For more information, contact Heiné du Toit: 083 321 2601; az.oc.uluhbama@ofni; www.facebook.com/amabhulu
