Tidal Waves back to shake Newtown
I REMEMBER how I used to be robbed of enjoying the dawn of a new year with family and close friends by one band - for three years in succession
This being robbed was voluntary since I could not imagine ushering in the new year without watching these guys in action.
And so in the mid-2000s the place I enjoyed witnessing the new year was a pseudo-Rastafarian place, the rustic-looking Cool Runnings in Melville's 4th Avenue.
I still miss those days though I have disconnected from the place and, in the process, from my favourite reggae band in the country - Tidal Waves.
But fans of this widely travelled band in Johannesburg must consider themselves lucky in that the reggae boys are going to be the headline act at the relaunch party of the Politburo Sessions tomorrow at Shikisha (formerly Horror Café) in Newtown.
The gig promises lots of fire, with Tidal Waves as the main band in a programme that promises to be memorable for those that make it to this Youth Day-themed launch party organised by the progressive Nuff Said Kollectiv (Nsako).
The gig will commence at 7.30pm and will see a number of performers such as poet Mak Manaka and DJs including Sbu 'The General" Nxumalo take to the stage.
But all eyes will be on globe-trotting reggae-folklore and rock band Tidal Waves.
Tidal Waves are widely regarded as the most hard-working reggae band in South Africa, playing gigs from Oppikoppi to Pretoria, Cape Town to Potchefstroom and beyond.
The band is made up of five very gifted musicians, the core of the group being Jacob "Zakes" Wulana on guitar, vocals, harmonica and vuvuzela and Sam "Drumbo" Shoai on vocals and drums.
The rest of the band comprises Shadrack "Charlie" Mathopa on bass guitar, Johannes "Charlie" Papasha on keyboards, while Jaco "Mr" Mans wields the lead guitar.
Jacob Wulana and fellow founder member Sam Shoai hail from the western mining town of Klerksdorp.
The rest of the band came together in Yeoville, Joburg.
Growing up in the township, Wulana and Shoai found themselves surrounded by a whole range of languages, cultures and music.
There was isiZulu, isiXhosa, Setswana, Tshivenda and Afrikaans as well as the music of Bob Marley, Sly and Robbie and Curtis Mayfield.