South African Rock Music Digest

15/01/2025

Steve Louw and Big Sky perform live at Daisy Jones, Stellenbosch, on February 21, 2025. Tickets from R160, table bookings essential....

Steve Louw and Big Sky perform live at Daisy Jones, Stellenbosch, on February 21, 2025. Tickets from R160, table bookings essential.

05/01/2025

The SA Rock Digest page is no longer being updated. Please visit South African Rock Music Updates at https://wp.me/Pi944-l1R for news and information. There you can subscribe and select the “South African Music” category to receive notifications.

The South African Rock Encyclopedia

24/12/2024

Happy Birthday by Frank Opperman

Frank Opperman · Let's Be Frank · Song · 2009

18/12/2024

22 YEARS AGO 5FM PRESENTED THE SANTA SESSIONS

“The Santa Sessions” showcased the diverse musical talents of seventeen leading South African bands from the early 2000s. Groups like Just Jinger, Mean Mr. Mustard, Kreesan, Tweak, and Henry Ate infused classic Christmas tunes with their own distinctive styles, creating a vibrant and eclectic holiday album.

“The Santa Sessions” showcased the diverse musical talents of seventeen leading South African bands from the early 2000s. Groups like Just Jinger, Mean Mr. Mustard, Kreesan, Tweak, and …

12/12/2024

Drawing inspiration from the 25th anniversary of the double CD Disco Fever, which I helped compile with Derek Smith from Gallo in 1999, and the recent passing of Peter Vee (from Disco Rock pioneers Buffalo), I’ve undertaken a project to significantly expand the South African Rock Encyclopedia entries for the majority of artists featured on that release.

To date, I’ve created dedicated websites for Buffalo, Hot R.S., and Disco Rock Machine (and also Kariba, though more Reggae than Rock), each featuring updated information, better quality images, and embedded Spotify and/or YouTube playlists. I invite you to explore these newly enhanced artist profiles and relive the golden era of South African Disco Rock music.

-- Brian Currin

https://briancurrin.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/exploring-the-legacy-of-south-african-disco-rock-artists/

Thanks to Discogs, Leon Rossouw, John Samson, Stephen Segerman, Marq Vas and Tertius Louw (from Marq Vas's Southern African Music Collectibles), and others for information, images, content and inspiration.

Drawing inspiration from the 25th anniversary of the double CD Disco Fever, which I helped compiled with Derek Smith from Gallo in 1999, and the recent passing of Peter Vee (from Disco Rock pioneer…

07/12/2024

Updated: South African Legends Of Rock On Spotify

A selection of Spotify playlists of South African Rock Legends

https://sugarmusicnews.wordpress.com/2023/09/30/south-african-legends-of-rock-spotify/

A selection of Spotify playlists of South African Rock Legends South African Rock Legends Piet Botha Jack Hammer Brian Finch Finch And Henson Abstract Truth Falling Mirror McCully Workshop Otis Way…

07/12/2024

HOT R.S.

When I co-founded the South African Rock Encyclopedia website with Stephen “Sugar” Segerman in 1999, Hot R.S. was one of our earliest entries. Inspired by their legacy, and my continuing love for Disco Rock, I decided to expand their entry and create a dedicated website to delve deeper into their music, featuring updated information, enhanced visuals, Spotify playlists, and more.
-- Brian Currin

https://briancurrin.wordpress.com/2024/12/07/what-am-i-creating-an-expanded-web-presence-for-hot-r-s/

Keurspel John Samson Marq Vas's Southern African Music Collectibles

-rock

The late 1970s was a golden age for disco music internationally, dominated by iconic artists like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Chic, Gloria Gaynor, and Village People. While the focus was often on r…

05/12/2024

Thank you to everyone whose spirit is in the music and to everyone for listening….

Thank you to everyone whose spirit is in the music and to everyone for listening….

01/12/2024

The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Classic Albums > Compilations > Various Artists > Vloek Van Die Kitaar 1979-2001 Tracks Blommetjie Gedenk Aan My – Anton Goosen Tiger and Loui…

20/11/2024

25 years ago this week Brian Currin met Piet Botha and Johnathan Martin for the first time and wrote a brief review for the South African Rock Music Digest, which he co-founded with Stephen "Sugar" Segerman of SugarMan.org fame.



https://pietbotha.com/2024/11/20/it-was-25-years-ago-this-week/

20/11/2024

And please don't cry / This is not how the story ends / It ends on a highway to the sun Jack Hammer November 1984 (L-to-R): Eric Birkenstock, Piet Botha, Jan Maloney, Boet Faber. First rehearsals at Slowfarm November 2024 marks a significant milestone in the history of South African rock music, as it commemorates the 40th anniversary of the legendary band…...

And please don’t cry / This is not how the story ends / It ends on a highway to the sun Jack Hammer November 1984 (L-to-R): Eric Birkenstock, Piet Botha, Jan Maloney, Boet Faber. First rehear…

28/10/2024

Not many of the crowd (if any) at The Jam last Friday night would have been around to see 3-piece power trios like Cream (Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker) or the early Grand Funk Railroad in their hey-day. Saron Gas are by no stretch of the imagination a retro-rock band, but the spirit of those early pioneering power trios lives on in their total commitment to keep on pushing rock's envelope....

Not many of the crowd (if any) at The Jam last Friday night would have been around to see 3-piece power trios like Cream (Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker) or the early Grand Funk Railro…

28/10/2024

Born East London 1950, I started playing the piano very young. I was lucky to have a piano and an old gramophone. I was exposed to different sorts of music but the rock revolution of the 60’s really inspired me to make music my career. I played in various bands through school and university (UCT) and went pro at the age of 20....

Born East London 1950, I started playing the piano very young. I was lucky to have a piano and an old gramophone. I was exposed to different sorts of music but the rock revolution of the 60’s reall…

28/10/2024

Jika was composed and recorded during the period here known as “the bad years “ ie. when the system of racial oppression called apartheid was at its height under P.W . Botha ‘s “ Imperial Presidency “. There is a strong protest content in the lyrics , but due to harsh censorship laws in force at the time this messaage had to be conveyed in a covert and subtle way in order to release the album without any problems....

Jika was composed and recorded during the period here known as “the bad years “ ie. when the system of racial oppression called apartheid was at its height under P.W . Botha ‘s “ Imperial Presidenc…

28/10/2024

DUDULA was recorded in Cape Town during ’96. It’s a laid-back album again featuring a wide variety of styles: the bustling, impatient energy of “Khawuleza” {Hurry Up!} contrasted with the cool, spacey – “Amanzi Obomi” {Water of Life} or the simple lyricism of “Shirley“ against the mbaqanga of “Masihambe” {Let’s Go}. Or the wistful introversion of “Green and Gold” vis –a-vis the upfront, clubby title track “Dudula”{Forward!}.he album contains a great deal of improvisational freedom and the soloists take full advantage, one highlight being the extended coda on the title track where guitar, piano and sax share centre stage, exchanging phrases freely....

DUDULA was recorded in Cape Town during ’96. It’s a laid-back album again featuring a wide variety of styles: the bustling, impatient energy of “Khawuleza” {Hurry Up!} contrasted with the cool, spa…

24/10/2024

Let’s Rock, the iconic UK retro festival, will debut in South Africa in 2025, featuring performances by 80s legends like Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey and Midge Ure.

Live performances from Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, Midge Ure, Steve Louw’s Big Sky, and many more! All info at  Breakout Events is thrilled to announce that Let’s Rock, the UK…