The Sleepers, Black Market Riots and Supercancer

The Sleepers are performing steadily around Cape Town with their new vocalist. Catch them at ROAR with Black Market Riots and Supercancer on the 14th October

R30 | 9pm

Poster by Adam Hill

The Sleepers Return

Saturday 20th August saw The Sleepers return to the stage armed with new songs and a new singer. They'll be playing in and around Cape Town in the coming months but if you missed their gig at The Mercury on the 20th you can live vicariously through the photos of Michaela Verity

[All photos courtesy Michaela Verity]

See The Sleepers live:

2nd September - Isochronous and The Sleepers - Mercury Live
17th September - 3rd World Spectator, The Sleepers & Black Moscow - Aandklas

Headline Artists - Boot Camp

In response to ongoing requests to manage bands, I have worked on a programme that will allow me to pass on knowledge and assistance to artists and bands who are interested in elevating their product’s levels of professionalism. As a result, we are proud to announce the launch of Headline Artists Boot Camp!

The idea behind this programme is quite simply to help you prepare for a career in the music industry. Originally designed with musicians in mind, this programme will suit support personnel as well, including managers, publicists and agents.

The programme will be accompanied by a workshop to be held over 2 Saturdays (in successive months), commencing at 10am and ending at 1pm. Workshop attendance is compulsory for all band members/artists intending to participate in Boot Camp.

The total duration of Boot Camp will be 3 months and during this time you and your band will be included in the Headline Artists stable as a ‘managed band’. You will operate as a Headline managed band, except that you will be responsible for your own booking throughout the duration of Boot Camp. This, with the exception of one show at the end of the 3 months to be organised by Headline Artists at either: Mercury, Zula or Assembly.

At the end of the 3 month Boot Camp, a full management contract with Headline Artists will be negotiated based on the band’s performance during Boot Camp, workload limitations of the agency and the band’s willingness to continue the relationship.

For the duration of Boot Camp you will have access to Headline Artists facilities and regular bi-weekly consultation sessions will be available to you and your band members, upon request.  At these meetings you will receive mentoring on strategic planning for your band and your career and you will be provided with the tools necessary to build a sustainable brand.

The Boot Camp Workshops will cover the following topics:

1.       Industry Entities:

-          Song writers

-          Performers

-          Recording Studios

-          Manufacturers

-          Retailers

-          Performance venues

-          Promoters

-          Band management team

-          Producers

-          Engineers

2.       Business model for your band:

-          Is it necessary to have a manager, lawyer, agent, publicist, publisher etc? Roles and relevance in the industry.

3.       Starting your band:

-          Content ownership

-          Prepare for departing member(s) or break up

-          Structuring tasks and responsibilities

-          Preparing material; rehearsals; practice (what’s the difference?)

-          Booking your first show(s)

-          Effective booking schedules

-          Short, medium and long term strategic planning

-          Building your brand

4.       Marketing initiatives / Technological developments:

-          The digital landscape

-          Marketing platforms on the web

5.       Recording contracts:

-          Basic contractual terms

-          History

-          Current trends

6.       Potential revenue streams:

-          CD Retail

-          Merchandise

-          Live performance revenue

-          Performance rights organisations in SA / Royalty revenue streams

-          Synch licensing

-          Publishing

7.       Recording strategies:

-          WHEN to record

-          Producer Engineer

-          Studio costs

-          Manufacturing

-          Technological developments in recording

Principle contributors to this programme will be Brian Currin of Brian Currin Online Marketing and myself. We will be joined by guest speakers from various areas of the music industry, who will be sharing their personal knowledge and experience of their areas of expertise; previous contributors have included Peter Lacey, Musketeer Records and Theo Crouse, Bellville Studios.

Costs for the programme will be R1600.00 per month (per band) and will include workshop fees and all consultation sessions with me for the duration of Boot Camp. Fees will be paid monthly in advance.

Please indicate your intention to participate in Boot Camp by mailing  headlineartists@gmail.com and you will be furnished with details of date and venue (which are reliant on the numbers attending) of the introductory workshop.

Please note that should artists choose not to join the full Boot Camp programme, but are still desirous of participating in the workshops, they are open to the public and will cost R600-00 per person per day.

I look forward to your participation,
Sean Wienand

Wendy Oldfield Live

Wendy Oldfiend will be performing at the Leinster Hall on Friday 15th July. For more information about the Leinster Hall visit their website. The venue is in Weltevreden Street, Gardens.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to see one of South Africa's talents live. Wendy will be performing an unplugged intimate set. Bookings are essential. 

Dustland Express, Black Moscow & Coal at Zula

As you all must be aware by now, Zula is moving. The new venue is at 98 Long Street and will be opening its doors this weekend.

Dustland Express, Black Moscow and Coal will be performing at the new venue the weekend after that - on the 16th of July.

Don't miss this interesting and eclectic lineup.