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.

Black Moscow, Versus the Wolf & Sidecar Fire

Thursday is a public holiday, so what better way to celebrate than by coming down to Zula on Wednesday the 15th to see SAMA award winners Versus the Wolf with Black Moscow and Sidecar Fire?

Upcoming Events

Don't forget to check our Event Calendar to keep up to date on planned shows.

June's gigs:

June 3 - Black Moscow, Arc Reactor & When Karma Sleeps - ROAR

June 4 - Heroes Wear Red, Graeme Watkins & Man as Machine - Tings 'n Times

June 15 - Versus The Wolf, Black Moscow & Sidecar Fire - Zula

June 17 - Van Coke Kartel, Coal & Stonecollar - Acoustic - Mercury Live

Heroes Wear Red & Graeme Watkins Project

Heroes Wear Red are performing with Man as Machine and the Graeme Watkins Project at Tings 'n Times on the 4th June.

If the name Graeme Watkins rings some bells, that's because you might remember Graeme from his Idols days, but what the Graeme Watkins Project are now creating is like nothing before heard in this country.

More from their press release:
GWP has an international-competing production quality, unique instrumental ideas and complex, innovative sample tracks. This has allowed GWP to enter seamlessly into the realm of Electro-Indie, where they are fast finding their feet, ready to battle the big players.

This is evident in their recent successes. GWP’s first single “Real World”, off the debut album “Corridors of the Mind”, received immense interest receiving high rotation nationally on several of SA’s leading radio stations.

This unit has managed to break the “cookie-cutter” mould of stereotypically SA music, producing a handful of fresh, new original tracks – each lined with raw, pure emotion. 

It goes without saying that this gig is not to be missed. More information is available on the Facebook event page.

Van Coke Kartel - Winter Acoustic

Van Coke Kartel will be touring their acoustic set this winter. On the 17th June they will perform this set with Coal and Stonecollar at Mercury Live for an Uncircled show.

Mercury Live rarely hosts these uncircled shows and they are not to be missed. The stage moves to the center of the venue and an intimate and relaxed atmosphere prevails. There is limited seating provided for these shows, so get there early to avoid disappointment.

Coal will be performing their popular dark and haunting semi-acoustic set. Stonecollar have prepared their acoustic set specially for this event, don't miss this opportunity to see them in a completely different light.

Stonecollar Press

Reviews are still coming in fast and furious for the new Stonecollar album. Now, Channel 24 have published an article featuring Stonecollar: Channel 24 - Is Hard Rock Dead in SA?

"With CD sales declining globally across all genres, and the further monopolising of airwaves by the Top40 playlists, certain 'genres' of music previously thought to be the staple of suburban identity have fallen by the wayside. Or have they?

In South Africa, rock is historically regarded as music played by and for the white suburban teenager. The harder brands of rock in particular have retreated into the dark corners of those suburban alleys, but can still be found thriving there, albeit on a smaller scale.

One band that happens to serve as a great example of this is Cape Town outfit STONECOLLAR, who are about to launch their debut album, and have been getting lots of positive buzz from international weblogs and such with preview and demo tracks." [...read more]

Don't forget that Stonecollar are holding their album launch party on the 17th May at Mercury Live.

Coal Update

Coal recently spent a weekend away disturbing the neighbours in langebaan with their non-stop rehearsing. The fruits of that labour are a much improved electric and acoustic set, as well as some lo-fi recordings which they've uploaded to their Soundcloud account. In the coming weeks they'll also be uploading some snippets of other songs, but in the meantime you can listen to the full version of both Stroke and Train.

Coal have recently returned to the stage after their 4 month hiatus, in which they focused their efforts on re-arranging existing material, writing new songs and training up their new drummer. They'll be performing in and around Cape Town regularly going forward, be sure to make the effort to check them out, you will not be disappointed.

Stonecollar Album Launch Event

Stonecollar have recently released their album "Trial by Fire". The party to celebrate this launch is on the 17th May at Mercury Live. The following day is a public holiday so there's no excuse not to come out for some mid-week madness. More information is available on the Facebook Event Page

The album has already received rave reviews both locally and internationally:

"There are some signature performances here: great guitar solos abound and Leshem Petersen's expressive, emotional, and clean vocals are quite impressive.
Should we expect international acclaim for Stonecollar? Possibly. Trial By Fire, with the right promotion, could find an audience in the States, and Europe as well. Strong talent and good songs propel Stonecollar's Trial By Fire. Easily recommended!" - DangerDog.com

"Stonecollar are actually the first metal act I have heard from South Africa and if they are an indication of what the burgeoning scene there has to offer, then we could be in for a treat over the next few years" - Metal Perspective

You can purchase a copy of the album via facebook's online store or, if you're in Cape Town, you can contact the band directly to obtain a copy. Of course, you can always pick one up at the show on the 17th of May!

Coal at The Waiting Room

Tonight Coal perform their set of dark and haunting lullabies at The Waiting Room. Their music is like "smoke and water", both "haunting and mesmerising". Coal will be on stage at 9:45pm sharp, don't miss out!

You can find out more on the Facebook Event Page

Poster by Adam Hill

Coal Return

On the 20th April Coal return to the stage, supporting The Wild Eyes and 3rd World Spectator for a show not to be missed.

Klein Libertas hosts this event. R30 entrance. See Facebook Event Page for more details

Black Moscow

Black Moscow is currently in studio recording their EP. The launch will be on the 26th April at Mercury Live.





Black Moscow: The Verdigris Sessions Part 1 from Rob Ruhrmund on Vimeo.

100 South African Artists

Music Review are compiling a list of "100 South African Artists You Have To Hear". Part 1 has been published on their website and The Sleepers make an appearance!

Farewell to Simon

Tonight The Sleepers perform the LMG Birthday Party with Van Coke Kartel and Foto Na Dans.

This is Simon's final gig with The Sleepers. They're on first, probably around 9:30pm or 10:00pm, so get there early to avoid the disappointment of missing this show!

Ramfest 2011 / The Sleepers

The Sleepers performed on the Main Stage at Ramfest over the weekend, this was their second last show with Simon on vocals. Simon's final show with The Sleepers is this Friday 11th March at Mercury Live for the LMG Birthday Party. They'll be sharing the stage with Van Coke Kartel and Foto Na Dans. R50 gets you in, but you can pre-order tickets through www.webtickets.co.za for R40.

If you weren't at Ramfest over the weekend you missed an extraordinarily well planned festival. Here are some snippets, including a short tongue in cheek interview with The Sleepers.

Ramfest

Ramfest is only a day away now! Don't forget that The Sleepers are playing on Saturday at 6pm on the Main Stage. They're immediately followed by Isochronous.

[Photo by Michaela Verity]

You can check out the rest of the Ramfest lineup on the Festival Website or here on Facebook

Black Moscow

As of February 2011, Black Moscow are under Headline Artists management.

Black Moscow started in May 2010, aiming to make music that is intelligent and without pretense. The band has a solid grounding in musical theory courtesy of guitarist Marc Röntsch and bassist Luke Otto’s training at The South African College of Music, UCT. The line-up is completed by guitarist Stephen Alfreds - a graphic designer; drummer Rob Ruhrmund - who owns studio and production house Def Empire; and Xavier Van Der Zandt - who performs vocal duties and is a freelance writer and student at UCT.

Links for Black Moscow:

 Facebook | Vimeo | Twitter | Soundcloud