The TIDAL WAVES are no newcomers to the South African music industry or public. Known as “the hardest working reggae band in South Africa†with their slogan “original music for original people."
AFRIKA is their 4th album (their first an EP and the second two independent releases). We hear some great new songs as well as some totally unavailable hit classics from the past re-recorded and mixed to perfection and only available right here on this release – played in every show they do!
“Roots Reggae†all the way with some interesting rock/ ska fusion on certain tracks and highly socially and politically conscious messages, the WAVES have maximum creditbility, and to prove this fact have garnered SAMA and CHANNEL O awards for their efforts in the reggae genre.
The WAVES, under the management of OPPIKOPPI PRODUCTIONS, have a very active live profile indeed (both local and international) making their name one that penetrates and permeates.
The crowd is skanking in unison, bouncing up and down like an irie earthquake of rhythm. The dreadlocked maestro with the guitar stops blowing his harmonica and leans into the microphone and shouts: ‘Original Music!’ ‘For Original People!’ The crowd screams back in togetherness. The maestro smiles and hits them with another song.
Tidal Waves are widely regarded as the hardest working reggae band in South Africa, playing gigs from Oppikoppi to Pretoria, Cape Town to Potchefstroom. Originally from Klerksdorp, a small dustbowl gold mining town about two hours South of Johannesburg, the band is now based in Yeoville, Jozi.
Tidal Waves write and perform original reggae music with traditional African musical influences like maskandi and mbaqanga. The sound is original roots reggae with strong rock, ska and blues strands. Like all good reggae, their lyrics are socially conscious and uplifting, railing against the government for not respecting the Rainbow Nation and imploring their fans to stand up for integration and one love. Other songs have deeply rooted anti war sentiments, while others lament the sad tales of urban South African poverty and the struggle to survive as musicians in the global capitalist economy.
Their performances are always high energy and the band plays regularly in Johannesburg and Pretoria as well as touring and gigging in Cape Town and smaller dorps around the country. The band has also played at the Oppikoppi Music festival, South Africa’s premier live music festival, for many years. Internationally, Tidal Waves have taken their original music to Mozambique, Swaziland and as far abroad as New Zealand and Europe. They have recently returned from a rocking tour of Europe where they played the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium, as well as a packed schedule of medium sized venues across Belgium and Italy.
‘Tidal Waves played a steaming and catching reggae set at this year's Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium.’ Says Chokri Mahassine from Pukkelpop. ‘It was amazing to see how they pulled a fully crowded tent at an alternative festival at the same time as Nick Cave was playing, and got all the people to dance. They really represented the good and bad sides of South Africa with their warm and sunny, but also political music. Off stage we greatly appreciated these 100% pure people.’ ‘I've seen Tidal Waves play in a lot of diiferent places already.’ Says Hans De Reydt of Blafhik Productions. ‘From a youth house to a casino, from a pub to the famous Pukkelpop festival and I must say, they impress every audience. Definitely one of the best live bands that I have had the pleasure to work with.’ Tidal Waves are widely respected in South African music circles as an honest, hard working band with an original sound, irie vibes and a dynamic live performance. Because of this they have some of the most ardent, die-hard fans and supporters in the SA music industry. And at every gig you will hear the chant:‘Original music for original people!’
To purchase "Afrika" online, visit: * www.kalahari.net * www.musica.co.za Photography courtesy of Margaret Bartkowiak
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