Sheep Down have been crankin’ up the skankin’ since 2005, and it just keeps getting better and better!
From humble beginnings playing at house parties around Durban (South Africa), Sheep Down have evolved into one of the city’s top underground acts. 2006 saw the release of their first e.p. entitled “Sheep Down’s ABC’sâ€. It was their first release to the fans and it served the purpose of showing the world exactly what Sheep Down were all about. With the songs in the ears of the people, Sheep Down continued to gig and tour South Africa, establishing themselves in an underground punk scene which was said to be “dyingâ€. People started to take notice as they made it onto the bill for several major festivals such as Splashy Fen (2006-2009), Uprising (2006-2008) and Woodstock 9 (2007) and 10 (2008).
With enough tunes under their belt Sheep Down launched their debut full length album entitled “Beyond the Confines†in early 2008. The album achieved the status of “Album of the Week†on Barney Simon’s SA Music show on Radio 2000, and was played on campus stations around the country such as UCT Radio and Maties FM.
The band released a video for the title song of the album “Beyond the Confines†and this is currently on rotation on South Africa’s MK89 television station.
The founding members of the band include Marcel, whose resonant trumpet lines and commanding vocals will get you thinking while you sing along in the shower. Paul’s experience in jazz drumming and punk roots will have you bouncing to the groove. Roach, with his hardcore riffs, skanky upstrokes, and crunchy yet sweet vocals, is the crowd “antagoniserâ€. Nothing makes him happier than a bunch of sweaty kids running around in circles. Duncan, with his love of the heavier things in life will be sending some love your way on the bass guitar, and he adds the edge with his screams.
Brass players have come and gone over the years, but they now sport permanent trombonist “Q†as part of their musical arsenal, who was born to play live shows with that big trombone of his.
Sheep Down are currently working on their third release entitled “SkaBenga†which will be a double-cd release. They are taking their punk-ska roots to extremes with this album, having one cd filled with pure ska, and the other packed with pure punk. Depending on your mood, both will satisfy your craving! No release date has been set, but watch this space!
The stage performance is one which involves beer, partying, a bunch of SKA, some “Oi Oi’s†and “Hey Hey’sâ€, funnels, choreographed outfits, as well as some mild internal insults. You will undoubtedly leave the show with sweaty clothes and a memorable line or two bouncing around your head. The band is influenced by 90’s Southern Californian punk such as Nofx, Pennywise, Lagwagon and Bad Religion, as well as more modern acts such as Mad Caddies, Reel Big Fish, Rise Against, and Millencolin to name a few.
Sheep Down has also played alongside international acts such as Red Five Point Star (Slovenia), Evicted (Zimbabwe) and The Ataris (USA).
So please, don’t hesitate... go watch Sheep Down at the next nearby show! You’re bound to have a party... because they certainly will!
Beyond the Confines music video:
We record here:
Download some tunes here:
