“ They’ve released a record that can sit comfortably alongside any current international release, in terms of both production quality as well as song-writing class.” - Music-is.posterous.com
As a first offering to audiences, this is definitely an album you need in your collection and a very successful stamp of impact on the SA music scene. – Rachelle Crous – Overtone
“The Cape Town launch was essentially the last show of our tour and we wanted to make it a big show for our home crowd. It was more successful than all of us imagined and a proud night for the four of us.” – James Tuft, lead vocals, guitar
Since returning from a highly successful country-wide album launch tour in May, Capetonian foursome Holiday Murray has continued to embed their unique imprint on the South African music scene.
With the first single off their self-titled debut album being playlisted on national radio station 5FM and the music video of their first single, Jirey, on high rotation on DSTV music channel MK, the band also recently became the first SA band to perform a song using iPads as instruments during a TaxiJam performance.
HOLIDAY MURRAY GOES iPAD on TAXIJAM
Holiday Murray – A Taxijam from taxijam on Vimeo.
Cruizing through the streets of Cape Town, Holiday Murray recently put on a TaxiJam performance with a difference. Rather than play their usual instruments, the band performed their hit single, Jirey, solely on Apple iPads. Says vocalist James “TaxiJam approached us, and we thought it was a great idea. iPads are still a relatively unexploited way of performing music in South Africa, especially as a group, so we went for it.” ”We decided on Holiday Murray for the iPad TaxiJam as we wanted to get a “live” sound from the iPads without relying too much on drum pads and backing tracks,” said TaxiJam founder Simon Wall. “These guys were the perfect choice.”
Recently relaunched, Taxijam has, over the past couple years, become an institution on the local music scene. “Taxijam is the smallest gig around,” says Simon. “We provide a selection of some of South Africa’s finest creative talent performing in an intimate 5-minute taxi ride. All clips are recorded and shot in exactly the same style, and uploaded onto our website. Whether you are famous or infamous, signed or unsigned, rock or pop, acoustic or metal or simply someone with a story to tell – anyone can hop on board!”
Holiday Murray’s next music video release will be for Antagonizer, the second single off the band’s debut album. The video, a collection of footage shot by Johno Mellish and Adriaan Louw will contain scenes from the band’s two previous tours. Says guitarist Justin Davenport “The video is not necessarily a literal commentary on the meaning of the song, but encapsulates the song’s imagery with honest depictions of Holiday Murray on tour. Johno Mellish has edited the footage with his own take on the song and sewn together imagery that is both beautiful and exciting.”
HOLIDAY MURRAY TO PLAY OPPIKOPPI
2011 Over the next two months, Holiday Murray will be playing a run of Cape Town shows (please see below for details). Holiday Murray has also been confirmed to perform at Oppikoppi 2011, and will be doing a small three-show tour on their way up north, possibly including their first-ever performance in Durban. The band has also been invited to perform at the Billabong Pro Surfing Tournament in Jeffrey’s Bay on 15 July.
Regarding the rest of the year says violinist and bassist Chris Carter “We plan to promote our album as much as possible, as well as taking some time out to write new material. Our major goal for this year is to expand our fan base beyond these borders, and we hope to have something of a small international tour planned by year end.” Says drummer Ellis Silverman “After we’ve all finished our exams in June, we are planning to sail outta Cape Town for a few days together, take some instruments and maybe some recording devices, and maybe there will be some new music revealed soon!”
HOLIDAY MURRAY NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES
Holiday Murray’s music is now available on MXit, iTunes and Soundcloud, with Jirey and Stop Thief! available as free downloads on Soundcloud
UPCOMING HOLIDAY MURRAY GIGS
15 June - STUDIO 7 with aKing :: R150
1 July – DIZZY’S Camps Bay with Summer Shade :: R30
8 July - MERCURY Cape Town with TBC :: R30
15 July - BILLABONG PRO Jeffrey’s Bay
19 July - WAITING ROOM Cape Town:: R30 (with Beatenberg)
23 July - PURPLE TURTLE Cape Town with Jeremy Loops :: R30-R40
6 August - OPPIKOPPI UNKNOWN BROTHER
18 August – BOHEMIA – Stellenbosch
Connect with Muse