Who said gingers aren’t popular? Local musicians of note come together for a bumper benefit gig-cum-album launch this Sunday at Mercury, Cape Town, to support Gerald Clark.
What do artists with sounds as diverse as Natasha Meister, Lua Union, Karen Zoid and Jon Savage have in common besides guitars and bars? They can all be silenced by sudden illness.
Natasha Meister Photo: Colette Yslie
That’s the position Gerald Clark found himself in not too long ago; his bluesy, ballsy song suddenly stilled by growths on his vocal chords and suspended by subsequent medical bills. Luckily, post-operative tests confirm that he doesn’t have the big C, but as a full time musician, it has been pretty costly for him to be in surgery and out of action during recovery.
Gerald Clark Photo: Yesterfang
Another thing these artists have in common is that they care, and will demonstrate it by offering you a bumper gig this Sunday, 19 August 2012, at Mercury Live in Cape Town from 13h00 on. The profits go to supporting Gerald in this difficult time, with all artists giving of their valuable time for nothing but love and applause. A pro bono benefit show, now there’s one to counter the self-absorbed muso cliché! And it’s got quite a line-up, I must say.
Backed by Midnight Sessions, the event features legends like Piet Botha en Akkedis, brambly, popular pop rock veterans Van Coke Kartel, Ann Jangle, Boulevard Blues Band, Janie & The Beard, The Parlor Vinyls, Luna Paige band and the gallant Valiant Swart Band.
Lua Union Photo: Michelle Viljoen
What’s more, although Gerry can’t sing for another 3 months while he heals, he is launching his new album, Black Water, and screening a music video the same night.
Tickets are R 50 or more as you are able/inspired to contribute. There are raffles and lucky draws at the event. It’s a long concert, and Scooter Angels will drive supporters home at a 50% discount in keeping with the spirit of the event.
The concert runs through Sunday afternoon and well past midnight, after which a jam session has been ‘scheduled’. Anyone who has seen the likes of BassonLaubscher bending electric into the blues or heard Lua Union letting rip with psychedelic licks of love and dream will know that this selection of original, independent artists letting go on stage together could be the highlight of the whole show.
Jon Savage
For me, for now, it’s the philosophy behind it that is centre stage : an attitude of love, effort, caring and sharing in a multi-faceted, self-propelled and often fragmented South African music industry. It’s a beautiful example of the power of pooling our potential.
