By Adam Wakefield
Freshlyground, mainstays of the South African music scene since the early 2000s, kicked the evening off with one of their best -
Take Me To The Dance. A few more guest turns were then followed up by the soulful
Kaylow. His second song of the evening,
Nothing Better, channeled the spirit of Luther Vandross as his voice cradled the lone piano behind him from start to finish.
Next up were the highly impressive
Ben Dey and the Concrete Lions. Led by a voice reminiscent at times of a folksy David Gray and with hints of a energetic Bon Iver mixed with Afrocentric guitar, the men from the Cape lit up the Beer Yard with their raw energy and feeling.
Up next were electric pop outfit
Bye Beneco. Since going active in 2012, the group has made a unique impression on the local music scene and were nominated for a
South African Music Award for
Best Alternative Album in 2015. They brought that quality to the stage, with the three-piece not disappointing in front of those invited.
They were followed by
The Motherland, introduced as one of the hardest working bands in Johannesburg, with the video for their latest single
Cherry Coated shown prior to them taking to the stage.
Cherry Coated is out on Friday.
After a show befitting their quality and consistency, with a broken pedal only proving a minor distraction, the evening’s completion was left up to alternative African electro maven
Moonchild Sanelly. Having just returned from overseas before heading off, Moonchild brought the curtain down on the evening with a mix of piercing vocals, movement and energy befitting her eclectic reputation.