November Bloom sets the pace

As if you needed another reason to attend the Wesbank Motor and Outdoor Festival!

On September 5, vehicular entertainment will be supplemented by the sublime November Bloom, a diverse genre rock band from Newcastle.

Ahead of their performance, everything you want to know about the band:

Though thrash rock and punk are what the band is into, it prefers not to conform to one specific sound, explained pianist, bassist and vocalist, Cherise.

She said the band started with a love story.

“Two independent musicians’ love for each other blossomed, and their mutual love for music bloomed.”

These two have completely different musical backgrounds, but found a way to complement each other’s unique sound.

Self-taught guitarist, Steven Couper, plunged into the rock scene from a young age.

Starting off in a punk band from the humble confines of a garage, he soon trod the road to explore what it was giving a musical piece colour.

Thus, his love for classical music, blues, country, reggae and metal followed.

With help from his mentor and dear friend, Jethro Hope, he quickly found the knowledge he was searching for.

“For Steven, it’s never been about just playing guitar, but the love for the energy music creates when he’s on stage.”

Cherise has been a performing solo artist for over a decade.

Her soulful voice and alternative piano-based sound, combined with heartfelt lyrics, have captured the attention of many a festival-goer.

Cherise started off as a 16-year-old pianist and vocalist.

With strong influences from the likes of Tori Amos and Norah Jones, she evolved into a bassist with a great love for rock, combined with the right amount of sweet undertones.

Guest drummer, John Hopkins has been making music since he was nine years old.

A multi-instrumentalist, he has been the forefront of various bands, and is currently the drummer and vocalist of the metal band, Ar-Khay.

He has a big vision for Newcastle’s music industry.

“One of his favourite projects he worked on in that respect was an EP with CheZ, titled “In the life of…”