Voices of Joburg: Exposing their music
JOBURG – Self-taught band plays their music in Maboneng.
A Band Without a Name is going great lengths to showcase their music on a public platform.
City Buzz came across three gentlemen being kicked off the street on a Wednesday afternoon, after attempting to play their jazz music and we had to find out their story.
Thembinkosi, Gido and Ark were spotted on the corner of Fox and Berea streets in Maboneng where they had just begun to play music on their guitars and amplifiers, but were being ushered away for ‘making a noise’ by a security guard who was instructed by Maboneng Precinct management.
“We thought we’d come here today, and find a few restaurants where we can play our music, because we didn’t know there’s actually a place where we can play every single Sunday – at Market on Main,” said Ark.
The gentlemen are part of a band called Bwan (Band Without a Name) and the three who attempted to play their music are just three of about 10 official members. They have been playing their unique style of music in their hometown, Soweto, for more than four years and decided that it was time to hit the mainstream.
He continued, “We don’t just play jazz. We play this experimental type of music. If everyone was here you’d hear the type of music we played at Soweto Theatre and they loved it!”
All of the band members are self-taught musicians and it is for that reason that they decided to form the band and put all their unique sounds together.
Asked if they’d return to play for the crowds on Sunday, they responded, “We’ll talk to the rest of the members, if we make it home tonight.”
