BY AURELIA MOUTON
Monolith South African rock band Fokofpolisiekar hits the Stellenbosch stage once again – this time it is acoustic. The band released an accompanying live album, The Sound of Fokof Unplugged, on 14 May.
Their new album was recorded live at the end of last year as a mellow way to end the rough year. The last time the band took this stripped-back approach was with their 2005 album, Monoloog in Stereo.
Due to lockdown restrictions, the band has not been able to perform live for quite some time. They will be performing an intimate set to a crowd of 170 people at the Daisy Jones Bar on the 20th and 21st of May. The show promises to reflect the chill Sunday afternoon braai the album was recorded at. VIP concert-goers will enjoy two complementary FOKOF lagers at a meet-and-greet with the band as well as signed merchandise.
“I’m most excited about playing in front of actual people again – or maybe just actually playing my instrument again; drums aren’t the instrument you can play during lockdown with neighbours around all day!” said Jaco Venter, drummer of the band.
Crowd-favourite tunes such as ‘Dagdronk’, ‘Hemel op die Platteland’ and ‘Komma’ make up the album, following soon after their 2020 EP, Kajuitkoors. The music video for the track, ‘Teen die Wet’, also on the new album, features a tribute to Centurion photographer, Henry Engelbrecht, who passed away on 11 May 2021. Engelbrecht was a close friend to the band, especially frontman Francois van Coke.
General access tickets are priced at R250 and VIP tickets go for R550 on itickets.co.za. All ticket holders are entered into a raffle with two signed guitars up for grabs. The doors open at 17:00 on 20 and 21 May. The show kicks off at 20:00. The Sound of Fokof Unplugged is available on all streaming platforms.
