By Jana Gous
Jackal and the Wind returned to the stage where it all began at Aandklas Stellenbosch on Saturday, 28 February.
The indie band, formed in 2013 in Stellenbosch, came full circle as lead singer Chris Kruger spoke about their student days playing on that same stage. The venue was packed with curious music lovers and long-time fans, all squeezed in for a band known for its folk-infused rock and honest lyrics.
The bands Claptrap and Southern Wild opened the night, as they set the tone with energetic riffs and basslines that had Aandklas headbanging to the beat.
When Jackal and the Wind finally stepped up, the crowd was electric. The biggest moment of the night came with crowd favourites “Ukulele Song” and “Samson and Delilah”. Voices filled the room as the audience sang every word, with Kruger’s small ukulele carrying its weight in a venue better known for hard rock.
The night was a reminder of where the band started and how closely tied Stellenbosch’s music scene is to the artists who come out of it. For many in the crowd, it was a throwback to their own student years, and for others, it felt like the start of new memories soundtracked by a band that still calls this town their home.
