By Nicola Reyneke
Karel Bester & Die Kraaines Band and Ultra-Mal blew the roof off Aandklas on the night of the 14th of March. Although it was a relatively quiet evening in terms of numbers, the sound of both bands left those in attendance yearning for more. The atmosphere proved that a good performance does not depend on the size of the crowd.
Ultra-Mal brought a raw and energetic sound to the stage. Reflecting on the band’s performance, vocalist and rapper, Sive Mdabuli noted, “The sound was quite good. We’ve played Aandklas before, and it’s always really good, and the people’s vibes are always so good.” When the band started playing “Kan nie hoor nie”, the crowd immediately responded by screaming along with the lyrics. Ultra-Mal showed that all they need is a good crowd that matches their energy.
Headliners Karel Bester & Die Kraaines Band followed suit, officially kicking off with the first song on their new album, “… en So Begin Ons!”. Before the performance, frontman Karel Bester expressed that he hoped the audience would “relate to the music and just really feel and enjoy it”. This intention was followed through in the band’s delivery, as they kept up their high-energy vibe throughout the set. Guitarist Craig Swanepoel highlighted the challenge of performing in a more intimate setting, stating, “It’s easy to perform in front of a thousand people; it’s hard to perform in front of twenty. This just tests us and how long we can keep the energy up.” Despite this, the band kept the audience engaged and maintained high momentum.
While the evening may have lacked in massive numbers, it never lacked in impact. Nights like these highlight the importance of live music in the Stellenbosch scene. It not only provides exposure for bands, but also for listeners. People get exposed to new sounds they would have otherwise never encountered, and fall in love with it. Judging by all the energy Ultra-Mal and Die Kraaines Band brought to the stage, combined with their clear passion for creating music together, both bands definitely have bigger crowds and stages waiting for them in their future.
