The first South African band to share the stage with UK indie rockers James during their South African tour this November will be two-time SAMA award winning act, Watershed
The band behind iconic smash hits like Indigo Girl and Letters, are one of the most respected and decorated bands to come out of South Africa. The acoustic rockers have sold over 350 000 albums and collected several awards, including four People magazine awards, and continue to grace some of the biggest stages both locally and abroad.
Watershed’s distinctive melodic guitar, mixed with the instantly recognisable voice of lead singer and songwriter Craig Hinds, create a soothing, classic rock sound that is unmistakable and unique.
Watershed will support James for their Living in Extraordinary Times tour at both South African shows, in Cape Town at the world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on 24 November 2018.
“We are thrilled to be sharing the stage with James on their forthcoming SA tour,” says Watershed’s Craig Hinds. “We will be performing some of the favourites but also some tracks from our new album, Harbour, which is due for release in October this year.”
James is one of the best and most influential bands to emerge from the musical tinderbox of early 80s Manchester and the ‘Madchester’ movement of the 90s, and although their early alternative hits like Laid, Sit Down, Say Something and Sometimes made them a household name, the band continues to produce music that is as vital and exciting 35 years into their careers.
This August James released their 15th studio album, Living In Extraordinary Times that debuted inside the Top 10 charts and received rave reviews by both critics and fans alike. Produced by Mercury and Brit Award winner Charlie Andrew (whose previous work includes alt-J and Wolf Alice) and rising star Beni Giles, Living In Extraordinary Times follows the release of their recent Better Than That EP, the band’s first new music since their hugely successful 2016 album Girl at the End of the World, which debuted at number two in the UK album charts, second only to Adele.
The band blazed their way across the UK and Europe as they headlined and performed at a string of venues and festivals, including Common People Festival (Oxford), Bilbao BBK Live (Spain), EDP Vilar de Moures (Portugal) and Electric Fields (Scotland). They will tour New Zealand, Australia and Dubai before hitting our shores in November.
“We are looking forward to playing to the boys and girls at the end of the world (from our corner of the world). If you enjoyed our last trip, evangelize this one to your friends, and we can make this a regular liaison,” says frontman Tim Booth from James.
Given their incredible longevity and their sizeable and devoted cross-generational following, it is quite easy to believe that this is not just a distinct possibility, but a probability. Extraordinary times indeed.
Date: Saturday, 24 November 2018
Venue: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Tickets: R545 available from www.webtickets.co.za
