Apologies for always being late with news. At least the gig guide is always up to date thanks to Brian Currin. 2010 has been a bit crazy so far with lots of travelling and some changes in the band and a lot of collaboration with other bands and musicians but it has been a rollercoaster. It seems the fight for independence keeps getting harder but I am sure we shall overcome.

Just got back from Mocambique , where we played the 2010 STRAB Festival.The bands were great,the weather was unreal and Jack Hammer performed with some of their old friends like Akkedis, Albert Frost,Tidal Waves, The Silver Creek Mountain Band, The Black Cat Bones,Southern Gypsy Queen and many more. Donovan Borne , who has been forging a solo career over the last few years has joined us on guitar and vocals and we look forward to working with him.The festival was once again stripped of superficials and loaded with real music by some fabulous younger bands like Pennilane (from Namibia), Mr. Cat and the Jackal ( Cape Town) ,Zinkplaat (Cape Town), Die Tuindwergies (Pta)and many more.

My heartfelt thanks to Annerie Snyman and Conrad Jamneck,Franco Jamneck,Jan Haarhoff and all the other guys on the sound and lighting crew for a special show .To all the people at Ponta Malongane ,we will never forget the last seven years.And so ,from Malongane to the Cape…..

The first two weeks in June will feature Piet Botha on a Cape Tour where he will be teaming up with The Akkedis Band as well as special guests Jacques Groenewald and Li Ann Cummins in a collaboration that started many years ago but was cast in stone during December 2009 on the “Lizard Kings Tour”.The sets feature material from all our histories as well as brand new songs and super jams.Kicking off in Robertson on the 4th and 5th of June at Wolfkloof Wine Cellars as part of the Wacky Wine Festival, The Lizard Kings will also be performing at Bohemia in Stellenbosch (10th), Berties Moorings in Gordons Bay (11th),Die Plaasteater in Kuilsrivier (12th) and Die Boer in Durbanville (13th) .The dates and times are on the gig calendar.There will also be two acoustic shows where Piet will perform with a new talent from the Cape ,Jacques Groenewald , at Seaside Blues in Melkbos on the 6th of June and at Dorpstraat Teater (Stellenbosch) on the 9th June.

In the meantime we are working on new songs and hope to have something ready later in the year. To all our friends and family, thank you for being on the journey with us.

Piet Botha