Piet Botha will be in action with The Lizard Kings at various
venues around the Western Cape in the weeks to come.This
friendship of many years has manifested itself in an exciting musical
adventure . The friendship between Botha and the Dennis brothers, Arthur and Rudi goes back almost 20 years, and Jack Hammer and Akkedis Band have shared many a stage across South Africa as well
as in Mocambique , London and Namibia over the years.

During the last 15 months however , Piet Botha started performing with them more regularly and so The Lizard Kings as band came into being, with the addition of A.J. Graham on bass, Li-Ann
Cummins on vocals and guitar and Jacques Groenewald on guitar
and backing vocals. Li- Ann is a young singer-songwriter from the Cape and currently working on a debut album. Jacques Groenewald is another Capetonian who is coming up thru the ranks and will also
be performing some acoustic gigs with Piet Botha on this tour.

Their repertoire has grown into a two and a half hour set over the last year and new songs are also to be added on this tour. There are well known original songs by Akkedis Band and Piet Botha but also
a mix of classic renditions of songs by well known artists like Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, J.J. Cale and Warren Zevon, to name a few.

The tour kicks off at The Big Blues Festival in Kleinmond on Friday
the 4th March and ends in Pringle Bay on the 20th March. Some of
the gigs are acoustic but most are with the full compliment of 6 musicians. The band will also be recording an album during the winter which will consist of all new original songs .

Tour dates:

March 4th: Kleinmond…The Big Blues Festival at the lagoon.
5th: Die Boer….Durbanville
10th: Die Ou Meulteater, Paarl…acoustic gig
11th: Die Plaasteater….Kuilsrivier…acoustic gig
12th: Berties Moorings….Gordons Bay
13th: The Green Barn….Melkbosstrand
18th: Harvest Moon at Wolfkloof….Robertson
19th:The Lighthouse…..Gansbaai
20th: Perigators Theatre and Bar…Pringle Bay

The repertoire contains a mix of Afrikaans and English songs , from
Piet Botha’s longlasting albums like “Suitcase vol winter” and “Die Mamba”, material from Akkedis Band’s string of albums as well as some brand new songs to be released on Piet Botha’s forthcoming
Afrikaans album “ Die Spookalbum”.

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Gedurende die laaste jaar het Piet Botha en die Akkedis Band hulle jarelange vriendskap ‘n stap verder geneem en gereeld opgetree en ‘n stewige repertoire opgebou, soveel so dat hulle later vanjaar ‘n “Lizard Kings” album gaan opneem. Dit is natuurlik die noemnaam van hierdie groep musikante en liedjieskrywers wat so in ‘n eenheid saamgesmelt het. Benewens die Dennis broers, Arthur en Rudi, is die ander lede van die orkes A.J. Graham op baskitaar, Li-Ann Cummins op vocals , Jacques Groenewald op kitaar en vocals en Piet Botha. Almal is boorlinge van die Kaap, behalwe Botha. “Dit lyk my ek gaan hierdie jaar meer tyd in die Kaap deurbring as in die noorde” het Piet gesê… “ dit is heerlik om te ervaar hoe hierdie groep ‘n hegte eenheid word en dit is beslis ook ‘n langtermyn ding waarme ons besig is.”

Piet Botha kom vroeg in Maart op toer Kaap toe, maar sal al die vertonings met lede van die Lizard Kings doen.Party vertonings sal akoesties wees, en ander weer met die hele ensemble soos by die Big Blues Festival in
Kleinmond.Dit is ook waar die toer afskop.

Hierna sal daar optredes wees in Durbanville, Paarl, Kuilsrivier, Melkbosstrand, Gordonsbaai, Robertson, Gansbaai en Pringlebaai.

Botha is tans hard an die werk met die opnames vir ‘n splinternuwe Afrikaanse album wat teen die middel van April vrygestel sal word. Die “working title” van die werk is “Spookpsalms”. Hy sal ook vanaf die 7e April te siene wees in ‘n splinternuwe kultuur-historiese reeks op Kyknet, getitel “Wie lê waar?”, waartydens die laaste rusplek van ‘n
verskeidenheid karakters uit ons Geskiedenis besoek word. Die musiek vir die reeks is deur Rikku Latti en Jahn Beukes verwerk met heelwat bydraes van Piet se kant af.

Op toer word daar altyd ook van die ou bekende liedjies opgevoer, die
gunsteling nommers soos “Suitcase vol winter, Sien jou weer, Bordello, Mocambique, Anderkant die berg, Skoor met die dood, Goeienag Generaal”, en vele ander maar hierdie keer sal daar heelwat nuwe materiaal ook opgedis
word.

On the 18th of March, on the eve of the full moon before the harvest of 2011
there will be a wonderful celebration and musical event at Wolfkloof Wine
Cellars in Robertson in the Western Cape.
Having performed at Wolfkloof during the Wacky Wine Festival in 2010 to sold out audiences, Piet Botha and The Lizard Kings have been invited to
perform “Songs of the Moon” on this special occasion.
The Lizard Kings is a hybrid musical outfit comprising the Dennis Brothers
and A.J. Graham of the well known Akkedis Band as well as Li-Ann Cummins , Jacques Groenewald and of course Piet Botha who acquired the status of rock legend many moons ago.

The band has performed often during the past year and a half ,usually when
Piet Botha comes down from Gauteng to tour the Cape, and has built up an extensive repertoire of Afrikaans and English songs , mostly original material from their previous albums over the years as well as renditions of
classic songs by artists like Neil Young, Warren Zevon, Steve Earle, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson,  J.J. Cale and others.

Piet Botha is known for his body of work over the last 35 years , both with
his rock outfit Jack Hammer as well as the acclaimed Afrikaans albums
like “Suitcase vol winter” and “Die Mamba”. He was awarded a SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 at the relatively youthful age of 50. As from April 2011 he will also be seen presenting a new series on Kyknet
TV titled “Wie lê waar ?” , which deals with the burial sites of famous people from our history, from Saartjie Baartman to Siener van Rensburg to Chris Barnard to Shaka Zulu and more. Botha is the presenter and narrator of this
new series which features music by Riku Latti and Jahn Beukes as well as several contributions by himself.

Li Ann Cummins is a young singer-songwriter from Cape Town who adds a
wonderful feminine touch to the repertoire .She is currently working on her
debut album.

Jacques Groenewald is also a young singer-songwriter from Durbanville who is being groomed for bigger things.He also knows Piet Botha’s songs better than anyone. And he plays a really good guitar.He just needs some discipline.

The idea for a special concert on Harvest Moon came from the Kannemeyer family of the farm Wolfkloof, specifically Jan Kannmeyer and his sister Marietjie. The idea was to have a performance that was loaded with songs
about the moon.And so it will be.The Lizard Kings have beefed up their setlists with full moon fever!

For more information on the event and how to book please contact
Marietjie Kannemeyer: 082 8720403 … marietjiekannemeyer@gmail.com.

For more information on the band please contact
Piet Botha: 0722158455.. piet@jackhammer.co.za.

tour info

Lizard Kings

Lizard Kings