Just Jinjer winding down after 20 years...

It’s not often these days that iconic bands Prime Circle and Just Jinjer share a stage.

Just Jinjer share a stage. The Real Concert series will not only be bringing these bands together at Montecasino on April 8 and 9, they’ll also be featuring solo performances by Ard Matthews (who’s also the lead vocalist of Just Jinjer) and Tailor.

“We have a bunch of new songs that we’re gonna be playing for people from the new album with a string session,” said Matthews. “We also have a couple of tricks up our sleeves.”

The band, who released their first album twenty years ago, today consists of Brent Harris (drums) and Denholm Harding (bass guitar), along with Matthews.

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They’ve been through a lot, he said, but after all these years they’re still having an incredible amount of fun together.

“I think the three of us have a lot of energy individually. We’re all pretty big characters in our own right. When we put it together on the stage it makes a really big sound. So I think that’s what’s made us unique all these years. We’re so lucky to still be playing music and to have done what we’ve done.”

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When they came together, Matthews was a blossoming 20-year-old vocalist happy to be singing covers. The last thing they expected was to achieve so much success. He recalls a conversation with Harris in which they said it would be a miracle to sell 1 000 copies.

But before they knew it, their debut album, All Comes Around, was the biggest selling in South African rock history. Today they’ve sold over a quarter million albums

Looking back at it, Matthews believes that All Comes Around’s success was born out of the fact that it was an honest project that told genuine stories of their lives.

Just Jinger won’t be doing much more in terms of recording as they’re kind of winding things down and looking at possibly doing one or two shows here and there. Collectively, there isn’t a huge desire to be creative anymore. As things stand, they’re all focusing on their solo careers.

“I’m very excited going forward,” he said. “I’m recording all the time and doing a lot of touring, and basically working on the next chapter of my life.”

Last week, Matthews watched his friend, Chris Bertish, complete a 6 517 km voyage alone at sea, in the process becoming the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean on a stand-up paddle board. Matthews recalls how Bertish arrived at the harbour playing his song, Shallow Waters for inspiration. Matthews considers this the highlight of his career.

He’s played all over the world, but he’s looking forward to this “special” show as he feels there’s always something particularly special about South Africa. “I love the diversity of the beauty that we have,” he said. “We can go anywhere to just about do anything. People don’t realise that until they leave. We have everything here already. The fact that we have the diversity that we have must be by far my favourite thing.”

Friday, April 7, 8pm: Prime Circle, Just Jinjer & Tailor

Saturday, April 8, 8pm: Prime Circle, Ard Matthews & Tailor

Tonight is giving away three double tickets and three Just Jinjer CD's to three lucky fans.

To stand a chance of winning, send an email to [email protected], with your name, surname and address by midday on March 31.

Please include JUST JINJER GIVEAWAY STAR in the subject line of your email.

Tickets available from R285 on sale now at Computicket.com/ 083 915 8000.