The Botanic Gardens Music at the Lake concerts have become one of the most celebrated outdoor events in Durban offering audiences the opportunity to relax in a picturesque setting and listen to some of the finest artists our country has. And a concert featuring one of our most celebrated bands, Just Jinjer (pictured), is scheduled for Sunday.
Last year, frontman Ard Matthews wowed the crowd when he performed solo at the venue, and now he’s back – with the band.
Tonight caught up with the drummer of Just Jinjer, Brett Harris, to learn more about their upcoming performance.
“It’s great playing there, being at an outdoor event where people sit down and bring their blankets and picnic with the band. We’ve played there before and done some of our old material and it just picks up the atmosphere. It was incredible,” reveals the talkative musician.
In terms of their sound and how it has progressed over the years, Harris says it represents a feel-good freedom: “It’s about love, life and thereof. I think it’s very honest and our music is written from the heart. We never write a certain style for radio. It’s about what comes naturally and it’s that moment in time.”
Besides Just Jinjer, Harris has his plate full with his solo project, Runway, off which he has released a single. He says: “I’m in Joburg and I’m in the corporate world, so I do a lot of other stuff and I play about five times a week.
“I’m lucky because we’re a good cover band and, depending on the clientele, we can play original songs in between each cover song. So, after we do a Bruno Mars track, I play one of my songs and that helps get the attention of the crowd. And I have about four more singles lined up for radio.”
Back to Just Jinjer, the band is recording their ninth studio album: “We started working on five tracks. We’ve finished one, which is being mixed and will be sent to radio.
“It’s called Bright Lights and we’re going to write more and release an album. But music has changed the whole system. Nowadays, it’s more about singles than albums. You can just release a single and stick it on iTunes and radio and sell EPs. So yeah, we’re just taking it one step at a time.”
Opening for Just Jinjer on Sunday is Durban duo (winners of East Coast Radio’s Be the Band competition) The Kickstands.
• Catch Just Jinjer and The Kickstands on Sunday at Durban’s Botanic Gardens. Gates open at 1pm for pre-sold tickets, 1.30pm for on-the-day sales. Show starts 2.30pm. Pre-sold tickets: R120 (www. webtickets.co.za) R150 on the day. Kids aged 8 to 12: R80, those under the age of 8 get in free. Call 031 322 4021.