WHEN London’s indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club perform just outside Cape Town next month, there will be none of the weirdness they have become known for via their music videos.
Bass guitarist Ed Nash said their headlining performance at the Synergy Live dance music festival would not feature synchronised swimmers or Bollywood movie dancers, as seen in two of their music videos. “We had the swimmers at a gig we played in London two months ago,” Nash said.
The band is currently touring the US, but Nash said they were “looking forward to coming to South Africa”. “We’ve been trying to get to South Africa for the last few years.”
They hadn’t seen pictures of the Synergy venue, but “know from Twitter and Facebook that we have fans there”.
Synergy will run for three days of camping on the banks of the Theewaterskloof Dam, a 90-minute drive from Cape Town, from November 28 to 30. It is billed as one of summer’s best music festivals and has been going since 1995 when it attracted 6 000 people.
It has grown since then, with last year’s event featuring at least 100 acts.
Bombay Bicycle Club, a band started by four 24-year- olds nine years ago, have toured globally to play music from their four albums.
The band have been associated mainly with rock music events, but have played at a number of dance festivals too.
Nash said
their music videos were meant to be films, instead of just a means to promote the band.
“For one of the songs on our last album, we decided to make a Bollywood music video because they’re so much more fun.”
After their Cape Town gig, the band return to Europe for a tour until December.
Synergy concludes on the Sunday with a nine-hour electronic music line-up. International DJs will include Captain Hook, Atmos and Mindwave.
• Synergy is giving away five pairs of double tickets to Weekend Argus readers. To win, e-mail your name and contact number to [email protected]. Event organisers and not Weekend Argus will co-ordinate tickets for winners. - Weekend Argus