Music News South Africa

Watershed to open for British indie rockers James

Sama award-winning rock band Watershed will open for UK indie rockers James when they tour South Africa in November 2018.

The band, behind iconic smash hits like Indigo Girl and Letters, is one of the most respected and decorated bands to come out of South Africa. The acoustic rockers have sold over 350,000 albums and collected several awards and continue to grace some of the biggest stages both locally and abroad.

Watershed’s distinctive melodic guitar, mixed with the instantly recognisable voice of lead singer and songwriter Craig Hinds create a soothing, classic rock sound that is unmistakable and unique.

Watershed will support James for their Living in Extraordinary Times tour at both South African shows - at the world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town on 24 November 2018 and at the National Botanical Garden in Pretoria on 25 November 2018.

“We are thrilled to be sharing the stage with James on their forthcoming SA tour,” says Hinds. “We will be performing some of the favourites but also some tracks from our new album, Harbour, which is due for release in October this year.”

James is one of the best and most influential bands to emerge from the musical tinderbox of early ‘80s Manchester and the ‘Madchester’ movement of the ‘90s, and although their early alternative hits like Laid, Sit Down, Say Something, and Sometimes made them a household name, the band continues to produce music that is as vital and exciting 35 years into their careers.

James released their 15th studio album, Living In Extraordinary Times, that debuted inside the top 10 charts and received rave reviews by both critics and fans alike. Produced by Mercury and Brit Award-winner Charlie Andrew (whose previous work includes alt-J and Wolf Alice) and rising star Beni Giles, Living In Extraordinary Times follows the release of their recent Better Than That EP, the band’s first new music since their hugely successful 2016 album Girl at the End of the World, which debuted at number two in the UK album charts.

The band blazed their way across the UK and Europe as they headlined and performed at a string of venues and festivals, including Common People Festival (Oxford), Bilbao BBK Live (Spain), EDP Vilar de Moures (Portugal), and Electric Fields (Scotland). They will tour New Zealand, Australia, and Dubai before hitting our shores in November.

“We are looking forward to playing to the boys and girls at the end of the world (from our corner of the world). If you enjoyed our last trip, evangelise this one to your friends, and we can make this a regular liaison,” says frontman Tim Booth.

Tickets for James Living in Extraordinary Times from www.webtickets.co.za.

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