Being half South African myself, I cannot help but shout Yebo! for joy when I hear that the band Freshly Ground is coming to play in Santa Cruz at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on July 14th!!! If I wasn’t driving across the country, I’d totally be there. This is their first-ever North American tour.  If you haven’t heard of them already, their band name truly says it all. Freshly Ground is an eclectic, multi-ethnic band of seven from Cape Town who have taken the world by storm with their authentic South African sound. Creating a vibrant and unique blend between instrumentals and vocals, Freshly Ground pioneers in celebrating the cultural melting pot that South Africa has become today. The combination of tribal and modern-pop elements in their music encapsulates the joy that many South Africans feel as they witness their country moving away from an era of segregation and towards a future of cultural celebration and diversity. You should totally go see them and experience their magic!

“When The Fire is Low” from Radio Africa
While listening to their first single — “When The Fire is Low” off of the new album Radio Africa — I begin to remember all the wonderful things I love about that place. Go there if you get the chance.

“Doo Be Doo” from Nomvula

This is another one of my favorites.