Dominating the country’s
national headlines on the 8th of April were grave reports of xenophobia,
the Eskom power crisis and protesters chaining themselves to the Paul Kruger
statue in Pretoria. On 8 April
Francois van Coke and Karen Zoid released arguably the most beautiful ballad of
the year, Toe Vind Ek Jou. This song instantly captured thousands of hearts all
over the country, switching on a light in the dark. *(Read Marianne Thamm’s
analysis: Between a statute and a soft place – Afrikaners’ ongoing existential
quest for belonging. Daily Maveric, posted
on 19 May.) Last week the music video for Toe Vind Ek Jou reached well over 500
000 views in little over a month. Francois believes that the success of this
song lies in its openhearted honesty. With the release of Francois’ self-titled
debut solo album he bravely embarked on a new journey and it’s paying off.
According to the Kia Top40 SA with iTunes show Saturdays on 947 and KFM, Toe
Vind Ek Jou is the first South African release to hit the Number 1 spot this
year and the first Afrikaans Number 1. This show is based solely on the live
Top 40 songs chart on the South Africa iTunes Store. A month after the release,
the album and single was at the Number 2 position on the 8th of May and is
still on the Top 10. This single and album still dominates radio charts across
the country and the SA Top 20 top sellers chart, where the album has been on
the Top 10 for four weeks.
The Francois van Coke
Live Experience
Francois’ shows with his live band, Jedd Kossew (Van Coke
Kartel) on lead guitar, Richard Onraet (Jesse Clegg) on rhythm guitar, Rudolph
Willemse on bass and keyboard and Sheldon Yoko (Die Heuwels Fantasties) on
drums, have been a raging success. The last album launch show at Ridgeback in
Centurion recently burst out of its seams with a double over-capacity
attendance. Everybody wants to share a
piece of the Francois van Coke live experience. Francois van Coke and his live
band have been confirmed to play at Oppikoppi later this year. Before then he is off to Amsterdam and then
London for a couple of shows in June and will play some hot blooded rock ‘n
roll shows with Karen Zoid in July. Francois will undertake a tour in October
with his full band again. The first stop on Francois’ European trip, will be at
one of the most popular alternative music venues and nightclubs in Amsterdam,
Paradiso, on 13 June. While in
Amsterdam, Francois will shoot his second music video, Behoort Aan Niemand Nie,
with his long-time friend, Johan Nel, who is responsible for several of
Fokofpolisiekar’s music videos. Three more music videos will be released before
the end of this year. Francois and Jedd Kossew will play two shows in London.
He will perform at Orange Bull on the 19th and at Zulu Bull on 20 June.
The shows everyone
has been waiting for: Francois van Coke & Karen Zoid – Toe Vind Ek Jou
This winning combination will perform together at Artscape,
Cape Town on 12 July and at the Atterbury Theatre on 23, 24 and 25 July. The
Atterbury shows were sold-out in record time and Artscape tickets will go on
sale from Computicket on the 1st of June.
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