In association with Concerts SA, Ancient Agents will be touring South Africa for two weeks in early 2017. With musical influences from Africa, India and Scandinavia, the quartet combines traditional rhythms and contemporary harmonies to produce a richly textured acoustic world beat that crosses genres, borders and time signatures.
Ancient Agents invite you on a musical journey that bridges cultures, combining grooves from north India and the Middle East with Afro beats and polyrhythms – ancient sounds telling a modern tale.
This local-international collaboration brings together four multi-instrumentalists – an innovative lead guitarist, a melody-driven bassist and two intuitive, dexterous percussionists whose instruments range from Arabic to Indian and North African. Each band member brings with him a distinct sound, an impressive performance history and international experience.
An admirer of John McLaughlin and John Schofield, Reza Khota’s (SA) guitar strings produce a crossover between east and west, with influences of jazz and classical. He has worked with SA’s finest musicians, among them Kesivan Naidoo, Shane Cooper and Buddy Wells, and recently taught master-classes at the University of Toronto.
One of SA’s busiest session musicians, bassist Schalk Joubert (SA) is a product of his cultural heritage. He is able to articulate South African melodies, West African grooves and harmony in the European tradition to produce a cohesive, melodic sound. He has performed, produced and recorded with the likes of David Kramer, Nico Carstens and Michelle Shocked.
Fredrik Gille (Sweden) has collected and mastered a variety of percussion instruments from all over the world, with Middle Eastern drumming being his expertise – riq, frame drum, cajon. His sound is influenced by Arabic rhythms and Spanish music. He’s worked with composer Andreas Vollenweider, Algerian vocalist Karima Nayt, Swedish trip folk band Bazar Blå and Flamenco en Route.
Ronan Skillen (Ireland) is inspired by the aesthetic of record label ECM, and music from Mali to Memphis and Mumbai. His flair for improvisation began with the didgeridoo, and his later schooling in Indian classical music and wide palette of textural percussive sounds combine to create a rich soundscape, incorporating tabla and hybrid percussion kit. He has toured with Rodriguez and Johnny Clegg, and performed with Manu Dibango among others.
Asked about this tour by Ancient Agents, Ronan says: “I am thrilled at the idea of taking this quartet on the road. Audiences are in for a sound they won’t have heard before. Watch out for the Ancient Agents”.
Ancient Agents Tour is supported by Concerts SA through the Music Mobility Fund (a funding mechanism which offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music tours) and the Swedish Arts Council.
Concerts SA is a joint South African/Norwegian initiative housed under the auspices of the Stakeholder Hub within the SAMRO Foundation; it receives financial, administrative and technical support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the SAMRO Foundation and Concerts Norway. Working with musicians, promoters, venue owners and audiences, the project aims to support live music in South Africa by finding and implementing ways to create a vibrant and viable live music circuit. It also aims to develop an interest in and appreciation of live music by showcasing music performances and conducting workshops at schools. For more information please visit our website, follow @ConcertsSA on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
Artist Links
Ronan Skillen or www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vLqFgHx0jM
Fredrik Gille or www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh5NYRLbzB4
Reza Khota or www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlTkI431QhY
Events Listing
Cape Town – Alliance Française du Cap
Friday 20th January – 8pm – R 50 / 80 (students)
Address: 155 Loop Street, Cape Town
Bookings: 021 423 5699 / info.cpt@alliance.org.za
Muizenberg – Casa Labia
Sunday 22nd January – 7.30pm – R 200 (drinks included)
Address: 192 Main Road, Muizenberg
Bookings: 021 788 6068 / events@casalabia.co.za
Johannesburg – The Orbit
Friday 27th & Saturday 28th January – 8pm – R 150
Address: 81 de Korte Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Bookings: 011 339 6645 / info@theorbit.co.za
Durban – L’Aperitivo
Sunday 29th January – 6pm – R 400 (Full Italian buffet included)
Address: Shop 5, The Auroras, 9 Aurora Dr, Umhlanga
Bookings: 031 825 2939 / info@laperitivovenue.co.za
Durban – Alliance Française du Durban
Tuesday 31st January – 7pm – R 100
Address: 22 Sutton Crescent, Morningside, Durban
Bookings: 031 312 9582 / afdbn@global.co.za
East London – Stirling Auditorium
Wednesday 1st February – 8pm – R 100
Address: Stirling High School, Glen Eagles Road, Stirling, East London
Bookings: 043 735 1444 / www.stirlinghsmusic.co.za
Knysna – Yacht Club
Thursday 2nd February – 7.30pm – R 150
Address: Yacht Club Road, Knysna Waterfront, Knysna
Bookings: 071 686 6864 / playon@candiceludick.com
Prince Albert – The Showroom Theatre
Friday 3rd February – 8pm – R 100
Address: 41 Church St, Prince Albert, Western Cape
Bookings: 023 541 1563 / info@showroomtheatre.co.za
Cape Town – Blah Blah Bar
Saturday 4th February – 9pm – R 100
Address: 84 Kloof St, Cape Town
Bookings: 082 349 8849 / blahblahbar@mweb.co.za
Rondebosch – Reeler Theatre Rondebosch
Sunday 5th February – 7.30pm – R 150 (students R 120)
Address: Rondebosch Boys’ High School, Canigou Avenue, Rondebosch
Bookings: 021 685 1923 / marketing@rondebosch.com
