Port Elizabeth’s fresh and funky River Road Band will continue on their road to stardom when they get a chance to share the stage with seasoned performers at this Easter’s MTN Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival.
“It’s a dream come true for us,” said lead singer Gino Swanepoel after making it through the tough auditioning process. “It’s such a great opportunity . . . to share a stage with such amazing people, we’re so excited.”
The band was one of about 200 acts that auditioned for slots in this year’s live entertainment programme, which totals 72 hours.
“Their energy and professionalism set them apart,” said programme coordinator David Limbert. “They’ve got a definite future in the industry if they keep at it.”
With this four-teenager band’s ever increasing popularity, fans are expected to flock to the festival’s entertainment stage from 5 to 6pm on Saturday, April 3, for another hip-swinging, toe-tapping, head-bobbing performance.
More great news for fans is that they are currently recording an album that will hit the shelves at the end of the year. “We’ve already recorded several tracks,” said Swanepoel.
The band, all aged between 13 and 15, is made up of Francis Broek (drums), Anien Dreyer (base guitar), Joshua Morris (lead guitar) and Swanepoel (lead singer and keyboard).
Think a pop-rock, soft-rock mixture of The Beatles, Killers, Coldplay, Greenday, Parlotones, Prime Circle and The Finklestiens to get an idea of what River Road churns out.
After a mere two years, the four Eastern Cape teenagers have already had a taste of success. They’ve performed at Oppikoppi and also reached the top 21 in SA’s Got Talent.
The foursome initially won the Eastern Cape Rockspaaider talent competition and since then they’ve also rocked their way into the top ten in the Doritos Be Heard competition. One of their songs, “Falling”, can be heard on Algoa FM and Bay FM.
The Splash Festival, with an estimated collective audience of more than 500 000, will offer an opportunity to 30 local up-and-coming acts to carve a niche for themselves in the industry, according to Limbert.
Apart from top-notch local, national and international entertainment, this year’s festival – which takes place from April 2 to 5 – also features beach sports, international watersports events, activities for kids, more than 150 stalls and a lifestyle marquee.
For more information, contact the festival office on 041 393 4844 or visit www.splashfestival.com.
Issued by:
Full Stop Communications
Coetzee Gouws
041 368 4992
082 575 7991
coetzee@fullstopcom.com
www.fullstopcom.com
On behalf of:
MTN Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival