AlmaCast

AlmaCast 2.3: Genesis of a Genius - In Conversation with Steve Newman

In this third AlmaCast episode of 2024, Jono and I sit and discuss the early years of Steve Newman's career. As one of South Africa's virtuoso guitar players and a member of several renowned bands, most notably Tananas, he has many a story to tell in this in-depth reflection on a truly remarkable career. He reflects on his journeys between the UK and South Africa in the 70s and then how things started to really pick up between Johannesburg and Durban in the 80s at Tansnas forms with Ian Herman and Gito Baloi. In the hour that we had with Steve we only scratched the surface of the Tananas story and not at all on his post-Tananas collaborations and solo work. So, the good news is there will be a part two to this conversation that picks up where this leaves off. For now, here are 40 minutes of gold from the man himself, continuing with the track "In a Dream" from his solo album, "Flavour" released in 2008. We hope you enjoy this conversation with one of South Africa's most unique talents.

AlmaCast 2.2: Goddank (still) vir Klank! Nude Girls Hit the Alma

In May last year Jono, Sarah and I had the chance to sit and discuss the music business, life and everything pre-, post and during the Springbok Nude Girls with Arno Carstens. The interview was a whirlwind of thoughts, memories and perspectives on one of the most acclaimed South Africa.  When Jono told us he and founding band members and producer-in-chief Theo Crous were coming for a double-trouble acoustic show revisiting more than 30 years of the Nude Girls we simply had to revisit Arno – this time in tandem with Theo. And what an afternoon and evening of entertainment followed. A reminder of the power of a few simple chords and the imagination and ambition to transcend a “normal” life and live alongside the biggest names in pop and rock. Whether it was reflecting on hanging out with the penguins and Charlize Theron at Boulders Beach or mixing it up on stage with Bono, Dave Grohl or Michael Hutchence there was rarely a dull moment in this classic AlmaCast interview!      Later in the evening, the two of them blew the roof off the Alma! We end the show with their first number from that night - Horizontal Landscape - and I hope we were able to capture the energy and enthusiasm of that day via this second of our podcasts of 2024.  Recorded Sunday, January 14th 2024

AlmaCast 2.1: Intense and "In Tents" - Inside the wonderful minds of the Wonderboom duo

Welcome to our first AlmaCast recording and episode of the year.   We kick off 2024 with a bang and the wonderfully mercurial musings of Wonderboom duo, Cito Otto and Martin Schofield. Prior to them playing a stripped-down - but nevertheless electrifying - set at the Alma, the dynamic duo reflected on a career that spans almost three decades, numerous albums andSAMA nominations and a reputation as being one of the hardest working and hardest rocking bands in the country. It was Wonderboom's very first night playing at the Cape Town's Premier Live Music Venue, but I have little doubt, it won't be the last you've heard from the 'Boom at the Alma!  As always we hope you enjoy our episode and would welcome any feedback or reviews on your respective podcast platform. Recorded at the Alma Cafe - Sunday 7th January 2024)

AlmaCast 1.7: Starry, Starry Nights - The "Lost" AlmaCast Episode with Family Tait discussing the names, faces and nights that shaped the Alma Cafe

We close out 2023 with a "lost" episode of the first AlmaCast recording sessions - recorded in April 2023. Listen on for a trip down memory lane from the Alma's Royal Family Tait. Led by the master historian Retha we hear about the day Bruce Springsteen's backing singer knocked on the Alma's door and when one artist's "one night Royal Albert Hall, the next, the Alma" rang true! When PJ Powers reduced the room to a sea of (joyful) tears and on and on it goes... This was the second part of the interview we recorded in June 2023. It's chaotic, fun and revealing on many different levels. We had wanted to release it in parts as a close out to other epsiodes. However, I hope you'll agree, it works SO much better as one piece of work! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it. We close out with a sutaibly Shamblic and uplifting rendtion from Alma's Houseband - The Shambles. It seems like the most appropriate way to close out the 2023...enjoy!

AlmaCast 1.6: Tour de Force - In Conversation with Arno Carstens

Arno Carstens should need very little introduction to most South African listeners of the AlmaCast. As the front man for the Springbok Nude Girls, he and his band led the line of the new wave of South African alternative music in the 1990's. We met at the Alma Cafe three hours before his latest show there. What followed was a whirlwind of perspectives and anecdotes. From the halcyon days of the mid to late nineties, to the doubt of his early solo career and his future aspirations. From the Rolling Stones in Barcelona, to the dog bowls of Linden, Johannesburg! It's all here! Structured, it was not. But insightful, it most certainly was. What I enjoyed most about our conversation was the willingness of Arno to share his ideas: about the state of the music industry and his passion for his craft. It's infectious. It's raw. And, it's another unique conversation with one of the Alma's most recent, favourite sons. The episode concludes with an acoustic rendition of "About a Girl" recorded that night and taken from his album "Out of the Light and Into the Night". Recorded May 19th 2023