at the courtyard presents Jon Shaban + Brett Newski
Sat Feb 22, 18:30 - Sat Feb 22, 22:00
| at the courtyard |
ABOUT
Jon Shaban is a singer songwriter based in Cape Town, South Africa. Shortly after quitting his job and committing to being a full-time artist, Jon launched his first album in 2015 titled ‘Fortune Favours the Brave’ and has since toured relentlessly both nationally and internationally with his solo material and his band, The Shabs.
Fortune has indeed favoured the brave as Jon has never looked back and has performed his music all over South Africa, Mozambique, England, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic and Switzerland. Life on the road can teach any man about personal achievements, failure, love and an appreciation for the small and big things that happen and Jon has fully embraced the challenge and the experience that comes with it.
In 2017, Jon started recording his second solo album, ’Speak Your Mind’ to be released in June 2018. This project was always set to be bigger and better than the first album and includes appearances from local and international artists such as Stelth Ulvang from The Lumineers, Ann Jangle and Jay Bones (Fuzigish and Rambling Bones) amongst others. Recorded at Space Rock Studios in Cape Town, Speak Your Mind is a culmination of songs and stories written on the road over the last 3 years and cover topics such as heartbreak, politics, failure and personal discovery.
2018 also sees Jon’s band, The Shabs, embarking on their biggest European tour to date, performing in 7 different countries and appearing at various festivals including Mighty Sounds, Whatever Happens Festival and Earthquake Festival to name a few.
Brett Newski's live shows are part rock n' roll, part stand up, and part therapy. In the end, the room is won over." -The Current, MPLS
Brett Newski recent supports and tours: Pixies, Courtney Barnett, Violent Femmes, Manchester Orchestra, better than Ezra, New Pornographers, Rural Alberta Adv, Chuck Ragan, Rocky Votolato, Ezra Furman, Steven Page (ex Barenaked Ladies)
Brett Newski official video:
- Rolling Stone top 10 songs of the week
- Features in Paste, Consequence of Sound
- Song of the Day on "The Current" MPLS
- Rotation on SiriusXM
- Airplay on WXRT Chicago and WXPNPhilly
- Five international tours
Alt/rock/acoustic punk nomad Brett Newski (US) makes his return to South Africa for the first time in 3 years. Newski gives ZA the credit for launching his solo career, as it was the first country he ever toured (circa 2013). Recently, Newski has supported Courtney Barnett, Better than Ezra, Violent Femmes, PIXIES, Chuck Ragan, & New Pornographers in the US.
He wrote his debut album American Folk Armageddon in the steaming city of Saigon, Vietnam. It became an underground success that eventually landed Newski press in Rolling Stone, SiriusXM and the Boston Globe. Newski comes to ZA in support of a recent live album Going Solo is Better Than Being Alone, which captures the 90’s influenced songwriting, joke-writing, and storytelling of his solo show.
His latest studio LP, "Life Upside Down" was produced by Hutch Harris of Sub-Pop & Saddle Creek legends The Thermals and engineered by Beau Sorenson (Death Cab for Cutie, Superchunk, Bob Mould), "Life Upside Down" is a beautiful catharsis to a happier brain and sense of belonging. If you frequently find yourself stuck in your own head.
"Anxiety can actually be a good thing. If you use it right, that nervous energy can be channeled into motivation or creativity," explains Newski. "Even the most seemingly confident people have self doubt.”
First band kicked out of Wal Mart for playing unlicensed show:
https://www.facebook.com/BrettNewski/videos/10102594768111296/