Bed on Bricks is a unique feature on the South African musical landscape – a band whose sound is not easily defined, does not fit comfortably in any specific genre, thereby not appealing to a specific group of listeners. Yet they’re a regular feature on the main stages of the country’s major music festivals, have a diverse and fanatical following as well as proving to be an inspiration for countless other musical acts.

They have also been nominated for a Kanna award for best live performance in Pop, Rock, or Jazz at the 2004 Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, as well as having their song ‘Humanarium’, unanimously voted as best song of 2003 by SA Rock Digest. Quite simply, the band is a mercurial live act. The music is a combination of Cape Townian urbanisms propelled forward by fast lyrics (from Mike Hardy), sick beats (Tim Rankin), monster bass lines (Schalk van der Merwe) and howling funk guitars (provided by Dave van der Linden). Its part reggae, part African funk hop, mixed with free flow improv and surprisingly melodic vocals. Unique, but not weird.

Since their formation in early 2003, they have released two studio albums ‘Humanarium’ (2003) and ‘If You See Kay’ (2005), as well as a live acoustic album ‘Takeaways’ (2005). The band has spent most of 2007 working on their third studio album ‘Royal Honey’, scheduled for release in early 2008. Expect a somewhat mellower album with some very good songs on it! If you live near a road, you’ll probably see a lot of them in 2008!