NEWS: Blk Jks @ The Cluny

Image by Brett Rubni

South African art rock band Blk Jks take to the stage at The Cluny on Tuesday 21^st June. They’ve been honing their craft since the early 2000s, though the band initially had somewhat of a changing cast having been founded by childhood friends Mpumelelo Mcata and Lindani Buthelezi in their native Johannesburg. They received huge critical acclaim in early 2008 after the band were signed to the record label of international superstar DJ Diplo, and an extensive US and European tour ensured they were dubbed “Africa’s best new band” by Rolling Stone magazine.

For a band of their longevity, their discography is smaller than you might expect. Their debut album After Robots was released in 2009, and was Dave Grohl’s record of the year. The album is an infectious mix of ambience, ska, reggae and jazz, and one which captured the attention of an international audience. What followed throughout the 2010s is more complicated, however, with the band splintering off into several separate musical projects. The good news is that the original iteration is still going strong, and last year’s album Before Humans is a fantastic return to form, carrying the sort of energy that makes their live show so unmissable.

Blk Jks play The Cluny, Newcastle on Tuesday 21^st June.