The friendship and brotherhood between music legend Piet Botha and the Akkedis Band, brothers Arthur and Rudolph Dennis and AJ Graham, go back almost twenty years. With Piet as Jack Hammer and the Dennis Brothers there was always some kind of jamming going on.

Through the years the bond remained strong, Akkedis came into being, Botha did some solo Afrikaans albums and kept on recording and touring with Jack Hammer. Then around 2002 they found themselves in London Town at the back end of a disorganised tour. “Johnathan Martin and I had gone over, thinking it would be acoustic gigs, small pubs or theatres but then we found the venues rather big and we were just two out… fortunately Akkedis Band was there and just volunteered to help us on all the gigs, and all the adventures of course,” Piet recalls.

From then on the bond was stronger than ever. During the next few years they would share stages across South Africa and Namibia and Mocambique. About three years ago there was a shift and Piet Botha started to tour the Cape more often using Akkedis Band as backing band for his repertoire. This soon developed to into the The Lyzyrd Kyngs. “It was natural for us to share our talents, now we have three vocals and a four piece band that can work any room or big stage, both electric and acoustic. It is also wonderful to share each other’s songs and collaborate.”

And so their first album was recorded last winter, mixed in the springtime and released – Piet Botha and Akkedis Band : The Lyzyrd Kyngs. From the outset the idea was to keep it raw, no digital tricks, just the stripped down sound and to rely on the songs. The songwriting was shared between Arthur Dennis and Piet Botha with blues, country and folk inherent to the album’s feel.

“Obviously this is not a commercial venture, but I’m sure we will still be playing these songs in ten years time.”

And so the Lyzyrd Kyngs were born.  And it all happened without any planning . Just like the waves rolling in from the sea.

Come listen to them at Potter’s Place on Wednesday 6 June. The show starts 18:30 for 20:00 – get your ticket from Callie on 042-293 2500 at R120 per person.