BOABAB

Band write-up

Boabab got its name from the ancient mysterious tree, the Baobab, or as it is scietifically known; Adansonia Digitata. Ed Lewis (singer/songwriter)is fascinated by this tree that is both rooted in air and soil and holds the sky to the earth.

The band was born in Stellenbosch by Ed and bass player Barry Steenkamp from akkedis in 2002. They have since played in Bohemia, Mystic Boer, Hidden Cellar, Dorp Street Theatre, Stellenbosch Neelsie, Indipendent Armchair, Mrecury Lounge, Live, Hectic on Hope, Jo'Burg Bar, Grahamstown Fest, Squirrels, Songwriters Club, Sidewalk Cafe and more.

Boabab's style is a retro themed rock sound. Listen here or search fan page on Facebook

Band Members

Eduard Stakesby Lewis
Lead vocalist: founder of the band and all round strange creature- Eduard has a fun disposition driven by an intense spirit. There are few people I know who have travelled the four corners of the earth like Ed,and when he did he took the rough route- come watch boabab for one of the best live acts you've seen- garuanteed.

Alet Honnibal
Keyboard

Barry Steenkamp
Rhythm and lead guitarist

Jonathan Georgiades
Bassist

David Georgiades
Drummer

BOABAB OUTBREAK
by Saint Martin

"In the last days there will be wars and rumours of wars, people will marry and be given in marriage, there will be a famine in the land of Gauteng…

…and from nowhere will come a pumping art rock band that will shake the hibbies off your jibbies."

Boabab had their Code 14 CD launch this past Saturday the 1st of April 2006 at the Foundry Fly Lounge in Pretoria East. For a small cult following this band is a jewel in the dust of contemporary music, but for the majority no one knew what to expect. Rumours on radio waves and freaky flyers brought curious cats from hiding places all around Gauteng. A two hundred strong crowd waited in anticipation to find out what all the hype was about…

The lights dim and the band walks onto stage to set up: a keyboard, a rhythm, a lead, a bass, a sax, drums, and a microphone.

A red light flashes… smoke…

The keyboard synthesizes a church organ backed by an old school lead guitar solo: 'Do you love me? Do you really love me?' The music forms a thick atmosphere latent with creative energy. The audience is enveloped by a sound they have never heard before. The journey begins.

The arrangement is a symphony of rock, a dance where each instrument is a star. Sometimes the lead waltzes with the keys and other times the bass grooves with the sax. The band is tight, the rhythms strong.

The crowd is drawn from their seats and become active participants in the pilgrimage home.

In the center is a composer lost in the music calling on a megaphone.

He takes them the scenic route. They are soldiers, lovers, lords, lunatics, poets. They travel through war and peace, night and day. At the island of Zanzibar they stand on the beach and watch a fireworks display as meteors light up the dawn- "Space Rocks". In Addis Ababa they stop for a burger at the "Burger Queen".

Time seems not to apply here, only the music and where it takes them.

The set ends with an encore. The fans are infected.

What a show!