kwela and beyond... South African penny-whistle jive, must be the world's happiest and most uplifting music. Originally played on the street -- an ululance of whistlers and a guitarist -- Kwela became the first black commercial music of apartheid-stricken South Africa. It had a brief heyday in the late 50's and early 60's, when thousands of Kwela 78's were made. The music evolved into sax-jive and eventually Mbaqanga, and the whistle craze was over -- until now. The Positively Testcard have taken up the challenge of single-handedly rekindling the Kwela groove frenzy. Founded by Dave Woodhead, (trumpeter to Billy Bragg, Robyn Hitchcock & Sid Griffin), it features the talents of Adam Keelan on guitar, Mario Guarnieri on drums, and Marcel Stranis on bass. We're eminently bookable for gentle cocktail evenings or something a bit more boisterous, at very reasonable rates.  .
"LET'S DO THE KWELA!" CD OUT NOWhttp://www.cds.positivelytestcard.co.ukhttp://www.cds.positivelytestcard.co.ukshapeimage_2_link_0
the posItively TESTCARD Established 1995 and still South-East London's premier whistle-driven afroskankabilly instrumental beat combo! "The idea...is such an endearingly daft one it's impossible not to be carried along by it all." fROOTS "Despite the retro sleeve, the Positively Testcard are not sexagenarian Sowetans but white South Londoners, and for such audacity would normally be subjected to a brutal whipping. But, listening to 'Let's Do ...' with its shuffling grooves involving Kingston JA, Jo'burg RSA and Louisiana USA, you're going to be too busy following the title to worry about the authenticity. Anybody know the steps?" MOJO "'Wrong decade, wrong continent, wrong race.' Dave Woodhead of The Positively Testcard fearlessly embraces the incongruity of his band's heroic endeavour: four white middle-aged blokes from south-east London breathing new life into kwela. The Positively Testcard have discovered and expressed the emotional range and depth of this delightful style, without losing any of its wit." Songlines Photo: Mark Wharton Miscellany Press Kit News & Gigs About Us CDs & Sounds
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