BANDS

Delta Blue:
My involvement in Delta Blue covered more or less 5 years and three albums, with the group's peak in 2001/2002. Delta Blue Live was recorded only a few months into the band's existence and pretty much comprises of all- out blues. "Turn" diverted somewhat from the blues, but listen to "Walk your blues down", my favourite of all our songs. Inbluesstation was more of a complete blues- approach, from a more polished band. Click here to listen to MP3.

Ages:
Ages started happening whilst still in Delta blue. It consisted of three members with myself on the drums, some slick bass- guitar playing and controlled havoc on his Gibson by the vocalist. It was a pleasure playing in this outfit. Click here to listen to MP3.

Amafist "the voice":
When the front man of Amafist was looking for a drummer I slotted in. Some of the best vocals in the business. Click here to listen to MP3.

Flames & Flowers:
Flames and flowers is a project initiated by my brother Rikus,(most of the music was written by him during his stay in the UK) and recorded at Garden Studios by Leon van der Westhuizen. Rikus is on the drums and guitars, with some awesome vocals by Jesse Jordan and with me on the keyboards and slide-guitar. Up to date none of the tracks have been mastered. The recording process was true fun! Click here to listen to MP3.

Southern Gypsey Queen:
Southern Gypsy Queen invited me to record on their album RISE UP in Pretoria;2006 at Wolmer Studios. I did the paino and/or keyboards on 12 of the tracks. They are really cool muso`s and it was great to have worked with Lanie van der Walt (Not My Dog). Click here to listen to MP3.

PIET POTENT (Afrikaans HIP HOP)
Raw Hip-Hop, with a hard edge, and super revolutionary Afrikaans Lyrics. Drums, bass, electric guitar, and the turntable. All of this in underground venues in and around Cape Town, the worn out Stellenbosch circuit, (including an unofficial appearance at the Woordfees) and a riveting performance to a mixed crowd at Mercury Live. There was also a great performance at the Harrismith Woodstock-Festival as one of only two Afrikaans outfits at the festival. Click here to listen to MP3.

KARMIC KICK
A BIG project in many ways. Initiated by my brother Rikus Nieuwenhuis, it consists of two full albums with Rikus as composer, producer and arranger. Rikus was the major contributing artist in the studio, doing all the drum tracks and most of the guitar tracks. My contribution is the rhythm and lead guitar and keys on selected tracks.

THE VIOLENT FREE PEACE
In 2008 ,I hooked up with Basson Laubscher, who invited me to join him in his all-out blues outfit that was still in the making at the time. We appropriately played our first gig together in the very venue where we came up with this plan. We have already played a few of these, including the Bloemendal Blues fest, a couple of Dorpstreet theatre performances, Aandklas and an energetic performance at RAMFEST 2009.

THE PARLOR VINYLS
Riaan and Niel Smit's shared appreciation of the Blues is what brought them together in an interpretation of Son House's Death Letter at an open mike night. They have since formed The Parlor Vinyls, an original two-piece guitar and drums combo advancing on The Black Keys and White Stripes. The amalgamation of Niel's warm volume screaming valve amp with a Gibson or Gretsch, and Riaan's tight drumbeats produces a rough and authentic sound with a taste of garage rock blues that will keep you wanting more. Niel's love of vintage sounds, akin to that of 30's acoustic blues greats such as Blind Willie McTell and Robert Johnson drives him to play his music as raw and analog as the day the electric guitar came out. Niel's unique, passion filled and dramatic vocals demand the attention of the crowd, sending them to a time when there were no cell phones or internet. See The Parlor Vinyls on Facebook