Switchfoot tour South Africa

Catch this Grammy award-winning rock phenomenon on their first ever Mzansi tour

Hailing from San Diego California and set to tour South Africa for the very first time, the rock band Switchfoot perform in concert in Cape Town at the GrandWest Grand Arena on Saturday, 11 August 2012 with local South African band The Rescu as their opening act.

Formed the same way that all great bands begin - the inevitable result of what happens when a couple of high school mates who like to surf, play a little music and hang out try and create something out of this world - Switchfoot has come a long way since their start in 1994. Those high school mates are known today as Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), Jon’s brother Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals) Chad Butler (drums, percussion), Jerome Fontamillas (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), and Drew Shirley (guitar, backing vocals).

Well-known for their high octane, incredibly energetic live performances during their sold-out shows, Switchfoot are one of the biggest rock bands around and have sold a whole lot of records. The last decade has seen them release nine albums, achieve multi-platinum status, sell over 4.4 million albums and three million concert tickets worldwide, oh and there’s that Grammy Award too.

You may recognise their music from movies and popular TV shows, such as “A Walk to Remember”, “Life of Ryan”, “The Chronicles of Narnia – Prince Caspian”, “Spiderman 2”, “American Idol”, “CSI Miami”, “Greys Anatomy”, “The Vampire Diaries”, “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Tree Hill”.

Switchfoot have also toured with legends like Dave Matthews Band, 3 Doors Down, Goo Goo Dolls and many more.

But what’s with the name fellas?

Well apparently the name “Switchfoot” is a surfing term.

Jon Says, “We all love to surf and have been surfing all our lives, so to us, the name made sense. To switch your feet means to take a new stance facing the opposite direction. It’s about change and movement, a different way of approaching life and music.”

Sweet bru.

Unlike Switchfoot, their support act, The Rescu, is local South African produce. The Rescu is made up of the trio Mike Vaughan (bass player and front man), Graham Lowndes (guitar) and Nic Smal (drums). Formed in 2010, this alternative rock band is somewhat new on the scene, but climbing the ladder of popularity fast. By the sounds of things, these guys started out in some hole-in-the-wall dive playing mainly for supportive friends and band-guy-chasing girls. But, they were playing songs thatthey had, as they say, “poured their heart and soul into”; and perhaps that’s how they spent the latter half of 2010 and all of 2011 playing with SA big-names like Just Jinger, Foto Na Dans, Arno Carstens, The Dirty Skirts and Prime Circle.

They have released a self-titled album with, “I Did It For You” as the first single off the album, and the release of the second single, “Beautiful Life”, has seen The Rescu roll out The Beautiful Life Tour.

Tickets are currently available through Computicket and are going for R220p/p to R255p/p for various seated areas and R350p/p for Golden Circle standing.

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By Aisling Holmes