Francois Van Coke And Arno Carstens Set To Rock Carnival City

In April 2015, Francois van Coke kicked off his solo career with a bang with the launch of his self-titled debut solo album. What followed can only be described as a year of unbounded success with numerous number ones, sold out shows, awards and shattered records left in its wake. A year later, Van Coke released his fifth solo music video, featuring Arno Carstens, "Ek Weet Nie". Due to public demand, these two rock legends continue their partnership with the rock event of the year in a special concert at Carnival City's Big Top Arena this February.

Francois van Coke is the lead singer of Fokofpolisiekar and Van Coke Kartel. During his 13 year career as lead singer of these Afrikaans rock bands, he has released nine full-length albums, three EPs and collaborated with likes of Jack Parow, Die Antwoord, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Seether (Shaun Morgan) and Karen Zoid. He has received four SAMA awards and multiple other prolific awards. After releasing his self-titled solo album to critical success, Van Coke returns with his second studio album HIERDIE IS DIE LEWE, which will be released on 2 February this year.

According to Van Coke, the album is about the human condition:

Everything that happens between birth and death, our victories and our failures. That's the main theme of the album, but it's about a lot of stuff. It's about love, it's about friendship, it's about the future, the past, the present. I think the songs that I write are personal and really honest. Sometimes I feel like it's self-centered but I realised that those are the kinds of songs I like. I like guys that are honest and personal. I can relate to those kinds of songs, so those are the kinds of songs I want to write.

Arno Carstens has released 12 albums; five as the lead singer of Springbok Nude Girls, one as part of the electronica project Bhelltower, and six as a solo artist. He has had more than 20 top ten singles and won five SAMA Awards including Best Rock Album in 2004 for ANOTHER UNIVERSE and Best Adult Contemporary Album in 2006 for THE HELLO GOODBYE BOYS. In September 2016, Arno released his debut Afrikaans album and, to honour his roots, called it DIE AANDBLOM 13 after the address where he grew up in Worcester. The album comprises 13 tracks that tell stories loosely based on facts about who he is and where he has come from.

According to Carstens, writing DIE AANDBLOM 13 was a very different experience to the process of making any of his previous English albums:

Afrikaans is obviously my mother tongue so I could really explore the essence of the language and as a result, with this album, the songs evolved from poetry, and the music was added afterwards.

Once the album was completed, Carstens went back to 13 Aandblom Street to photograph the album cover artwork, as well as a montage of the inside of the house where he grew up on the album sleeve. The album truly represents a full circle for him.

Van Coke and Carstens' show at Carnival City will take place on 24 February, starting at 20:00. Tickets are on sale at Computicket (0861 915 8000). Groups of more than 10 will receive substantial discounts and can call or email Lefra Productions directly to organise these on 011 815 3000. The concert is made possible with the friendly co-operation of Carnival City, Stuttaford Van Lines, RSG, Sounds Good and McCarthy Volkswagen (Arcadia).

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