They formed in 1996 when Martin, Wade and Cito, originally in an underground band called "The Eight Legged Groove Machine", were approached by Danny, the drummer for the popular rock band, "The Electric Petals" and their manager, Patrick Horgan.
Originally they formed a funk-rock supergroup "The Electric Petal Groove Machine". Two weeks after the combination of the two groups, the band then still known as "The Electric Petal Groove Machine", opened for Simple Minds on their South African tour.
Not completely happy with their temporary name, in the summer of 1997, a road sign caught Cito's eye, just outside the Free State town of Kroonstad, pointing to a little town called "Wonderboom".
In 2009, Danny de Wet left the band and was replaced by Garth McLeod, formerly of respected South African rock band Sugardrive. In 2013 Garth McLeod was killed in a motorcycle accident and was replaced by Jonathan Bell.
Members
Martin Cito Otto – Lead vocals, penny whistle, guitar, harmonica, multi instrumentalist.
Martin Schofield – Guitar, backing vocals, multi instrumentalist.
Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the mid-20th century. It deemphasizes melody and chord progressions and focuses on a strong rhythmic groove of a bassline played by an electric bassist and a drum part played by a percussionist, often at slower tempos than other popular music. Funk typically consists of a complex percussive groove with rhythm instruments playing interlocking grooves that create a "hypnotic" and "danceable" feel. It uses the same richly colored extended chords found in bebop jazz, such as minor chords with added sevenths and elevenths, and dominant seventh chords with altered ninths and thirteenths.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (NGDB) is an American country rock band formed in 1966. The group has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California. Between 1976 and 1981, the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band.
A bandleader is the leader of a music group such as a dance band, rock or pop band or jazz quartet. The term is most commonly used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music. Most bandleaders are also performers with their own band, either as singers or as instrumentalists, playing an instrument such as electric guitar, piano, or other instruments.
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm was an American musician who achieved fame as the drummer and one of the three lead vocalists for The Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Helm was known for his deeply soulful, country-accented voice, multi-instrumental ability, and creative drumming style, highlighted on many of the Band's recordings, such as "The Weight", "Up on Cripple Creek", and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down".
The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band. Originally based in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, England, the band's first lineup released four albums and nearly 20 singles and EPs, enjoying considerable chart and live success in the UK. The band have continued to tour and record since 2000.
Eric "Garth" Hudson is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist best known as the keyboardist and occasional saxophonist for rock group the Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He was a principal architect of the group's sound, described as "the most brilliant organist in the rock world" by Keyboard magazine. With the deaths of Richard Manuel in 1986, Rick Danko in 1999, Levon Helm in 2012, and Robbie Robertson in 2023, Hudson is the last living original member of the Band.
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays two or more musical instruments, often but not exclusively at a professional level of proficiency.
High on the Hog is the ninth studio album by Canadian-American rock group the Band, released in 1996. As with its predecessor, 1993's Jericho, it relies heavily on cover versions; only two tracks are original. Songs include Bob Dylan's "Forever Young", a live recording of Richard Manuel performing "She Knows", and the closer "Ramble Jungle".
Jubilation is the tenth and final studio album by Canadian/American rock group the Band. Recorded in the spring of 1998 in Levon Helm's home studio in Woodstock, New York, it was released on September 15, 1998. For the first time since the group reformed without guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson, there were more originals than covers. Songs include "Last Train to Memphis", featuring guest guitarist Eric Clapton, Garth Hudson's solo instrumental closer "French Girls", Rick Danko's "High Cotton" and the ode to Ronnie Hawkins, "White Cadillac".
The Albion Band, also known as The Albion Country Band, The Albion Dance Band, and The Albion Christmas Band, is a British folk rock band, originally brought together and led by musician Ashley Hutchings. An important grouping in the genre, it has contained or been associated with a large proportion of major English folk performers in its long and fluid history.
Headpins are a Canadian rock group, founded as a side project in the late 1970s by then Chilliwack members Ab Bryant and Brian MacLeod. Macleod was impressed by the vocal talents of Vancouver rock singer Denise McCann, and asked her to join his new venture. Originally, Matt Frenette played drums for the Headpins while Bernie Aubin played drums for a fellow Vancouver band, the soon to be renamed Loverboy. But within months, Aubin and Frenette swapped bands, where each continues to play to the present. The Headpins began gigging around the Vancouver area throughout 1981, quickly building a fan base. McCann left at the end of that first year, and MacLeod brought in Darby Mills to provide lead vocals.
Seven Nations is a Celtic rock band that formed in New York City in 1993. The name comes from the seven Celtic nations, including Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Galicia. The band tours extensively and has played in many diverse venues, from small bars to concert halls. They were previously known as Clan Na Gael, but lost that name due to a trademark dispute. At just that time, they got a huge sponsor, allowing them expanded notoriety.
Queen at the Ballet is a rock ballet in two acts created by Sean Bovim as a tribute to Freddie Mercury, that brings the music of Queen vividly back to life – interpreting the stories behind classic songs such as "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Radio Ga Ga" and "Killer Queen".
Erin Zindle & The Ragbirds are a four-piece, female-led, folk-rock-world fusion band out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. They describe their music as "infectious global groove". The musical roots of the group sound are complex - with Gypsy, Middle-Eastern, Americana, rock, and Latin influences, all stirred with a Celtic fiddler’s bow. In live performances the band incorporates variations on traditional African drum pieces, each member trading their instrument for a hand drum. The songs carry a positive message and include both pop hooks and improvised solos. It is music that fits stages of many sizes and styles - from listening rooms - to jam-band music festivals - to bars and clubs with a hyped-up dance floor.
Petit Cheval was a New Romantic rock group from South Africa. Their name is French for "little horse". The group was founded in Pretoria in 1982 by singer/songwriter Jon Selby and soon after recorded a demo, which landed them a deal with Warner Bros. Records in 1984. Their 1985 debut album was a great success in South Africa, but the increased publicity also led to internal disputes, and bassist Johan Griesel left the group shortly after the album's release. Adding bassist Chris Bekker, they released an EP in 1986; however, internal tensions led to a split in 1987. Craig Else is a sound engineer in Los Angeles and plays in Bay City Rollers. Johan Griesel went on to become a recording engineer; Danny de Wet later formed the band The Electric Petals the name was then later changed to Wonderboom, and Harold Shenk went on to do production work on the South African music scene. Francois du Plessis is now an avant-garde artist working in Germany. Jon Selby continues to do work as a songwriter, and currently resides in Israel with his wife and three children. The group's biggest hits on South African radio included Once in a Lifetime and It Was the Wind, a duet with Lesley Rae Dowling.
Heroes Wear Red is a rock band formed in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2006. The band, which was founded by bass player Gavin Wienand and vocalist Tim Kroon, is currently signed to Musketeer Records. Originally named Bloodmoney, the band changed their name in 2007, coinciding with the release of their debut album Surviving September. In 2008, Heroes Wear Red independently released Surviving September, which was co-produced by Rae DiLeo, who has worked with such artists as Filter, Veruca Salt, Henry Rollins, and Grand Master Flash. The band's first hit single, Beautiful Way, received favourable reviews from many social media outlets throughout South Africa, including maintaining the number one position on 5FM's Vodafone Hi5@5, for the seven consecutive weeks following that song's release.
Elephant Revival is a folk music group from Nederland, Colorado, formed in 2006. The band currently consists of Bonnie Paine, Bridget Law, Charlie Rose, Dango Rose, Daniel Sproul, and Darren Garvey, and has previously included founding members Sage Cook and Daniel Rodriguez.
Festival Bell is a 2011 album by British folk rock band Fairport Convention, recorded at The Bowman's Retreat, Oxfordshire in 2010, and released in January 2011 on the band's own Matty Grooves Records label. The band have released over 30 albums since their debut, Fairport Convention, in 1968.
The Gentle Giant is an album by multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef recorded in 1970 and 1971 and released on the Atlantic label.
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