Blues at its best

Blues. Sexy, sultry blues. Fingers sliding across steel strings to produce a sound so bittersweet it almost makes one cry for one’s own joyous misery.

If there is one person in South Africa who knows how to strum tears from a Fender Stratocaster, it’s Albert Frost.

Frost is South Africa’s answer to the likes of Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Carlos Santana.

From the mountains of Tulbagh in the Cape where he resides, to the white sandy beaches of Mozambique, Frost and his collection of nylon, steel and electric guitars have reigned supreme on our local blues rock scene for almost two decades.

Frost started playing guitar for legendary SA blues band, The Blues Broers at the tender age of 17. He has since appeared at every single Oppikoppi festival and has even been a supporting act for greats like The Rolling Stones and REM.

He generally takes to the stage with four to six guitars, ranging from rhythm to lead, which he skilfully rotates using a loop pedal. He has also been giving his vocals a gritty, vintage edge by using an old school harmonica microphone.

Gauteng fans were in for a treat this past week when he featured at Tanz Live for Shut up and Play yer Guitar on 7 March. The following day, he played at Hard Rock Café Johannesburg at it’s grand opening at Nelson Mandela Square at Sandton City.

He has also appeared with greats like Piet Botha, Valliant Swart and Mel Botes for the Riders from the Storm tour which made its way around the country.

Frost will be returning to the fair Cape for the Cape Town Folk and Acoustic Music Festival and the ATKV Oesfees in Franschhoek.

Details: www.albertfrost.co.za