Stand a chance to share the stage with SA trio The Soil

In 2013 their label Native Rhythms took the band around South Africa, starting with a Campus Tour. Its success soon gave rise to The Reflections Tour in 2014 and was followed by The Nostalgic Moments Tour in 2015, named after their award-winning and platinum-selling album.

This year the group is on the road again with their new offering, the #ExperienceTheSoil National Tour. Produced and presented by Native Rhythms Productions, the tour was conceptualized in February 2016 and established following a search for a temporary replacement for their female vocalist Buhle Mda, who announced that she would be taking a break from performing to follow her ancestral calling to be a sangoma (traditional healer). The search was open to all female vocalists who believed they had what it takes to be a part of the band. Theodora Matshoba, the winner of the competition, has quickly become loved and accepted by The Soil fans nationwide.

The successful search for a Buhle’s stand-in has become a motivation for the band and Native Rhythms to give more opportunities to talented young musicians to ‘experience’ The Soil on stage by opening and even collaborating with them during this year’s tour. The Soil are therefore embarking on another search for vocalists, inviting them to post their videos on Facebook (singing their songs and those of The Soil) for fans to carefully select who they believe is the best fit to open for the group. The winner(s) will share the stage with The Soil and also get a chance to collaborate with the group on one song.

Each city and event on the tour (which started on 29 April at Umfolozi Casino in Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal) will see a local act selected to join in the #ExperienceTheSoil tour. The next date is scheduled for Saturday 25 June at the Peforming Arts Centre of the Free-State (PACOFS) in Bloemfontein. The band is therefore calling on all artists in Free State province who want to join The Soil on stage at that gig. More dates will be revealed during the course of the month.

The Soil’s intention with this latest initiative is to not only bring their music to their loyal fans who have kept them going strong, but also to give an opportunity to talented young musicians who have the guts to take to the stage and show off their talent in front of a large audience. According to the band: “There are no words that can describe the euphoria that comes with performing and pouring your soul to your audience while on stage but it is not good enough if you do not create the same platform for other young musicians who have been inspired by your music and are as equally talented”.

The band is current in Reunion for the annual Sakifo festival between 3 and 5 June, after performing at the recent Africa Day concert in Johannesburg on 28 May.

To stand a chance of sharing a stage with The Soil during their national tour, simply upload your videos to the band’s Facebook page.

Tickets for the upcoming show in Bloemfontein will be available at the door for R180, with pre-bookings at R150 by calling (+27) 51 447 7772. The show starts at 7:30pm.