Gerald Clark and Werner van der Hoven

Gerald Clark, frontman of Delta Blue has teamed up with brilliant singer-songwriter Werner van der Hoven to form a duo that has everybody in the music industry talking. It is rarely that you hear music performed with the kind of honesty , fearlessness and exuberance that grabs your soul. They write in both English and Afrikaans. Songs like “Shiny streets” “Somerreen” and the haunting “As ek kon”, will leave you wanting more

Both are excellent guitar players, both have great voices and they perform with a quiet confidence that states: “We know we belong on stage”

At the Easter Oppikoppi-festival, Clark & Van Der Hoven made the crowd perk up like meerkats – and they listened – completely forgetting about their beer. Get to one of their gigs and you’ll soon understand : SOMETHING’S HAPPENING - SOMETHING GOOD!

Clark & van der Hoven was formed in January 2006, purely playing gigs in Jeffrey’s Bay to support Gerald Clark`s surfing trips and of course for the love of music; later realising that this duo wasn`t just happening out of mere cash-flow problems, but had a soulful meaning to what was on the rise.

Gerald Clark and Werner van der Hoven met each other five years ago at the KKNK National Arts Festival because of Werner being a great fan of Gerald`s renowned blues band Delta Blue. Werner enrolled in engineering studies at Potchefstroom University in 2000, while Gerald was scalping his undeniable blues playing talents in Stellenbosch; but always wanted to experience the lifestyle of Gerald as a full time musician.

These two undoubtedly share the passion, conviction and talent needed to achieve exemplary marks in the world of the modern day musician.

It’s like this.

In the dog-eats-dog music industry, new music needs to have an edge, but must be performed with a quiet confidence, with the kind of honesty and fearlessness that grabs your soul. You hear just that when Gerald and Werner open their mouths and the guitars follow suit. Their voices are old leather and the colour of dry bushveld thorns. Then you get hexed by Gerald’s slide guitar and the seamless bond it fixes with the strength in Werner’s dark deep voice. Strumming takes on a new meaning here. You simply cannot get enough. Consider yourself warned.

With their song "Shiny Streets" being shown on MK89, as well as Gerald’s "Somerreën" (no, it’s not sentimental, fear not), the fastidious listener will be introduced to new tunes that will linger in the mind for days.

At the Easter Oppikoppi, Clark & Van Der Hoven made the crowd perk up like meerkats – and they listened – completely forgetting about their beer. Get to one of their gigs and you’ll soon understand what we’re on about. SOMETHING’S A FOOT. SOMETHING GOOD.

Achievements

They were approached by Mk89 presenters from the show Amp for an interview after there performance at Easter Oppikoppi 2006 and appeared on Amp in the month of April. They also recently featured on another Mk89 programme, Gons, which is currently airing.

Clark & van der Hoven has played at the following venues within the last seven months:

• Bertie’s Mooring (Gordon’s Bay – Cape Town)
• Zula Bar (Cape Town)
• Café Barcelona (Pretoria)
• Foundry Fly Lounge (Pretoria)
• Bohemia (Stellenbosch)
• KKNK 2006 - ATKV Stage (Oudtshoorn)
White Horse Sessions Kango Wynhuis (Oudtshoorn)
• Oppikoppi Easter Festival 2006 (main stage) (Northam)
• MK89 Campus Tour (Potchefstroom)
• Picasso’s Groove Lounge with Albert Frost (Potchefstroom)
• Café Barcelona – official launch date (Pretoria)
• STRAB festival (Mozambique)
• Centurion Theatre with Jan Blohm (Pretoria)
• Sinkshack (Bronkhorstspruit)
• Café Barcelona double billing with “Die Melktert Kommissie” (Pta)
• Café Barcelona double billing with “Southern Gypsy Queens” (Pta)
• Steak & Ale (Pretoria)
• Back 2 Basix ( JHB )
• Levi’s Vintage Sundays with Arno Carstens and Albert Frost (Cpt)
• Oppikoppi 2006 (Northam)
• Staek & Ale Cd Launch (Pta 14 Aug)