Considering the richness and diversity of the Jo’burg music scene, it’s not really the most effortless achievement to become one of its most influential acts.

Still, Soweto-based quartet BLK JKS, has not only grown into one of the most revered bands burgeoning from the Jozi musical landscape, but from the South African panorama at large and they have done it “casually” surviving a 12 year-hiatus too.

Formed in the early 2000s and having released a widely acclaimed debut album in 2009 (After Robots), the four musicians dedicated the following twelve years to other music experiences. But once they made their comeback, which happened last year with the publication of Abantu / Before Humans via Glitterbeat Records, they made great style bringing the sound of their city to a new dimension and enriching it with new meanings. 

So much so, BLK JKS is recognised today as one of the most forward-looking African bands, with originality, musical ingenuity and vision to spare… Blending indie rock with post-punk, cosmic jazz with dub, Afrofuturism with kwaito, they shaped their very own BLK JKS sound, which is finally bringing them to tour Europe.

There’s arguably no need to highlight how attending one of their upcoming UK shows (dates below) is going to be a one-off experience. Not only because the last time they enthralled the British audience with their far-reaching sound was back in 2010, but also because it’s not every day that you have the opportunity to listen to something so diverse and original.

Check out the upcoming UK stopovers of BLK JKS' Euro Tour:

• Jun 20 @ The Crofters Rights - Bristol

• Jun 21 @The Cluny - Newcastle Upon Tyne

• Jun 22 @ Moth Club - London

• Jun 23 @ YES - Manchester

• Jun 24 @ Headrow House - Leeds

Photo ©: Brett Rubin

Rhythm Passport Free Compilation – Vol. 60 – May 2021

Preview of the album: This Album is no longer available however if you want to receive exclusive access to a free album like this each month just sign up to our monthly newsletter by filling in the form below:     Track List:  1. Mungo’s Hi Fi x Gardna & Catching Cairo –…

Artists: Anthony Joseph , BLK JKS , Cochemea , Esinam , Joseph Ray , Jupiter & Okwess , Kiri Mochida , Kiriri Mochida , Kolonel Djafaar , Krak In Dub , La Perla , Lakou Mizik , Marcelo D2 , Mungo's Hi Fi , Nadeem Din-Gabisi , Pedro Da Linha , Sotomayor , Throes + The Shine

Interview: Q&A with BLK JKS – South African Songs from the Future’s Past (May 2021)

There’s a country and a city in it that never cease to (musically) surprise us. New acts are born every day, everywhere around the world, but the diversity of styles and influences embodied and manifested by musicians and bands from Johannesburg and Soweto, in particular, constantly amazes us and it’s…

Artists: BLK JKS

Daily Discovery: BLK JKS – uMzabalazo! (Live @ NAC)

Check out Johannesburg-based band BLK JKS performing live their “favourite urban traditional song ‘Join uMzabalazo’ (Join The Revolution)”.   The tune is a “for the people by the people anti-apartheid anti-colonial rallying a cappella fight song, turned African punk rock classic”.   BLK JKS performed it “outside the National Arts…

Artists: BLK JKS

Visions of Sound (March 2021)

Every month, we bring you a collection of the best world music-related videos. That’s our way to give value to too often overlooked, rich and diverse artistic expressions. Listen with your eyes! Watch the full playlist: TweetSharePin0 Shares

Artists: Alfa Mist , Ana Moura , Angelique Kidjo , Baianasystem , Balkan Taksim , Blinky Bill , BLK JKS , Branko , Dobet Gnahore , Heavy Baile , Joao Selva , Les Mamans du Congo , Magugu , Masayoshi Fujita , Matata , Natalia Lafourcade , Pascuala Ilabaca , Rrobin , Yemi Alade