LIVE XP 001 — GARDEN GIG RESIDENT BAND

RECORDED IN JOHANNESBURG ON APRIL 18TH, 2025

Led by Thammy Ndlovu on guitar, with Cam Alcock on bass, Kekeletso Masemola on trumpets, Sibonelo Kodisang on sax, Junior Matsila on trombone, Tadi Sanyamandwe on drums, and Snali Nkambule on keys — the band’s arrangement alone tells you how crazy they are about live instrumentation. Their sound is confident and fluid, driven by a tight three-part brass section that doesn’t just play — it vocalises and narrates.

Their set moved through nostalgic terrain, weaving classic South African house references into something present and fresh. Familiar melodies reappeared as new creations, sparking something intimate in the crowd — a chorus of memories activated through rhythm and groove. But this wasn’t just about looking back. The music is very much of now — pulsing with warmth, pride, and immediacy.

There’s something in how Garden Gig Resident Band plays — the joy is infectious, the ease magnetic. They carry the audience with them, not through spectacle, but through presence. It’s that rare kind of show that grounds you. For a moment, you’re right where you need to be.

And then — that rendition of the national anthem. Unexpected, unspoken, and deeply felt. As the horns took the lead, the room shifted. Pride, grief, tenderness — everything rose up at once. A reminder that the live experience isn’t just about sound. It’s about memory, meaning, and a sense of shared place.

Garden Gig 10th edition livestream archive