Local band readies for Oppi

“Last year, I said that Strait-Jackal needs to play at Oppikoppi and this year we are,” said drummer of the band Craig Chetty.

Strait-Jackal band members Craig Chetty (back, left), Casey Rothman, Josh Bloxam and Jonathan Bloxam, who was replaced by Chetty when he moved to America. Front: Clark Fivaz.

Oppikoppi is a music festival which takes place over several days during August, in Limpopo province.

The festival caters for various music genres and allows mainly South African bands to showcase their talent, although, in more recent times, a larger following of international bands have also been playing at the festival.

The Benoni band, which consists of Casey Rothman (bass), Clark Fivaz (lead guitar), Josh Bloxam (rhythm guitar and lead vocals) and Craig Chetty (drums) was formed in 2013 and has since received massive accolades.

“If you told us years ago that we would play with massive bands like Black Cat Bones, we would not have believed you,” Bloxam said.

“… We released our first album last year, in April, and we are in the process of releasing our second album, hopefully by October, this year.”

Fivaz said: “We also have two songs play-listed on Tuks FM and two songs on Mix FM.”

Not only have they achieved much since their establishment – playing at Oppikoppi being their most recent – the band also promises to provide music to make the nights unforgettable.

“We have teamed up with various bands to compile a CD to hand out for free at the festival,” said Fivaz.

These bands include Sheldon Payne & The Blue Veins, Scarlotte Will, Pollinator, Hellcats and Jack Rolling Dandy’s.

“Each band may add about three songs to the CD,” said Rothman.

Overall, the members, who have known each other since their days together at Benoni High School, have long and short-term goals for the band.

“We would like to play at more local venues, to showcase our talents,” said Rothman.

“We can’t play in Benoni every week, but it would be cool to have a venue for local bands to display their talents.”

Bloxam, who was one of the co-founders of the band in 2013, before he asked Rothman and Chetty to join them, said that, by 2018 he wants Strait-Jackal to play at every major festival.

“Recently, we have also been asked by people to play, so we no longer need to ask people if we can play at their events,” he added.

“That is something I would like to happen more often.”

Between the long and short-term goals and preparing to play at Oppikoppi, the band is keeping busy at their four gigs for the rest of June and July.

The first of these bookings was at Grid and Grill Pub and Restaurant on June 18, followed by Garden Marmelade at Ebenezer’s, in Kempton Park, on June 25, Railways Café in Centurion on July 1, and The Good Luck Bar in Johannesburg on July 2.

“When July comes, we are all bound to have Oppi-fever,” said Bloxam.