MC Sparky The annual award ceremony at the Ablelarde Sanction in Brixton, Johannesburg, is set to delight unsigned bands, general public and major publications alike.
“Our commitment to cheap booze, contraband cigarettes and teddy bears remains unchallenged … the struggle continues.”
This vague statement boldly pasted on the inner wall of the Abelarde Sanction in Brixton will give some indication as to the comically anarchic nature of its annual prizegiving ceremony on December 1, coinciding with the launch of the Abelarde Sanction’s debut CD compilation Best of Abelarde 2000.
Proprietor and host Taz the Enforcer will be guiding revellers, hedonists, hopeful nominees and hardened Abelarde regulars through a fun-filled evening of live music, humorous camaraderie and a feast of awards ranging from seriously merited to downright outrageous.
Damn the Icebergs, winners of last year’s best band title, will be headlining the live acts, and copies of the new CD compilation comprising a plethora of new local bands are to be given away. The evening is likely to be well attended, so let’s hope Taz parks his car outside for a change.
For anyone that has never been to the Abelarde Sanction, Taz describes his place as “a dive … a friendly underground comfort zone with a subversive edge. It’s a place where there is no hierarchy and and no pretentiousness what you see is what you get.”
He continues, saying that it’s just this sort of thing that gives the Abelarde its appeal. “The club has cult status among the bands that play here. Everyone knows each other, the bands know each other’s music and so a lot of weird shit happens.”
For five years the Abelarde Sanction has committed itself to creating a platform for new live bands and although there will be no live TV coverage of their annual awards, a large cross-section of the indie music collective will be represented there.
Music awards are given to unsigned bands who have played more than once during the year at this small cult venue on the corner of Fulham and Ripley streets. Candidates are nominated by their fans and by the regular punters at the club.
Zen Arcade, Sharkbrother and Ms September are the main contenders for the coveted Abelarde band of 2000 award, but nominations for worst band of the year and booze consumption champion of the year have been withheld until the evening.
The Mail & Guardian is represented by listings editor Riaan Wolmarans, who is one of this year’s nominees for the greatest contribution to the South African music industry. Says Taz: “He’s the only guy that’s still actively promoting the clubs in the gig guide.” Other nominees in this category include Mark Pienaar from Digital Cupboard and Pete Townsend from The Star.
There has apparently been some vociferous lobbying for the title of foreigner of the year, with at least one of the nominees encouraging all his e-mail friends from around the world to attempt to clog up the Abelarde website with support for the candidate.
A poster inside the Abelarde Sanction maintains that beer has been helping ugly people have sex since 1862. It is this sense of humour that has been entertaining local musicians and their supporters in the club since 1995. The Abelarde Sanction awards ceremony takes place on December 1, corner Fulham and Ripley streets, Brixton, Tel: (011) 837?5832. Entrance is free