Nibs van der Spuy

 Nibs van der Spuy's spellbinding acoustic guitar style was first taken notice of, with his band, Landscape Prayers, performing live and on their four highly acclaimed Acoustic/Instrumental albums, between 1993 - 2003. His diversity as a songwriter, singer and finger stylist, reached a broader audience with the release of his solo albums; 'Lines on my face'(1999) and 'Flower in the rain'(2002). Both these acoustic gems were nominated in the best instrumental category at the South African Music Awards. Nibs' versatility to cross pollinate various musical styles, from, African, Classical, Celtic, World, Maskanda, Indian and folk can be fully appreciated on his first International release, 'Beautiful Feet'(2007). It has received rave reviews from the London Guardian to the Sydney Herald, and in May 2007, was album of the month in 4 major German publications. This has been accompanied by intensive touring across the globe with a highlight being the prestigious East Coast Blues & Roots festival in Byron Bay, Australia. Here Nibs shared the stage with such luminaries as Ben Harper, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, Bela Fleck and Piers Faccini.
 
 Besides his own solo career, Nibs got to record a beautiful duo album, 'Sweet-Thorn'(2004) with Mozambican, Gito Baloi and 'Hadeda'(2004) with drummer extraordinaire, Barry van Zyl, from Johnny Clegg's band. He has also got to perform and record with folk Legend, Shawn Phillips and Italian band, the Modena City Ramblers. Mostly touring as a soloist, Nibs also plays across the globe with his young virtuoso guitarist/multi instrumentalist friend Guy Buttery.  In 2008, Nibs  toured South Africa and France with Piers Faccini and released his International follow up to 'Beautiful Feet', 'A Bird in the Hand' to outstanding reviews around the world. On a second tour of France that year, he was pick of the prestigious Rocheford en Accord festival, reviewed by the Le Monde (France's leading newspaper).

His latest offering, "A HOUSE ACROSS THE RIVER" was released in April 2010 in South Africa with all international releases to follow in September. Nibs was also invited to perform at the, 'Le Printemps De Bourges' festival in Bourges, France and represented South Africa at the 'Rio Loco' festival in Toulouse.  In July Nibs had a full page article in one of France's newspapers, LIBERATION and won a Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award at the recent National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. Most recently, Keith Tamkei from the Sunday Times gave "A HOUSE ACROSS THE RIVER" a 5 star review. Nibs will return on his third European tour in mid October.

Reviews

'A Bird in the Hand' is expressed through beautifully weighted and filigreed acoustic playing and van der Spuy's use of compelling metaphors in sensitive appraisal of his homeland's pain and traumas. Magisterially persuasive. UNCUT Jan 2009
 
"Nibs has set out to produce the most sensitive and breathy songs on the continent with instrumental pieces showing off his classy, gently sturdy guitar work." - Guardian, UK Dec 08
 
"With A Bird in the Hand, Nibs van der Spuy may well have succeeded in creating a future classic of the genre." JAZZTHETIK Germany 5stars
 
"A discovery, the South African Nibs van der Spuy who originates from Durban. His guitar playing with classical touches and Zulu melodies and his thrilling airy voice is a Folk Rock from elsewhere." Le Monde France 23 August 2008
 
"Spare simplicity and the sheer radiance of his playing is done to heart rendering effect" - Uncut Jan 2008
 
"This understated folk borrow from Mali's guitars and the mbaqanga tones loved by Paul Simon a time ago. The ghost of Nick Drake floats upon the whole album, the similarity in the guitar playing, melodies and especially the voice tone, soft as an embrace, is disturbing." Les Inrocks (FRANCE), Johana Seban, 18 Dec 2007

"Beautiful feet" offers pure compositions in which Nick Drake's ghost rubs shoulders with Tablas and harmonium echoes and the evocation of mutations current in Africa. With his voice as a murmur, Nibs drones out his memories, softly, like a bearer of good news". - Vibrations Music (FRANCE), Oct 2007
 
"This South African singer intended first to become a stringed instrument maker, and when we listen to his songs, it's a bit as we watched him in his workshop shaping by hand a beautiful wood instrument." France Inter, Cyril Sauvageot, 23 Jan
 
"Forget your pre-conceived ideas of South African music. If you like a bit of Nick Drake or Richard Thompson, with a little GRACELAND, search out this album and give it a go. You will be very pleasantly surprised." 4/5 Birmingham Post
 
"Beautiful Feet is a showcase of Nibs' skills as a musician and lyricist. Some songs will give you goose bumps and make you want to cry - others will warm your blood with their subtle Latin rhythms. Do yourself a favour, buy this album. It really is special." Rebecca Khan SL Magazine