Gareth Harvey

Gareth is a freelance multi-instrumentalist, arranger/composer, producer and educator who has performed throughout South Africa and Internationally with various bands, theatre groups and orchestras. Gareth is a graduate in music performance and musicology from the University of Stellenbosch and holds a performance Licentiate through Trinity Guildhall London. Artists he has worked with include: The Johnny Cooper Orchestra, Mike Perry, Frank Paco, Ian Smith, Hemel Besem, Bernice Boikanyo and McCoy Mrubata. He has been active in the hotel industry performing at 5-star hotels around South Africa, Mauritius, and the Middle East, including the One&Only Hotel in Cape Town, The Michelangelo in Johannesburg, Sun City Resort, and the Ritz-Carlton Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Gareth has been an active member in various groups including SAMA award winning Afro pop group Native Young, electro swing band Pravda and jazz fusion saxophone quartet SAXIT! who have performed at a number of festivals including the National Arts Festival and Joy of Jazz in Johannesburg. Gareth has worked for many years in education and has taught at various schools including the internationally renowned Jazz Workshop school of Music founded by highly acclaimed and influential musician and educator Merton Barrow. Currently, Gareth is a member of prominent gypsy rock group Crimson House and performs between South Africa and Namibia.

STRAB Music Festival

STRAB Music Festival: From a Performer’s Eyes and Ears

Music festivals; those were the days. Afternoons soaking up the sun, living carefree for just a moment, sipping your favorite drink while hanging out with friends and delightful strangers. From every direction, the music meanders through every stall, campsite, and beer tent, culminating in gyrating epicenters we call the stage. The STRAB music festival is …

STRAB Music Festival: From a Performer’s Eyes and Ears Read More »

What is Synthpop

What is Synthpop: A History of Synthesizers in Pop Music

Take a mental journey back to the 1980s. It’s easy to see that people and life were in the process of transformation during this time. Dubbed the age of materialism, the 1980s represented a time of daring gender-bending fashion, an explosion of TV networks and shows, blockbuster films premiering almost weekly, and a new youth …

What is Synthpop: A History of Synthesizers in Pop Music Read More »

What is Chamber Pop

What is Chamber Pop: Songs And Artists Who Define A Genre

What is Chamber Pop music Music genres are fairly loose by definition, and chamber pop is no different. For some listeners, it can be the sound of soft vocals with acoustic guitars and violins. To others, chamber pop can mean multi-textual soundscapes fusing orchestral sounds with electronic beats and edgy lyrics. Chamber pop can be …

What is Chamber Pop: Songs And Artists Who Define A Genre Read More »