The crowd is skanking in unison, bouncing up and down like an irie earthquake of rhythm. The maestro with the guitar stops blowing his harmonica and leans into the microphone and shouts: 'Original Music! For Original People!' The crowd screams back in togetherness. The maestro smiles and hits them with another song.

Tidal Waves are widely regarded as the hardest working reggae band in South Africa, playing gigs from Oppikoppi to Pretoria, Cape Town to Potchefstroom. Originally from Klerksdorp, a small dustbowl gold mining town about two hours South of Jozi, the band is now based in Yeoville, Johannesburg. The band is made up of four very gifted musicians, the core of the group being held together by Jacob 'Zakes' Wulana alternating on keyboards and guitar, as well as vocals harmonica and vuvuzela and Sam 'Drumbo' Shoai on vocals and drum kit. Shadrack “Charlie” Mathopa is on the bass, while Jaco “Mr.” Mans wields the lead guitar.