Artist description Leek And The Bouncing Uptones are a hardcore horn-influenced punk outfit from Pretoria, South Africa. Having been around since 1994 this band has payed their dues.

Music Style Hardcore punk with horns

Musical Influences AFI, Link 80, Less Than Jake, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Ignite, Pitch Black, The Faction

Similar Artists Afi meets Link 80

Artist History Roll the dice and win with South Africa’s top ska-core band LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES. This four-piece band, based in Pretoria, South Africa, play some of the catchiest, up-beat punk rock ever heard. Mixed with the smooth melodies of the trombone and flowing bass lines LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES’ original blend of South African music is taking the world by storm. “Armed with a glowingly healthy distrust of any sort of authority figure and a giddy, infectious enthusiasm, the band with straight-forward, horn-driven, ska-influenced punk tunes that waste no time nor metaphor in getting to the point. And this being balls-to-the-wall punk rock, the point is usually very, very angry” – Craig Canavan (Pretoria News) Having released the latest album “Roll The Dice” on British label 20 Deck Records in July 2001, LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES have been supporting it ever since. With constant touring through out South Africa as well as an international tour to the UK for three weeks, the band has done surprisingly very well. Now back in the studio, LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES are in the process of writing new material for the next record. With a stronger knowledge on writing and an impulsive drive to succeed, the new material is sounding better than ever. Harder hitting guitars, deep and haunting horn lines and even angrier vocals, puts LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES one step higher. While working on the new material LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES will be playing around South Africa with the aim of gaining new fans. Playing at large festivals and small local clubs the band will be pushing it’s music out to as many people as possible. LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES started back in 1994 playing the local clubs in Pretoria. In 1996 the band released their first album “It Was Just An Idea!”. That same year saw the band win the Battle Of The Punk Rock Bands which gave forth to their next album in 1997 entitled “Punks Golfing Again”. The year 2000 was a good year for the band as they won the Pretoria Battle Of The Bands and had the opportunity to open up for American ska band Five Iron Frenzy while on tour in the SA. 2001 brought about the signing to British label 20 Deck Records and then the latest album “Roll The Dice” which was released in July 2001. The album reached number one on the Radio Tuks charts as well as number 22 on the Canadian radio station CJSF. After an extensive tour of South Africa, the band headed off to the UK for a 3 week tour to support the album. Playing 13 shows in 16 days brought the band new success in the UK with 2 sold out shows and enormous CD sales. Now back in South Africa, LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES are concentrating on their new material and playing as many shows as possible. With the planned new release and a tour of the States in 2003, this band is bound to take the world by storm. So roll the dice and win with LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES. “Once in a while, you’ll hear a new band that makes u extremely excited. Well this CD got me off my feet in the first two songs. Fast & catchy skacore all the way from South Africa.” 206 Records Magazine (USA)

Group Members Andrew - vocals & guitar Jaco - bass William - trombone Pieter - drums

Instruments Guitar, bass, trombone, drums

Albums "It was just an Idea!", "Punks Golfing Again", Thirty Four Bee", "Kicking Back The Years", "Roll The Dice"

Press Reviews CD REVIEWS: LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES – “Roll The Dice” (13 track CD, 20 Deck Records 20DK-005) When this came through the door, I couldn't wait to get it on the stereo as I was well impressed with this bands offerings on the Noonoo Records comp 'Nearly Hit The Sink' (See Review). If your not familiar with Leek And The Bouncing Uptones and there is no reason why you should be, they are a 5 piece Skacore/punk band from South Africa, and let's face it if anybody has the right to sing Punk then it's these guys, as in South Africa something like 100 people are murdered each day, thats far from pretty. Done to the music well the best way to describe this band is that they are South Africas version of Lightyear, only that there is more diversity in there songs than Lightyear as they go from the Hardcore riffing of 'Alone Forever' to the great funked up ska punk track 'This Town' to the Less Than Jake stylings of 'Mmino', but mostly this is really impressive ska punk with a Trumpet & Trombone to add extra depth, the lead vocals and backing vocals are great especially as all the band giving back up, this just sounds great with overlaying vocal patterns that just can't be beaten, and i'm convinced they were born in the UK as there doesn't seem to be any accent at all in their delivery of the snotty skacore/punk vocals. There is also some cool film samples between songs and a dice game at the end of the CD to follow (i bet you think i'm joking) .This is well worth getting your hands on and be grateful 20 Deck picked it up in the UK as we probably would have never heard of them otherwise. You can tell from this CD that Leek.. rock live and you will get your chance to see as these guys are touring over here early next year so check them out, tour dates will be post as soon as sorted. There is also another great ska punk band from South Africa called Fuzigish that you should keep you eyes out for. Summary : Great catchy as fuck skapunk at times core with attitude but also humour. (UKBase.org.za – December 2001) LEEK AND THE BOUNCING UPTONES - "Roll The Dice" (20 Deck Records) 7/10 There's nothing better than frenzied madcap punk that get people bouncing around like hysterical pogo sticks and Pretoria's Leek & The Bouncing Uptones perform some of the punkiest ska-influenced three-chord rock imaginable. There may not be a lot of variety on Roll The Dice, but all the songs are shot through with vitality, passion and integrity and that's good enough for me. And in concert the band are even better. (Craig Canavan @ The Pretoria News – July 2001) LEEK – “Kicking Back The Years” Once in a while, you’ll hear a new band that makes u extremely excited. Well this CD got me off my feet in the first two songs. Fast & catchy skacore all the way from South Africa. I havn’t been this excited about a band in a long ass time. It’s nice to know that there is great music being made all the way from South Africa. Everytime I pop this disc in, it brings a tear to my eyes because it’s so damn good. (206 Records Magazine – Fall 2001) SHOW REVIEWS: 30/01/02 Vic Inn, Derby (UK) Leek & The Boucing Uptones, Captain Everything, My Dad Joe Leek & The Boucing Uptones 5 guys from South Africa who had to save up for 2 years to get over here with 10 pounds to spend a day, as the average wage in S.A. is only �1.00 per hour, so straight away you can't knock their intent on touring. Leek & The Bouncing Uptones aren't a million miles away from the ska punk upbeat fun of Lightyear, though they probably have a bit more punk about them than ska. Kicking of with the Pink Panther tune, you knew the night was going to be fun, the songs are catchy, and memorable and the singer looked a bit like Joe Strummer. The one thing about this band that was extremely evident was the fact they were totally loving playing in England and the crowd tonight felt the same about them good stuff, if you missed them on this tour check out their CD it's on 20 Deck Records - An English label so you should be able to pick it up quite easily. (UKBase.org.za – January 2002) OTHER: "ROLL THE DICE WITH LEEK" "The guy who comes to a punk show not wearing skate-labelled clothing - that's punk. The fact that our drummer wears his socks with flip flops - that's punk. It's all about thinking for yourself." So says Andrew Wright, vocalist for Pretoria-based punk-ska band Leek And The Bouncing Uptones who launch their new album at the Nile Crocodile in Pretoria on Friday before embarking on a nationwide tour from July to September and a two week excursion to the UK in October Roll The dice was recorded in the band's own home studio during February and they are ecstatic that Brit-owned punk label 20 Deck have picked it up for international release. "It's our first full-length release on an international label," says Andrew. "20 Deck has really been hyping us in the UK so we're looking forward to the tour in October. The international release is a great way of getting our music out to new people and it's not something many local bands have achieved, so we're quite pleased." Despite almost complete ignorance from the mainstream media, the South African punk scene is a vibrant one and Leek's latest coup is only another notch in the scene's belt. To keep up to date with Leek And The Bouncing Uptones visit their new web site at www.leek.co.za. (Craig Canavan @ The Pretoria News – June 2001)

Location Pretoria, Gauteng - South Africa

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