Ruby's Review

 BATHING IN SUNSHINE WITH SHERON  By RubySage 17 July 2026 I was standing in the doorway to the venue where I was hosting a, cooler than the coolest of gigs, enthusiastically chatting away to a friend.  As I’m sure you know, either from personal experience or from word of mouth… (not mine..a different mouth) I do tend to get, ever so slightly caught up in the moment of excitement.  And besides hearing me from about a mile away, you just might even have hands laid on you, at best. The alternative is potentially being at risk of sustaining a serious injury or worse…putting your back out, trying to dodge flying wayward, story telling arms.  And THIS is how I met Sheron.   Relax, no one was harmed during this meeting of two musos.  Whilst flamboyantly talking (waving away), I happened to catch a glimps of a certain somebody out of the corner of my eye.  It was Sheron, the Sunshine Bathing, musical wizard, himself, patiently waiting for me to get ...

  The Color Blew Unveil's  ‘POPCORN AND CANDYFLOSS’ By RubySage 10 JULY 2026      One of my 2025 highlight moments was, not only meeting the legendary boys from the band The Colour Blew, but having them play Ruby Fest.T his indie alternative rock band delivers acompelling contrast to the overproduced sounds dominating mainstream music.   A combination of passion, authenticity, moments of deep reflection and emotional connection is what you can expect to hear when listening to The Color Blew.  Last year,  The Color Blew, defined by a series of compelling single releases that showcased their continued evolution within South Africa’s alternative rock landscape.  And one of those singles ,  'Leave' , sees them nominated for an Afri-Indie Award in the Best Alternative Single category.  With Liaan Horton also receiving a nomination for Best Music Producer. (The awards ceremony will take place on 25 August 2026 in Pretoria.)    ...

... As promised..here's your Ruby fest update. RUBY FEST CELEBRATING COMMUNITY As most of you proberbly know by now... In the world of Ruby ( and most everyone, I'm sure).. The struggle has been realer than real. And the recent car accident hasn't helped one little bit. It has only managed to set things back even more. But as you also must know by now... Ruby = resilience... And rebellion... And so, with a rebellious resolve to not give up ( and trust me.. The temptation has been great), I've decided to now only push forward and make Ruby fest happen (as it should) but also, doing so in the hopes of instilling a profound sense on ownership in every muso reading this.  Due to too many hiccups and seamingly impossiblities, the thought of cancelling the fest did occur to me. But it's with thanks to a great number of you, my friends and fellow nut jobs, and your genuine excitement about the festival, I've managed to start finding some of my mojo again.... Thank you....

  PERRY & BLACKWELL A SOUND TO GET EXCITED ABOUT By RubySage 3 July2026 I, very recently, experienced a certain magnificent nostalgic moment, when I discovered Nu-Grunge band, Perry & Blackwell.    Now, if ever there was a sure tell-tale happening that resulted in my being   inspired enough to try take over the world, I can assure you, ‘Pinky and the Brain’ isn’t   it…it is and has always been the sounds of   Nu-Grunge.   Maybe it’s the air of rebellion, the idea of being part of a movement that will, loudly, express a message of moral stature and ‘sticking it to the man’ if you will…or maybe it just a combination of epic sounds that captive me.   Either way, Nu- Grunge has always, and to this day, excites me.   Now, for those who live under a rock, and in the spirit of being ever so controversial, I found a beautifully descriptive explanation on the music genre,   Nu-Grunge, provided by the ever so debated about tool, namely ...

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT FISMITS FOUNDER,  MARK BIAGIO  By RubySage 3 July 2026 The FISMITS.   A name that has been stuck in my head since the first moment I heard it.   Why?   Well,   two reasons …1. I am a first class supporter of   the 'play on words' and 2. .. being somewhat of a misfit myself, I felt an instant kinship of sorts. An   understanding, in a sense.   ( And as I am writing this, I think to myself, "...brilliant marketing strategy -   Great hook."   ) One of the many things I really enjoy about what I do is interacting with and learning more about my fellow musos and people of interest ( to me that is).  I haven't,  as of yet, had the privilege of spending time with the Fismits guys ( I'm hoping o rectify that soon!), but I do find myself very intrigued by who they are as a band and what they bring to the local music scene.  More so, I find myself totally engrossed and getting happily lost in their...

David "Devo" Oosthuizen THE ARTIST'S ALLY By RubySage 12 June 2026 Frustrated by how easily independent talent gets lost in the noise; David "Devo" Oosthuizen launched Devographic to level the playing field.  Highly respected for his genuine passion for independent music and artist development, Devographic Music Agency has become a premier destination for PR, radio plugging, and digital media campaigns.   Under his direction, Devographic does more than just blast press releases; it crafts unique narratives that make gatekeepers pay attention. The very first moment I stumbled, quite accidentally, into the local live music scene, I knew I wanted to be a creative voice advocating for local musicians. My goal preserves the vital stories within the local music community - stories that often go untold between releases, shows and success stories.  Being but an embryo in the industry and this scene, and coming from a background first in marketing a...