What: 🎵 Neil Sandilands @ The Drama Factory
When:
Who: 📚 Neil Sandilands
Where: 🕳 The Drama Factory
How much:
“‘DIE VYFTIGERS’ - A RED-HOT AFRIKAANSE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
2025 is a year of milestones: Afrikaans celebrates its 100th anniversary as an official language, and four of the language’s most original and beloved artists, each celebrate 50 revolutions around the sun. The result? An unforgettable show titled DIE VYFTIGERS - a musical celebration of life, language, stories, and time.
NEIL SANDILANDS, SCHALK JOUBERT, GIAN GROEN, and ABEL KRAAMSAAL - four unique voices within the Afrikaans music landscape - take the stage together, to honour their love of Afrikaans and their own half-century journeys. This production is honest, raw, and straight-talking - filled with lyrics, laughter, melody, and humanity.
The idea for DIE VYFTIGERS, was born amongst the apple orchards of Grabouw, during GIAN GROEN’s 50th birthday celebration. Amidst the sounds of steel strings and spontaneous makietie vibes, NEIL SANDILANDS had a lightbulb moment: four musical friends, all turning 50 during the same year Afrikaans, their mother-tongue, celebrates 100 officiated years. This potential creative coincidence simply couldn’t be ignored. One phone call to each was all it took - and just like that, DIE VYFTIGERS was born. A unique juncture of language, time and friendship.
Each artist brings his own story, instrument, and colour to the stage. Collectively, they combine over 200 years of creative experience - every note and every lyric steeped in meaning.
GIAN GROEN Known for ‘Vier Seisoene Kind’, brings his signature finger-style guitar technique and raw, emotive voice.
SCHALK JOUBERT A music industry stalwart, anchors the offering with his world-class bass guitar glue.
ABEL KRAAMSAAL Back on stage after years in the corporate world, brings a hunger and fresh insight, with existential lyrics and electrifying attack.
NEIL SANDILANDS The jester and and all-round impresario, weaving the production elements with humor, cynicism, theatrical flair and his signature Ukelele.
DIE VYFTIGERS is more than just a concert - it’s a celebration. Combining each artist’s popular songs, as well as new compositions, conjured specifically for this production, the audience embarks on a journey through personal tales, language history, and timeless sounds. The performance is entirely in Afrikaans - a tribute to the language that made it all possible. Whether you’re a fan of Afrikaans music, a supporter of the artists, or simply looking for something genuine, thought-provoking, and entertaining - this show is a must-see.
“What do you get when you put four distinct personalities on one stage, each of whom can play an instrument, write a decent lyric and burn with all things yummy? Sprinkle some unorthodoxAfrikaans vocabulary, a dash of self-deprecating humor, a splash of witblitz, a sip of Boere Zen, and a sliver of 50-year-old Hardekoolhout. There you have it. The recipe for a night of first-class entertainment: ‘DIE VYFTIGERS’. Almost like “Trompie en die Boksombende”. Let’s say I’m Trompie, and Gian is Rooies, Abel is Dawie, Briers Coetzee (our sound engineer who also plays Cajon) is Blikkies – then Schalk must be Boesman, die brak.” - says Neil Sandilands.
Don’t miss “DIE VYFTIGERS” - one year, one language, four birthdays, one stage. A rare alignment of stars, music, and mother tongue. DIE VYFTIGERS is not a show - it’s a cultural event. Tickets are LIMITED - be part of history.”