When On The Edge was finished in 2010, it felt like the start of something.
The Ryan Calder Band (RCB) had built a loyal following. The name had found its place on festival lineups, theatre posters, and community events. We were a proper band, not just a guy with a guitar and a dream. And I was intent on making our live shows something memorable — no matter how little time, money, or resources we had to work with. Continue reading The Great Deep and how it happened
Being in a band isn’t just about music.
For me, it was always about people. The kind of people who don’t just make you a better musician, but who inspire you to be a better husband, father, and human being. That was the heartbeat of The Ryan Calder Band.
By the time we got to On The Edge, we had already logged countless hours together — on stages, in studios, and most memorably, in late-night conversations about life, family, and the curious choice of devoting your “free time” to making music when you had, you know… responsibilities. Continue reading On The Edge: The Album, The Brotherhood, and The Madness of Making It
As you know, I am intrigued by people’s stories. I much prefer autobiographies over anything else. There’s nothing more interesting, I find, than hearing someone’s story and their own personal journey: what they’ve been through and what are the things that have made them who they are.
And if our drummer Rudi had a biography, it would be well worth the read. Continue reading If Rudi Engelbrecht was my psychiatrist…
They say that Chuck Norris grew a beard at the age of 18. Seconds.
Now, I’m not here to diss Chuck (we all know what kind of suicidal mission that would be)… but I just can’t help wondering whether Mr Norris ever considered world domination? Continue reading Forget Chuck Norris… Jon Calder is the man for the job
We often get asked at gigs (mostly by white people) where Roberto comes from. The answers are wide and varied.
Rob, Berto, brother, bass ou, bruin ou… whatever you want to call him, seems to have mystifying power over our audiences. Continue reading Five reasons I would invite Roberto Hemmero to dinner
The Future Music Forum, which I attended in September in Barcelona, is the brainchild of events co-ordinator Niall Doorley. Niall is an energetic personality, and has created a important space for the music industry to come together and share ideas. Continue reading Music industry observations by Niall Doorley (Future Music Forum)
I am normally circumspect when it comes to statements such as “living by faith” or “God will provide”. But as I type this, I find myself in the middle of an unfolding miracle. You may or may not believe it, and I am still trying to come to grips with it myself. It all started on Monday. Continue reading The international doors open
So here we are, nearly two weeks into our endeavour to get to Spain, and the graph below resembles two lines. The green line signifies where we should be, and the red line is where we are. Continue reading Five dollars, a dream, a journey
Last year’s Cape tour was an incredible experience for me personally. We performed in a packed-out 25m2 café of wine drinkers. We opened for Plush at the Assembly to hundreds of young boozers. We performed a supper-theatre show for an audience where the average age was 65. And we set up on a verandah in Paarl and performed for a group of orphaned children. Six nights out of seven, and Rudi made it through alive.
That seems a lifetime ago. Continue reading Cape Town shows
There’s good news and there’s bad news, and then there’s the “who knows?”…
The Ryan Calder Band emerged official winners of the WeLoveYourSongs.com international online competition! And first prize includes free access to the super awesome Future Music Forum, held in Barcelona, Spain. That’s the good news. Continue reading We won! Now what?
