It was last August that we first brought BLK JKS (pronounced Black Jacks) to your attention, citing them as coming on like a South African Yeasayer/The Mars Volta combo. Since then they have recorded their debut album After Robots at New York’s Electric Ladyland studios with Brandon Curtis of Secret Machines, a long term fan of the band.

Teaching themselves guitar on the same block where they both grew up, childhood friends Linda Buthelezi (lead vocals) and Mpumi Mcata (guitar) formed the band in 2000, though BLK JKS’ music initially caused some problems back home.’Rock was always seen as a white thing, the music of the enemy,’ they say. “When we started, we encountered a lot of hostility. Soon, though, people realised that what we were making was far more in tune with what’s going on in South Africa now than any of the pop music playing on the radio’. After the band’s current lineup took shape with the addition of bassist Molefi Makananise and drummer Tshepang Ramoba, both of Soweto, they embarked on a heavy touring schedule throughout South Africa that soon earned them a national following.

The band play Dublin’s Academy tomorrow night and we have two pairs of tickets to give away. Just email your name and contact number to giveaway@state.ie by 4pm on Tuesday.