Clark & van der Hoven was formed in January 2006, when Gerald Clark and Werner van der Hoven were purely playing gigs in Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa, to support Gerald’s surfing trips and of course for the love of music; later realising that this duo wasn’t just happening out of mere cash-flow problems, but had a soulful meaning to what was on the rise.
The two met in 2001 at KKNK, where Werner, a huge fan of Gerald’s blues band, Delta Blue, introduced himself to Gerald. In the mean time Werner slaved at his engineering studies at Potchefstroom University and Gerald continued to sculpt his undeniable blues playing talents in Stellenbosch.
These two undoubtedly share the passion, conviction, and talent needed to achieve exemplary marks in the world of the modern day musician.
It’s like this…
In the dog-eats-dog music industry, new music needs to have an edge, but must be performed with a quiet confidence, with the kind of honesty and fearlessness that grabs your soul. You hear just that when Gerald and Werner open their mouths and the guitars follow suit. Their voices are old leather and the colour of dry bushveld thorns. Then you are hexed by Gerald’s slide guitar and the seamless bond it fixes with the strength in Werner’s dark deep voice. Strumming takes on a new meaning here. You simply cannot get enough.
Consider yourself warned.