BLK JKS newely signed and going on US tour while recording new album

South Africa’s BLK JKS, recently signed with Secretly Canadian, will embark on a string of U.S. tour dates March 2 in Bloomington, IN, where they are recording their forthcoming full-length. The tour continues to New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Austin.

After an action packed 2008 that found the band playing their first U.S. shows, receiving critical acclaim from the likes of The New York Times, Billboard, The Guardian and Dazed and Confused, the band is poised to build on the success with a March 10 re-release of their MYSTERY EP, which has been re-mastered and re-sequenced.

BLK JKS came to the U.S. in the spring of 2008 after a chance meeting with über-producer Diplo while he was on tour in South Africa. The band’s appearance on the cover of the Fader, as well as sets at the Fader issue release party and South by Southwest, sparked recording sessions at New York’s famed Electric Lady studios that resulted in the MYSTERY EP. The record was produced by Brandon Curtis of the Secret Machines, who came to BLK JKS as a fan of the band.

BLK JKS consists of childhood friends Linda and Mpumi who grew up on the same block in Johannesburg’s East Rand where they taught themselves guitar. They initially formed the band in 2000. Early BLK JKS shows and recordings garnered attention for their stacks of guitar drone and head-nodding beats. After the band’s current lineup took shape with the addition of bassist Molefi and drummer Tshepang, both of Soweto, they embarked on a schedule of heavy touring throughout South Africa that earned them a loyal national following. The limited edition release of BLK JKS’ now out-of-print 2007 “Lakeside” vinyl-only 10” marked the band’s international debut, selling at select record stores worldwide.

BLK JKS Tour Dates
March 2 Bloomington, IN Cinemat
March 3 Rock Island, IL Rock Island Brewing Company
March 4 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
March 6 Los Angeles, CA Natural History Museum
March 9 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Shop
March 13 Brooklyn, NY Union Hall
March 14 New York, NY Santo’s Partyhouse
March 18-20 Austin, TX SXSW TBA