aKING is a melodic, alternative pop-rock band based in Cape Town, South Africa.  The band was formed when Hunter Kennedy and Jaco Venter from Fokofpolisiekar joined musical forces with friends Laudo Liebenberg and Hennie van Halen in making music that expresses their shared experience of growing up in Cape Town’s northern suburbs, and a poetic take on South African life as a whole.

Laudo Liebenberg writes most of aKING’s lyrics, with Hunter Kennedy co-writing occasionally. As members of Fokofpolisiekar, Hunter Kennedy and Jaco Venter need no introduction to the South African music scene. Fokofpolisiekar has, since 2003, revolutionized the Afrikaans music scene by challenging and shifting rigid Afrikaans mindsets. Recently Hunter Kennedy’s involvement with Die Heuwels Fantasties and Indie label Supra Familias filled up his schedule, Thieve frontman and guitarist Andrew Davenport  joined the group filling the shoes of Hunter Kennedy. 

Bassist Hennie van Halen is a high-school friend who studied for two years after school and worked in the sound industry before setting off to travel across China while teaching English. On his return he lived in the Fokofpolisiekar house while the band was away on tour – and it was in this time that he and Laudo started jamming and writing songs together.

aKING’s debut album, Dutch Courage, was released in 2008. Yielding three # 1 hit singles, the album has been hailed as one of the best South African rock releases of 2008. The first single “The Dance” was playlisted on national radio station 5FM and reached the #1 chart position on various national radio charts as well as a number of campus radio stations.  A video of “The Dance” rotated on MK, SABC2, MTV Base and MNET. The video reached and maintained the #1 position on music channel MK’s  Top 10 for seven weeks in a row. The second single “Safe  As Houses” was playlisted on radio stations 5FM, Highveld Stereo, JacarandaFM and OFM.  “Safe As Houses” followed in the chart-topping footsteps of “The Dance” by also reaching the #2 position on the 5FM Hi 5 at 5 chart, as well as the #1 position on various campus radio stations. A video of “Safe As Houses” was on rotation on MK and selected DSTV channels. The video reached the #1  position on music channel MK’s Top 10 Chart.

Towards the end of 2008 aKING recorded three songs as a project in collaboration with Cape Town-based production company Ghetto Vibrations, Khayelitsha United Mambaso and the Thokozani Brothers. The project resulted in In The Twilight, the three songs from which are available to be downloaded exclusively from www.rhythmonline.co.za. Downloadable track “Love Your Neighbour” was playlisted on national campus radio stations in February 2009 and reached the # 1 position on the SA Top 10 at TuksFM, KovsieFM and UJFM. The video of “In The Twilight” reached the # 1 position on the MK Top 10 and is also screening on MTV Base.

2009 saw aKING releasing their second full-length album Against All Odds. The album was enthusiastically received by fans as well as critics, and the first single, title track  “Against All Odds” was playlisted on 5FM, Highveld Stereo, KFM, OFM, East Coast Radio, JacarandaFM, Red Cap Radio and campus radio stations nationwide, reaching various # 1 positions  on national charts.

aKING is currently one of South Africa’s top rock acts, drawing capacity crowds at venues and festivals across the country. Over three years, their energetic live sets and articulate, intelligent lyrics have won them scores of loyal fans across generational boundaries. aKING has headlined at all major South African music festivals and venues. Performances include Oppikoppi Music Festival, KKNK National Arts Festival, Oppiaarde Festival, Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts as well as events such as Coke Zero Fest 2009 where the band shared the stage with international acts Oasis, Snow Patrol, Bullet For My Valentine, Panic At The Disco and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.