Love a Little Local: Music - the universal language

Writer and Photographer Taylum Meyer

Kleinmond welcomed a new business in Harbour Road this month when Dirk Uys, who has been in the South African music industry for 30 years, opened his funky new shop, Dirk Ace Records which sells vintage clothing, books, movies, CDs and vinyl records in excellent condition.

Dirk grew up in Carolina, Mpumalanga and developed his passion for music at a young age. His taste in music was heavily influenced between the ages of 11 and 13 years when he fell in love with Neil Diamond in 1973, and when he started listening to The Beatles in 1975.

The Beatles' music was revolutionary for its time and it left a big impression on young Dirk, who decided around that time that he would like to work in the music industry.

He slowly grew his music collection and knowledge throughout his high school years, and when he reached university (where he studied for a BA degree in Business Communication) he became a DJ and Public Relations Director for the university’s radio station, Radio Shimla. At the end of his final year at university he turned professional and became the band manager and agent for Johannes Kerkorrel (who sadly passed away in Kleinmond in 2002), the Gereformeerde Blues Band and Koos Kombuis after arranging their first shows for them.

In 1988 Dirk produced Die Eerste Alternatiewe Afrikaanse Rock Konsert in Johannesburg. The concert was originally to be held at the Yeoville Recreation Centre, but when the city council proclaimed blacks unwelcome there, the venue was shifted to the Pool Club on Von Wielligh Street. Dirk and Boogy Gottsman of Shifty Records organised the concert, which was later recognised as part of the Voëlvry Movement.

The movement started in the 1980s with the opening of Shifty Records, focusing on Afrikaans rock music, which wasn't yet widely accepted in South Africa. There were many Afrikaans singers who used their music at that time to express their opposition to Apartheid. An example is Johannes Kerkorrel, a major force in the movement, who used this stage name to poke fun at the Dutch Reformed Church. Other musicians, such as Koos Kombuis, Bernoldus Niemand and Karla Krimpelien were prominent in the movement.

One of the movement's greatest aims was to create awareness among the South African youth about the social and political injustices perpetrated by the government at that time. In 1989, Dirk organised the Voëlvry Toer (facilitated by Shifty Records and sponsored by the Vrye Weekblad newspaper) for Afrikaans rock singers, but they were banned from many venues and were not allowed to perform, which forced them they had to find alternative venues to play in on short notice.

During and after the 1980s, Dirk went on to become heavily involved in music and quickly made a name for himself as Dirk Uys Musiek Produksies. He has an extensive CV – he managed many more singers and bands (including Valiant Swart, Drain, and The Led), produced and stage managed several events (including Oppikoppi Main Stage and the Hermanus Whale Festival) and more. He also began his own record label company, Trippy Grape Records in 1997 and of course… he also sang in his own band called Dirk Ace and Da Faith Machine (DADAFM)!

Dirk has now left the spotlight behind to share his passion for music with others by selling vinyl records. He says he loves how music, the universal language of emotion, can bring people together in shared enjoyment, regardless of the language you speak.

Pay Dirk a visit at 31 Harbour Road in Kleinmond or find him on Facebook (Dirk Ace Records). Alternatively he can be reached on 083 995 4142 or dirkace vox@gmail.com