Arno Carstens

Arno Carstens is an internationally signed, platinum selling, multi-award winning South African singer-songwriter and guitarist, credited as “The Godfather of South African Rock” (Miles Keylock, GQ Magazine) for the role he has played in the South African rock music industry over the past two decades. 

During his career as the lead singer of the legendary alternative rock band The Springbok Nude Girls, and subsequently as a solo artist, Arno has released 9 studio albums and had 18 top ten singles. He has won 5 South African Music Awards and shared the stage with legends of the music world. Arno has performed on the main stage at the Isle of Wight Festival, has appeared at Glastonbury, V Festival, T in the Park and Hard Rock Calling and has supported the likes of U2, The Rolling Stones, Paul Weller, The Police, Simple Minds and Meat Loaf on European tours.

Arno’s 2nd solo album, The Hello Goodbye Boys was released in 2005. Produced by well-known South African studio maestro Brian O’ Shea (USA’s Seether), The Hello Goodbye Boys went gold and won a SAMA award in 2006. Another Universe, Arno’s debut solo album, was released in 2003 and as one of the most anticipated solo projects in South African music history, did not disappoint, becoming the biggest selling South African English rock album this side of the millennium. The platinum selling album won a SAMA Award for Best Rock Album in 2004.

Arno Carstens’ UK debut album Wonderful Wild (released April 2010) was written, recorded and mixed in London & Spain with co-songwriting contributions from Giles Martin, James Walsh, Jim Duguid and Youth. The album was produced by legendary British producer Youth (The Verve’s Urban Hymns) and Jim Duguid (Paulo Nutini’s These Streets). Final mix on the album is by Tim Bran (The Verve’s recent UK#1 album).

LEAD SINGER/ SONGWRITER, SPRINGBOK NUDE GIRLS, 1994 TO PRESENT

The Springbok Nude Girls played their first gig in September 1994 in Stellenbosch, taking the South African music industry by storm with their new brand of alternative rock. The band has since toured, headlined, and featured extensively both locally and internationally, becoming one of the biggest names in Rock music South Africa has ever produced.

Recent highlights include headlining the most popular South African music festivals in 2010, including Rocking The Daisies (Cape Town) and Rocking The Gardens (Johannesburg), proving that they are still one of the most beloved alternative rock bands in the country. They went on to perform as the opening act for U2 in Cape Town and Johannesburg during their South African tour in February 2011, as well as performing a sold out show at Shepherds Bush Empire in London and an explosive show at The Isle of Wight Fesival in the UK in June 2011.