N2 Band

The talented Wentzel brothers have become a household name as N2 - a party band with a huge following in the Western Cape and beyond!

The band dates back to the year 1978, when the Strand Combo Dance Band was formed with Kenneth Wentzel on saxophone, Herbert Wentzel, piano, Neugen and Noël Wentzel on bass guitar and drums respectively, and Geoff October as lead guitarist. Noël left the dance band early in 1985, and performed in nightclubs and pubs in and around Durban. Throughout his short solo career, he shared the stage with many extremely talented musicians like George Mari and Faya Faku on trumpets, Mike Laatz and Tony Rezak on saxophones, Jasper Wessel and Kariem Daries on drums, Thandi Claasen and Dee on vocals and Richard Ellis on percussion.

Neugen soon left the Strand Combo Band to join his brother in Durban. N2 (short for Noël and Neugen) had their first gig in a pub called Cheers at the Riviera Hotel on the Durban Esplanade. A few months later Adrian quit his position as a drummer in the Strand Combo Dance Band to join his brothers in the N2 Band. The trio hovered in Durban for a few months before performing their first gig in the Western Cape, at The Huntsman Hotel in Firgrove, Somerset West.

N2 had a huge success rate with crowds of followers in clubs such as Sherwood Lounge in Mannenberg, Midnight Moves in Bellville, Galaxy and West-End in Athlone, Peter’s Cellars in Paarl, 30’ Something, Razzmatazz and The Blue Note in Port Elizabeth and many more venues across the Western Cape.  International appearances include a private sixtieth birthday party in Germany, as well as regular performances at the Hilton Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

As the demand for their performance increased, so did the number of group members. Artists who shared their talent with N2 include Carmen "Exclusive" Herbert, Rene Johnson, Madelein (Mady from SA got talent), Almein and Francisca Blasich, Delicia, Sade Van Schalkwyk, Klint Lotz, Carmen Stevens, Angie, Janine, Vicky Sampson, Karen Kortje, Ernie Smit, Jimmy Dlu Dlu, Richard Ceasar, Lionel Konstabel, Sabastian Butler, Julius May, Vernon Steer, Camron Jacobs, Rudolph Paulse, , Clinton Viljoen, Leslie Kleinsmit, the late Winston Mankunku, Brenda Fasi and Robbie Jansen, to name but a few!