Rock reggae band Little Kings are made up of singer/songwriter and guitarists Ryan Coetzee and Ryan Kidwell, lead guitarist Skye MacInnes, bassist Matthew Gill and drummer Bradley Croome.
Little Kings kicked off in 2006 as a two piece acoustic combo made up of singer/songwriters Ryan Coetzee and Ryan Kidwell. While performing at the “Like Honey Like Fire” show at Obz Café in 2007 they made a big impression and began to play an ever-increasing number of gigs around Cape Town. After six months of growing success the Ryans’ expanded their sound by hooking up with friend and bassist Matthew Gill. The bassman added a new element and depth to the sound, which encouraged them to add further with drummer Bradley Croome and lead guitarist Skye MacInnes. After a couple of jamming sessions the band clicked and a whole new Little Kings emerged.
With gigs at Obz café, Armchair Theatre, Dizzy’s, Mercury Live and Lounge and Prizm Resonance New Year Festival, these guys have made a huge impression on the Cape Town music scene in a short space of time. Stating their influences as Sublime, Steel Pulse and Ben Harper, the Little Kings’ sound merges a passion for reggae greats who’ve gone before, with the rock of more current inspirations.
In the next five years the Little Kings see themselves taking their sound internationally, gigging and playing at festivals worldwide, helping to keep South African music on the map with the help of their Manager Brad Gill. Further information about Little Kings can be found on Facebook.
RYAN COETZEE – SONGWRITER/LEAD VOCALS
After leaving home to join reggae band Rasta Vibrations in 1999, Ryan Coetzee discovered his passion for song writing. He travelled and lived with the band, playing around Durban and Pietermaritzburg before moving down to Cape Town in 2004. Here he played occasional bass for another reggae band “Rivertones” before hooking up with Ryan Kidwell to form what is now known as Little Kings (the name being derived from the Gaelic meaning of Ryan – Little King).
MATTHEW GILL – BASS
Matthew started playing bass at 13 and started his first band shortly after that. He was part of alternative funk rock band “Stageplant” before he left school, jamming with fellow Little Kings members Skye and Bradley. Matthew and Skye have been friends for as long as both can remember and their playing styles have always worked well together. When Stageplant came to an end Matthew started playing for three new bands which didn’t last too long until Baitball was formed. Towards the end of last year Matt and Skye were still playing for progressive rock band Baitball and jammed together until he was invited to start playing with Little Kings.
BRADLEY CROOME – DRUMS
After starting to drum at 13, Bradley formed the band “Matter of Fact” with a school friend. After delving into punk rock they soon discovered it wasn’t their thing and were keen to start something new. This is when they met Matthew and Skye and they started playing together in Stageplant. Leaning in a funk rock direction they played at battle of the bands and started to gather a following. The band broke up eventually and they went there separate ways. Bradley took up lessons at the Jazz Workshop and decided to wait for the right band to come to him. Which it did. Matthew approached him about joining Little Kings in 2007.
SKYE MACINNES – LEAD GUITAR
Skye started learning piano at 8, and then at 12 he picked up the guitar. He hasn’t looked back ever since. Playing in various bands with Matthew and others throughout his school years Skye has been gigging on a regular basis since 2004. Stageplant first introduced Skye to Bradley. Ryan Coetzee asked Skye to come and jam with Little Kings at the end of 2007 and play a show for them as a stand in. However, he added so much to the sound that he’s been playing with them ever since.
Edited by Emily Pettit-Coetzee [Features writer. Men’s Health Living]
