Nibs van der Spuy was born in Benoni South Africa on 20 February 1966. His father was an airline captain for South African Airways who played guitar, ukulele, harmonica and banjo and his mother a classically trained pianist. His older brother introduced him to the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Allman Brothers Band. These became his earliest influences and in 1975 picked up the guitar. His first song ever learnt was “Eleanor Rigby”.
The practicing took a serious turn in 1980 where Nibs started writing his own music. Steve Morse of the band, “Dixie Dregs”, became Nibs’ biggest mentor and influence. After studying luthiery in the U.S. and two years of military training in SA, in 1989 he enrolled at the Technikon and University of Natal in the diploma Light Music. After 4 years of completed studies, Nibs took a lecturing post at the University of Durban Westville and Natal Technikon. It was during this time that he formed the acoustic trio, “Plagal Cadence”, which became somewhat of a Kwa- Zulu Natal legend.
After disbanding in 1993, Nibs formed, “Landscape Prayers”, which played an acoustic blend of Instrumental World music. In 1995 they were signed to the Sheer label and released 4 critically acclaimed albums before going separate ways in 2003. The bands’ 1997 album "Bush Telegraph", 1999 album "Transmigration Man" and 2003's "Lontana", were all nominated at the South African Music Awards (SAMA) for Best Instrumental album.
Nibs’ released his first solo album, "Lines on my face" in 1999, followed by "Flower in the Rain" in 2002. Both these albums were also nominated in the Best Instrumental and Best Adult Contemporary categories respectively at the SAMA awards of those years.
In the 2000’s Nibs toured and recorded with Mozambican Gito Baloi (Tananas) and performed the last gig with him on 4 April 2004 in Pretoria. Baloi was brutally murdered on his way home to Johannesburg on that same fatal evening. This duo recorded the beautiful, “Sweet-thorn” which was released in July 2004. It has received widespread recognition in SA, Mozambique and has been released in the U.K.
Nibs recorded and toured in Italy of 2004, with the popular Italian band, Modena City Ramblers. 2004 also saw the release of, “Hadeda”, a collaboration album with Barry van Zyl (Johnny Clegg drummer). This World Music album features guest appearances by folk legend Shawn Phillips, Blk Sonshines’ Neo Muyanga and Carlo Mombelli amongst others.
Nibs releases his third solo album, "Beautiful Feet" in 2006 on 2 Feet Music. He has also recently completed a tour of Australia in support of this album. His album is out in Europe & North America in 2007 and Nibs will be touring these territories, starting off with a tour of the UK in Jan 2007.
Quick Facts:
Nominated for “Best Instrumental” album at the South African Music Awards in 1999 and 2002.
Extensively toured UK, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Holland
Album released in Australia, UK, USA, Japan, Germany and France
“Beautiful Feet” named album of the month in four different German publications
“Beautiful Feet” named album of the week on FIP (National radio station in France)
Toured with Piers Faccini in 2008
Played East Coast Blues and Roots Festival and the Great Escape (Aus) 2007
Appeared alongside Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, Jack Johnson, Taj Mahal, Gito Baloi, Barry van Zyl and Bela Fleck
"His album, Beautiful Feet, is graceful, sometimes poignant, sometimes quiet, always rich with meaning and laden with soft notes that are hard hitting. Songs like “Dreams of Believers” whispers slowly and lovely, others like “Hiding in the Sugar Cane” are charged with the richness of a viola... Yet no songs on the album surpass the title track, and “Beautiful Feet” is an irresistibly gentle ballad in which the mundane seems pleasant." - Anna Kosmanovski, www.mediasearch.com.au
"...remarkably beautiful, touching and gloriously optimistic." - Bruce Elder, The Sydney Morning Herald
"...Beautiful Feet is a showcase of his skills as a musician and a lyricist. Some songs will give you goose bumps and make you want to cry - others will warm your blood with their subtle Latin rhythms. Do yourself a favour, buy this album. It really is special." - Rebecca Khan, SL Magazine
"This is an album of gentle lyrical honesty, musical imagination tempered by restraint and powerful imagery. If singer songwriter is your thing, let your Beautiful Feet do the walking and enjoy something a little different." - Damian Rafferty / www.fly.co.uk
Forget your pre conceived ideas of South African music. If you like a bit of Nick Drake or Richard Thompson, mixed with a little “Graceland”, search out this album and give it a go: you will be very pleasantly surprised. - Chris Field, Birmingham Post, UK
"the album as a whole is really brilliant. It’s rich and warm, filled with genuine sentiments and honesty, all brilliantly delivered in a masterful way by a truly gifted musician" - Matthew Christensen (5 out of 5)
