Shortstraw

Born in Johannesburg in 2007, Shortstraw formed around Alastair Thomas and Oliver Nathan before quickly evolving into a five-member band, in a lineup that has undergone several changes over the years. The project sits within melodic and direct indie rock, driven by bright guitars, catchy choruses, discreet keyboards, and writing that blends luminous energy with a sometimes gentler tone. Shortstraw began to circulate on the South African scene with the EP We Slept Through it All in 2008, then released the album You’re Underfed, I’m Wonderful in 2011, followed by Good Morning, Sunshine in 2013, which marked a new milestone after part of the lineup was renewed. The band's trajectory continued with Youthless in 2015, Those Meddling Kids in 2017, Beacon Isle in 2019 and Fine Thanks, And You? in 2022. Anchored in the South African independent circuit, Shortstraw has played at numerous festivals and has also toured in Europe and the UK, while sharing the bill with several international indie and alternative bands. In the South African rock landscape of the 2010s, Shortstraw occupied a regular place thanks to a concise song format, a collective approach to the band and a sound accessible without straying from its rock roots.