Paul De Villiers, Donald Fridjohn and Derek Craig performing for Two Oceans Ultra Marathon runners last year. They are ready for this weekend's runners.
Image: Vukile Sonandzi
Two Ocean ultra marathon participants run past the band at the 21km mark of the 56km epic run.
Image: Vukile Sonandzi
Kalk Bay songwriter and guitarist Paul de Villiers has become a legend in the eyes – and ears – of the cyclists and runners who take part annually in the Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Two Oceans ultra marathon.
For years, he’s entertained passing athletes with live music – just to give them a bit of encouragement. This weekend he and the band will be at it again as the Two Oceans Marathon sweeps through town.
“I used to think that the front runners wouldn’t be interested – just because they are focused on their times,” he said when this writer visited them before the ultra marathon. “But we started playing early at 6.15am to include the front runners – and they responded well.”
It all began 20 years ago, when his family would regularly take chairs up onto the pavement outside their house in Main Road to watch and cheer the athletes on.
“Sometimes we took a skottel up and made breakfast with friends while we watched. In 2003 my son Vaughan and his friends set up their DJ system and played loud music for the cyclists to give them a boost – and that went down really well,” he remembered.
At the time, they had a rock band called YB50; nowadays, he plays with his buddies Donald Fridjohn, Derek Craig and Anthony Just.
“I said, ‘Hey, let’s play some live music for the runners and cyclists next year’ – which we did,” Paul recalled. “It was a hit – and since then we have played many times, with a variety of different musicians.”
Paul has also written and performed a moving song about life in the township of Masiphumelele near Noordhoek.
The song features the talented Robin Auld, Nhoza Sitsholwana and Derek Craig, and was inspired by his domestic worker, Patricia, who waited 10 years with her name on the housing waiting list before receiving her home.
“In spite of all the hardships, Masi is a happy place – and that was inspirational for writing the song,” he said.
The reaction they get from cyclists and runners is amazing.
Ntsikelelo Magawu, who runs for Itinara Athletics Club, was full of praise for the band. “When you run an ultra, you need any kind of support you can get, from hand claps, shouts on the pavement – but I found the garage band very encouraging, especially after you have run for more than 21km and the road is starting to take its toll,” said Ntsikelelo.
He said as he faced the daunting Chapman’s Peak his mind replayed some of the tunes he heard from “that house in Kalk Bay” as he tackled the first big climb of the day.
Kgosi Lubambo from Jozi said the band added gees to the popular stretch between Muizenberg and Kalk Bay.
“It’s a bustling spectator spot. Every clap is appreciated. I normally don’t stop when I run,” Kgosi said. “But the magic of music in that garage in Kalk Bay made me pause for a selfie and I finished my race with aplomb.”
As exercise scientist and avid runner, Kathleen Mc Quaide, who is now based in Australia, noted: “Runners need support, especially when the distance starts taking a toll. And Paul and the gang are absolutely committed to providing runners with entertainment.”
Sometimes a little too much entertainment, perhaps.
“One time, my daughter-in-law, Caitlin de Ville, the electric violin phenomenon, stepped out onto the pavement in a little red dress with her violin… and immediately caused a five bicycle pile-up right in front of us!” Paul laughed. “So we realised that we’d have to tone down Cait’s act a little.”
And there have been other incidents over the years.
“Once we were shut down by the cops; another time a nasty neighbour threatened to shoot us. We’ve been hugged by sweaty runners, kissed by pretty girls. Always the participants – runners and cyclists – love it, though. And that makes it all worth it.”
Check Paul's videos on YouTube.