The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Rock Legends > 1990s / 2000s > The Blues Broers
Sometimes styled as Blues Broers
Legends Of South African Blues Rock
Biography
The Blues Broers formed in early 1990 from members of three South African bands: the Flaming Firestones, All Night Radio, and Black Frost. Their name is an Afrikaans twist on “The Blues Brothers”, establishing their South African identity while honouring blues tradition.
The band built their reputation through intensive touring across South Africa. They evolved significantly in 1996 by adding the Breakfast Brothers horn section for their album “Been Around”, expanding their blues-rock sound.
Albert Frost became one of South Africa’s most celebrated guitarists, winning the SAMA Award for Best Rock Album in 2017. He has collaborated with various artists and formed side projects like Frosted Orange with Simon Orange in 1996.
The band features unique family dynamics, including the father-son relationship between original drummer Frank Frost and guitarist Albert Frost. After Frank’s death in 1999, Albert’s mother Maggie became the band’s manager and later married bass player Rob Nagel, creating what Albert calls a situation where he’s “probably the only guitarist who’s played in the same band with two dads!”
Described as specializing in “cranking out feelgood music, usually about feeling bad”, The Blues Broers have performed together for over three decades. They continue touring regularly at wine estates, festivals, and special events, representing a significant chapter in South African blues-rock history and proving that authentic blues can flourish far from its Mississippi origins.
~ Brian Currin, July 2025
Discography
- Shake Like That [1990] cassette only
- Damn Fine Mojo [1994] cassette only
- Been Around [1995] Spotify | Discogs
- Sharp Street [1996] Spotify | Discogs
- Cellar Tapes [1998]
- Out Of The Blue [2011] Spotify
- Into The Red [2014] Spotify
Musicians
- “Doc” John Mostert – Lead vocals, bringing a distinctive South African blues vocal style to the band
- Albert Frost (Loubser) – Lead guitar and vocals, who joined the band in 1994 at the remarkably young age of 17
- Rob Nagel – Bass guitar, harmonica, tea-chest bass, and vocals, providing the rhythmic foundation
- Simon “Agent” Orange (Dunbar-Whittaker) – Keyboards, tea-chest bass, maracas, and vocals, adding melodic depth
- Frank Frost (Francois Loubser) – Original drummer and Albert’s father, who tragically passed away on 27 January 1999
- Dave Le Warne – Drums (from 2000, later replaced by Jonno Sweetman on drums and washboard)
Reviews
Blues from the Warm Frosts (1997)
At the dawn of the modern rock era during the Sixties, it was bands like John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, Alexis Korner, Cream and even the Rolling Stones who turned to their blues roots for their inspiration. It was these and many similar artists who eventually used the blues to create what became rock. Scratch any of the older statesmen of rock and you’ll find a rich seam of blues influences in their hearts and in their music. Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Bob Dylan and Keith Richards all owe major debts to Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Willie Dixon and the grandaddy of them all, Robert Johnson.
In South Africa it is no different. Frank D Frost is a man who has been ploughing this particular musical furrow since he grew up with the sounds of these artists soundtracking his formative years. Frank is now a walking reference source on the history of blues music in this country having worked, jammed and partied with the full roster of SA bluesmen.
He and his wife Maggie (or ‘Ma Tell’ and ‘Pa Tell’ as they are affectionately known) have dedicated themselves to promoting the music they love in this country. For many years, blues was mostly a cult item but recently it has jumped a deserved ride on the South African music train that is gathering momentum and is threatening to become the major industry we always knew it could be. Maggie and Frank run a music company called Real Music Africa which, among its many functions, organises blues festivals. Among these are the annual Martell Blues Rock festival in Grahamstown (since 1994), the Martell Hangklip Rock Festival and the Mini Woodstocks. Real Music Africa have organised tours for, among others, Jack Hammer, Wendy Oldfield and Squeal. They also manage, promote, protect and nurture a host of new, young SA bands like Dorp, Son Of Rain and Frosted Orange. Their major interest is their own band the Blues Broers who have built up a popular following due to their wild and crazy live gigs and two outstanding albums, ‘Sharp Street’ and ‘Been Around’.
Frank is the manager and drummer for the Broers and his son Albert plays guitar. Maggie does the ‘motherly’ thing, keeping the boys happy, healthy and on the stage on time. The Blues Broers gig incessantly, mostly around the Western Cape and have completed six very successful national tours Their albums are perfect party detonators and were produced by ‘Mr. Ears’ Willem Moller. Their earlier album ‘Damn Fine Mojo’ is only available on cassette and is almost impossible to find. Such is the success of their two recent CDs that there are plans to re-release ‘Mojo’ on CD due to the huge demand for any product by these Belushi-/Aykroyd-inspired funsters. There is also talk of a live album which would go along way to bringing the vitality of the Broers’ live shows into your lounges.
Speaking to Maggie and Frank is like cruising ‘Route Ses en Sestig’ in a convertible Chevrolet with two cool guides. They speak with great affection of the much-missed ‘Soul Ou’ James Phillips. They’ve seen it all and heard it all and still have enough energy and love for the music to put back as much as they can to keep the “blues flame” alight. It is folks like the Frosts who still have a large role to play as SA music starts to thunder down the tracks. Their knowledge and inspiration is vital to our new generation of blues rockers. Frank tells of the time he was stopped by a cop in Joburg for “going the other way down a one-way”. Here’s hoping Frank and Maggie never stop getting tickets.
~ Stephen Segerman, Amuzine, 23 October 1997
Blues Broers at Kirstenbosch (2001)
Blues in the Bosch, Brian Currin was there.
A slightly coolish Kirstenbosch Gardens was the place to hear hot blues on Sunday afternoon. Starting promptly at 5.30pm and playing to a packed hillside of Capetonian picnickers, the Blues Broers entertained the crowd with a superb set of blues standards and original songs.
The band consisted of “Doc” John Mostert on vocals, Albert Frost on stunning guitar, Rob Nagel on bass and amazing mouth organ, Simon “Agent” Orange on keyboards and journeyman musician Dave Le Warne on drums. After 3 or 4 encores we eventually let them go, leaving us well satisfied and shouting for more.
Capture the feeling on their live CD Cellar Tapes recorded at the Hidden Cellar in Stellenbosch in December 1997. Well worth getting.
~ Brian Currin, SA Rock Digest #91, 28 January 2001