1978

The Wentzel family from Macassar in the Western Cape and music are synonymous when spoken of in general. The N2 and the Strand Combo are two well known musical groups that feature prominent members of the Wentzels . The Strand Combo Dance Band started way back in 1978 with Kenneth, Herbert, Neugen and Noël Wentzel.

 Noël left the dance band in 1983 and linked up with Steve Mitchell to form a duet called Casablanca. Their first gig was in a beer garden in a town called Mafeking in the homeland of Bophuthatswana. Shortly thereafter Noël performed as a soloist in various nightclubs and pubs in and around the city of Durban on the Kwa-Zulu Natal coast. During this time he shared the stage with extremely talented musicians like George Mari, Faya Faku, Mike Laatz, Jasper Wessels, Thandi Claasen , Graham and Richard Ellis and many more.

Friends or Cape Velvet.

Neugen joined Noël in Durban in 1987 to perform as a duet. The name N2 is drawn from their shared initials. N2 had their first gig in a pub called Cheers at the Riviera Hotel on the Durban Esplanade.They built up a strong following as they became popular with their music and style. The duet would become a quartet or more at certain venues when they were joined by other musicians on stage. When this happened they called themselves Friends or Cape Velvet.

A few months down the line younger brother Adrian quit his post as a drummer in the Strand Combo Dance Band to join his brothers in the N2 Band.

THE TRIO

The trio hovered in and around Durban for a few months before an opportunity arose to move back to the Mother City in the Western Cape. The venue was at The Huntsman Hotel in Firgrove, Somerset West. N2 had a huge success rate with crowds of followers in venues such as Sherwood Lounge in Mannenberg; Midnight Moves in Bellville; Club Galaxy in Athlone; West-End in a location now known as the Waterfront; Peter’s Cellars in Paarl; 30’ Something, Razzmatazz and The Blue Note in Port Elizabeth and many more venues across the Western, Northen and Eastern Cape.