FULL BAND BIO

Hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, Half Price is a self-proclaimed "non-profit party punk band" fighting back against an increasingly ridiculous world with satire, suits, sarcasm and ska, driven by the belief that life is far too short to be taken too seriously. Founded in 2001, the band’s earlier releases touched on international politics and societal issues closer to home like the HIV pandemic in South Africa. During their formative years, Half Price’s focus shifted to their now infamous light-hearted, high-energy sound. While rooted in ska-punk, Half Price’s songs are written instinctively, shaped by whatever feels honest in the moment, whether that’s ska, punk, hardcore, reggae, pop, rock or something in between.

This unique sound combined with some crazy stage antics quickly got Half Price recognised as one of South Africa’s top punk rock acts, regularly opening for international artists like Frenzel Rhomb, Mad Caddies, The Exploited, Alien Ant Farm, Leftöver Crack and, perhaps best of all, the 90's Euro Pop sensation Culture Beat. Half Price took their party punk sound international with their first Namibian tour in 2004, followed by four European tours between 2005 and 2013.

Thereafter, the band continued to regularly tour across South Africa, and in 2016, released a best-of album, Straight Outta South Africa, through the New York label Punk Outlaw Records. During this time, Half Price started to experiment with new sounds, culminating in the addition of Matt Willis on trombone. This musical evolution was accompanied by deeper and more meaningful lyrics, such as those in Please Don't Go, which focuses on the fear of losing a loved one, Ska Daddy, which satirizes playing in an independent punk band for one's entire life, and The Meaning of Self Restraint and Burning Out, both discussing mental wellbeing. In a similar vein, South Africa's public education system is critiqued in the song The Forgotten Future. This song, along with Half Price’s increasingly vocal stand against racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination, reflects the band’s deliberate reintroduction of some of their political roots into their party ethos.

In 2024, Half Price decided that they were ready to hit the road again with a nine-show European tour including a performance at the world-renowned Punk Rock Holiday Festival in Slovenia. Building on this success, in 2025 the band embarked on its biggest tour in 20 years with seven dates in South Africa and 16 shows in Europe, including three festival appearances – all booked 100% DIY. For the tour, Half Price released its seventh album Ska Daddy and, together with Cape Town-based Roasting Records, a limited-edition vinyl, Learning to Fly, which features all but one song on Ska Daddy plus three additional, previously unreleased songs.

The band’s dedication to producing genuine music, constant touring, and remaining true to its ethos has garnered it a dedicated, global support base. No matter where they perform, from small independent club stages to big international festivals, audiences, old and new, are always mesmerised by the party that Half Price consistently delivers.

#lovepunkrock #noracism #nosexism #nodiscrimination