# Wonderboom (band)

Wonderboom is a 4 piece South African rock band from Johannesburg.
They formed in 1996 when Martin, Wade and Cito, originally in an underground band called "The Eight Legged Groove Machine", were approached by Danny, the drummer for the popular rock band, "The Electric Petals" and their manager, Patrick Horgan.
Originally they formed a funk-rock supergroup "The Electric Petal Groove Machine". Two weeks after the combination of the two groups, the band then still known as "The Electric Petal Groove Machine", opened for Simple Minds on their South African tour.
Not completely happy with their temporary name, in the summer of 1997, a road sign caught Cito's eye, just outside the Free State town of Kroonstad, pointing to a little town called "Wonderboom".
In 2009, Danny de Wet left the band and was replaced by Garth McLeod, formerly of respected South African rock band Sugardrive. In 2013 Garth McLeod was killed in a motorcycle accident and was replaced by Jonathan Bell.

## Members

* Martin Cito Otto – Lead vocals, penny whistle, guitar, harmonica, multi instrumentalist.
* Martin Schofield – Guitar, backing vocals, multi instrumentalist.
* Wade Williams – Bass
* Jonathan Bell – Drums

## Discography

| Title | Year | Track listing |
| Is It? | 1996/1997 | She CriesSmile PantsulaBangJafta RebelGreen FeverNo Left Turn Unstoned |
| Never Ever | 2000 | Never EverBig BashSomething WrongRunning On EmptyDon't Do CrimeNever Ever (remix) |
| Rewind | 2001 | Charlie (Ain't Slavin' 2 Da Habit) – RabbittShadows 2001 – éVoidKiss Or Kill – B WorldAfrica – Johnny CleggJohnny Calls The Chemist – Falling MirrorSunday Morning (Coming Down) – Kris KristoffersonShadows (remix)Multimedia EPK track |
| Tell Someone Who Cares | 2003 | Dead RightWild SunshineSun Of A GunTrippin'Night Falls Like A Grand Piano – The 6thsSlowSoul DoubtWhite LinesRise And WalkThe Dear HunterThat GirlHouse Of Cards |
| Hoekom? | 2004 | Royal Hotel – David KramerEyeshadow – Valiant SwartEngel – Karen ZoidJohnny Is Nie Dood Nie – Koos KombuisXIXIXI – Nina HagenHarlekyn – Anton GoosenMultimedia photo gallery |
| All The Hits? | 2005 | CharlieLove CrashJafta RebelShadowsNever EverSomething WrongEngelAfricaWhite LinesDead RightFour Keen GirlsRise & WalkSoul DoubtGreen FeverSmile PantsulaGraffiti LoveEyeshadowSon Of A GunJohnny Is Nie Dood NieShe CriesTurningNight Falls Like A Grand Piano |
| City Of Gold | 2006 | It's Great To Be AliveBest SideBrainTake Me HomeCity Of GoldLoose EndFireballNice TryLovestruckE'LoopCome OnWaited So Long |
| The Automatic Shuffle | 2011 | Can You Feel It?AnimalOn The RadioHere I AmRiotFallingI Fought The DevilKaraoke BarSuperhumanSlowburnThe Automatic Shuffle |
| Rising Sun | 2017 | HumansSouthern LightNorthern LightGreat EscapeHellIn Place Of SomethingRising SunOoh La LaPraying MantisDigital DanShark Bite |

## Awards and accolades

| Year | Organisation | Award | Nominated | Result |
| 1997 | SAMA | Rock Album of the year | Is It? | Nominated |
| 2000 | SAMA | Rock Album of the year | Never Ever | Nominated |
| 2001 | SAMA | Rock Album of the year | Rewind | Nominated |
| 2003 | People Mag Crystal Award | SA's Hottest band | WONDERboom | Won |
| 2004 | SAMA | Rock album of the year | Tell Someone Who Cares | Nominated |
| 2004 | KANNA Award | KKNK Toekenning Beste Rock, Pop & Jazz | WONDERboom | Won |
| 2004 | Global Battle Of The Bands | Astoria London | WONDERboom | 2nd Place |
| 2007 | SAMA | Rock Album Of The Year | FCity Of Gold | Nominated |
| 2017 | Silk Road Indie Music Festival | Sichuan Province | WONDERboom | Gold Award |