Putting the Power of Music to the Test | Part 2 of 2

A Brother's Fountain

The last time we spoke to A Brother's Fountain, they were gearing up for a musical expedition to South Africa with no money, food, or outside support whatsoever. All they had were their instruments, the clothes on their back, and an unbreakable spirit and determination to put the power of music to the test.

Now that they have returned from the journey of a lifetime, we've reconnected with these explorers to document the experiences they had, to learn about the people that made their mission a success, and to discover what is next for the band with their newfound faith in the power of music!

The Journey

Can you tell us about your average day while busking through South Africa?

The unique thing about this trip was that every day brought something completely new, and we never really had an average day. One thing we always did, was when woke up we would all get together, make some coffee, and then have some quiet time before the day started. This was pivotal as it gave us an opportunity to chat through how we were feeling with each other, and also get some crucial alone time to meditate and pray to reset ourselves and be grateful for each day.

From there we would make a plan and go do it. Music was our currency and connection tool so most days revolved around music. Mornings after quiet time we might research and call places we could play. Then we would go out and play music on the streets, for people we stayed with, at a pub, or in a hostel.

The People

Tell us about the people!

The South African people were some of the kindest we’ve met in the world. So open to meeting someone new, and always down with some live music. We felt really privileged to meet South Africans from a lot of different backgrounds and walks of life and still felt so welcomed by them all.

We were also blown away by the hope shown to us by the South African youth! Every kid of any age we met was always kind, engaging, and genuine towards us and each other. Looking us in the eye, asking us about our trip and always encouraging us in our musical journey.

The Playing For Change Foundation's Imvula Music Program in Gugulethu

On one of the many stops for A Brother's Fountain, the band was able to connect with the students and teachers at the Imvula Music School in Gugulethu, South Africa.

To top off a stellar performance and a memorable experience for all, the band chose to donate their instruments to the students, leaving a lasting impact on the Imvula Music School and demonstrating their own generosity granted through the power of music.

"We can’t say enough great things about the people of Gugelethu and the Playing For Change Foundation music school. We were welcomed with open arms and had such a good time playing music and hanging out with the kids and adults there.

The connection in Gugs was the perfect icing on the cake for the journey. We were so happy that we were able to give them a few nice instruments to help keep the music alive and thriving there amongst the youth. We can’t thank them enough for welcoming us with such open arms."

-AJ Fountain, A Brother's Fountain

The Memories

Were you able to perform with any new friends and fans?

We did have a few magical moments with other musicians. We had a great sunset beach jam in Cape Town with a South African saxophonist and an Argentinian ukulele player who we also met down by the beach. The feeling is indescribable to look out over the ocean and watch the sun setting with the sand beneath your toes as you play your heart out with total strangers who feel like best friends.

The Highlights

What did you learn in your travels?

The greatest highlight of the trip was having nothing. The feeling of waking up with no idea where each day was going. It made every day a grand adventure and every little blessing seem like a miracle from God.

We learned to not let them tell you it can’t be done, to dream bigger. We learned to never underestimate the power of a stranger. To stay grateful for every little thing and life will become so much more magical. We learned to keep the faith to make your story epic and worth telling.

The Message

Would you recommend more musicians go on similar adventures to test the power of music?

Absolutely we would. It is such a raw, invigorating and renewing experience to have nothing but your instrument to get around. The weird thing is although we played every day, and sometimes multiple sets a day, we never really got sick of the music. Playing music gave us a purpose, it allowed us to provide something to those who helped us, and it was tied in with surviving as our main focus every day. This reshaped how powerful music is to ourselves and others. It was our expression of who we were and what we were about, and our ability to bring down walls and bare our soul. It was such an honor and gift to play under those circumstances, and I’d definitely recommend it to any musician.

The Future

When will we be able to experience the trip with you? Will you be creating a documentary about your adventure?

Follow along for teasers at ABrothersFountain, but hold tight because it might be around 6 months of intense editing before the full short film will be coming out. This trip was so special that we want to make sure the short film about it is done right, so we can’t rush the process.

[UPDATE] The first teaser has been released. Check it out:

What's Next?

Next for us is to take these lessons we learned and apply them into our day to day lives in the states. We fell in love with the concept of ‘Only Music’ and are now planning on continuing in that theme with more trips and episodic content. This could include traveling internationally again, but we’re also looking to go out on some tours in America with only our instruments.

In the next couple months, we’ll be finishing up another documentary similar to Only Music / South Africa which we're calling Only Music / Alaska. It features my brother, Justin Fountain, who hitchhiked up to Alaska from his house here in Fort Collins about six months ago, with nothing but a backpack and a mini guitar, again bringing no money and no food to start his journey. What happens is epic and magical and we can’t wait to show that journey to the world soon.

Until then, we'll just have to wait. For now, we encourage you all to stay close to A Brother's Fountain as they continue on their musical journey, crossing borders, bridging divides, building relationships, and connecting the world through music. This band has embodied the mantra of their mission, to not only survive, but to THRIVE through music. We are excited to see what's next for ABF, and we are grateful for their willingness and openness to share the songs and stories from their travels. Hopefully, their faith and trust in the power of music is something we all can learn from.

If you're interested in staying connected to A Brother's Fountain, please reach out to them on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and their Website, as well as checking out their new music on Apple Music, Spotify, and other streaming services.

One Love,
PFC