Looking for a ‘duo with a difference’? Well, look no further. Doppler Effect is one of Cape Town’s well-known acts, featuring singer/guitarist Pieter van der Westhuizen. On Roland V-Drums and a fake toy saxophone is Brian Woodland, aka ‘The SkinDoctor’.
With each having over 40 years of musical performance experience, Doppler Effect delivers the live ambience of combining a great singer/guitar player with a real drummer for that full-band feeling, but with a small footprint.
The Duo can fit into an intimate restaurant, a bustling pub, or an open-air venue. We are also available for corporate functions, weddings, and private parties.
We are a Cape Town-based pop/rock duo performing at various venues and private engagements around the Western Cape.
Doppler Effect is…
Brian Woodland
Brian got his teeth into drumming when he found himself entertaining in the old SADF during ‘National Service’ in the late 1970s. He toured for two years with the SADF before hanging up his army boots and joining top local bands around Cape Town over the following decades.
Brian is a capable musician performing rock, pop, reggae, swing, jazz, and country-and-western musical styles.
Always ready to laugh, he always sees the funny side of a missed beat or badly timed drum fill.
Pieter vd Westhuizen
Pieter first picked up a guitar at 12 years old and has not put it down since.
Completely self-taught, he found his sound through years of late-night practice sessions and a deep love for the classics. By the time he was 20, he was performing as a rhythm guitarist and vocalist in bands around Cape Town, bringing timeless songs to life on stage.
Pieter’s repertoire spans the golden age of pop, rock and blues from the 50’s to the 2000’s, blending nostalgia with energy and heart.
Past Doppler Effect Muso’s
Neil Grundlingh (2024 – 2026)
Neil is a rocker to the core of his soul. In 2024, he ’emigrated’ from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town and reignited Doppler Effect after a 3-year break.
In P.E., Neil was a core member of the very popular rock band Axyl, which performed all over P.E. Before that, he had a long history of gigging around South Africa for top local bands, including the band ‘Bishop ‘, which was at the time compared to the super-band ‘Rabbit’. In 2026, Neil returned to his hometown of Port Elizabeth for a job opportunity.
Murray Haysom (2020 – 2021)
Murray Haysom was a key member of the well-loved Tanglewood Rock Band for 22 years. Originally called TOTS (Two Old Tarts), the band changed its name to Tanglewood Rock Band in 2005 and virtually became the ‘house band’ for the Lookout Deck restaurant in Hout Bay.
In 2020, Murray replaced Mark Badham-Thornhill, who had moved to the UK. Murray was the perfect fit for Mark. Both of these rockers were selected for the Drakensberg Boys Choir at a young age. Both play acoustic guitar and harmonica, and both have performed on stage for many years. Murray loves the Crosby, Stills & Nash / Eagles genre but covers many artists and styles.
Mark Badham-Thornhill (2016 – 2020)
Selected for the Drakensberg Boys Choir at a young age, Mark went on to carve a niche for himself by winning the ‘Shell Road To Fame’ talent competition and, more recently, winning the Bothners Music ‘Forever Young’ music competition.
Besides being a co-founder of the Doppler Effect duo, Mark performed as a solo artist, in a duo, and with the Wroxeter acoustic rock band. He excels in singing classic acoustic rock numbers and is the guy you want around the campfire on warm summer nights.
In 2020, Mark moved to the UK, but he remains an honorary Doppler member and a lifelong friend.