Looking for a ‘duo with a difference’? Well, look no further. Doppler Effect is one of Cape Town’s well-known, featuring singer/guitarist/bassist and, sometimes, keyboard player Niel Grundling. On Roland V-Drums and a fake toy saxophone drums is Brian Woodland, aka ‘The SkinDoctor’.
With each having almost 40 years of musical performance experience, Doppler Effect delivers the live ambience that comes from 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.
Neil Grundlingh
Neil is a rocker to the core of his soul. In 2024, he ’emigrated’ from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town and re-ignited Doppler Effect. 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 bank, which was at the time compared to the super-band ‘Rabbit’.
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 playing for the SADF until hanging up his army boots and getting into 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.
Mark Badham-Thornhill (founder member)
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 Bothers Music ‘Forever Young’ music competition. Besides being a co-founder of the Doppler Effect duo, Mark performed as a solo artist, as well as in a duo and in 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.
Murray Haysom (honorary member)
Murray Haysom was a key member of the well-loved Tanglewood Rock Band for 22 years. Originally called TOTS (Two Old Tarts), the name changed in 2005 to Tanglewood Rock Band and virtually became the ‘house band’ for the Lookout Deck restaurant in Hout Bay.
In 2020, Murray joined Doppler Effect to replace Mark Badham-Thornhill, who had moved to the UK. Murray was the perfect fit for Mark. 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.