ARNO UNPLUGGED

Arno Carstens and Albert Frost promise to kick off 2009 with a band at the Barnyard.

One of South Africa’s most revered vocalists, Arno Carstens is back home for a brief visit from London, and will starting 2009 off with a bang at The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway when he performs two shows on January 21 and 22.

After sold-out performances at the mall venue for the last two years, Arno will return with Albert Frost in an unplugged show. These two stand-out performers produce a show that showcases Albert’s extraordinary guitar-playing skills and Arno’s powerful voice, and audiences can expect to hear all of their favourite Arno Carsten’s hits.

Arno has performed for 12 years as the lead singer of the celebrated rock band The Springbok Nude Girls, and has been working as a solo artist for the last six years. Last year he signed an international management deal with UK based agency Solo. He is currently represented by John Giddings (who works with artists ranging from The Rolling Stones, to David Bowie, U2 and Madonna), and Arno has been touring the UK summer festival circuit.

During his career as the lead singer of The Springbok Nude Girls, and subsequently as a solo artist, Arno Carstens has released eight albums; achieved four times platinum in CD sales; had nine number one hit singles; won five South African Music Awards (four for Best Rock Album and one for Best Adult Contemporary Album); and has toured internationally eight times. He has also shared the stage with the likes of INXS, The Beastie Boys, Lenny Kravitz, The Cult, Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, REM and Metallica.

Arno is undoubtedly one of the busiest live artists in South Africa, and his years of experience have given him a supreme self-confidence and ability to communicate his music via his live performances.

Another Universe, Arno’s first solo album, was released in September 2003. As one of the most anticipated solo projects in South African music history, it did not disappoint, becoming the biggest selling South African English rock album this side of the millennium. The album has been lauded in South Africa as a masterpiece, going gold and winning a SAMA Award within the first six months of being released. Another Universe is still selling well three years after its release and is approaching the platinum mark in sales.

Arno’s second solo album, The Hello Goodbye Boys, was released in September 2005. It has the same foundations that Another Universe, had the same songwriter (Arno) and the same band (New Porn). But there is definite growth, both lyrically and musically, in this album. It’s a powerful album, defined very clearly by Arno’s unique voice and his creative ability when it comes to writing music.

Produced by well-known South African studio maestro Brian O’ Shea (Seether), The Hello Goodbye Boys is without a doubt Arno’s finest musical work to date. The first single Hole Heart charted very well on most South African radio stations, reaching number one on the 5fm Top 40. The second single, Feel It, also enjoyed countrywide chart success. The Hello Goodbye Boys was nominated for five South African Music Awards – Best Rock Album, Best Adult Contemporary Album: English (which he subsequently won), Best Producer, Best Male and Most Popular Artist.

The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway has become a hugely popular live-music venue with South Africa’s top performers, with sold-out runs from Prime Circle (who will be performing one show only the following night: January 23), Watershed and The Parlotones.

Tickets R140 and seating will be as for normal shows, with no standing room. Phone The Barnyard Theatre on 031 566 3045 for bookings or e-mail gateway@barnayrdtheatre.co.za for enquiries and further details.