(Pic: Liezel Pieters)
Barnyard Theatre offers a rocking ride down the American highways.
Route 66 promises audiences a rocking ride down the America’s highways during its run at the The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway, merging together acoustic rock, West Coast and country rock into one showstopper.
It is America’s most fabled highway and, between 1927 and 1985, stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles. A John Steinbeck novel, television show, several movies and songs helped transform the stretch into an international symbol of American wanderlust. Route 66 is seen as a symbol of adventure, freedom, rebellion, travel and rock ‘n roll and the 1946 song Get Your Kicks On Route 66, a musical travelogue of a journey along the highway, has been recorded by more than 200 singers in several languages.
Route 66 is made up of various roads, and first up we journey down Highway 61 to Nashville, Tennessee where we experience the country sounds of the likes of Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Janis Joplin and John Denver.
We then hit the road again on Highway 101 which takes us to California to hear the West Coast rock sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, The Travelling Wilburys and Shania Twain, before moving on to the East Coast with the sounds of Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and Bon Jovi.
On this musical journey audiences can expect to sing, clap or dance along to Listen To The Music, Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Grandma’s Feather Bed, American Pie, Living On A Prayer, Islands In The Stream, Knocking On Heaven’s Door and Hotel California among others.
Route 66 features Clinton Philander on lead vocals – he is your cowboy who rides a steel horse down the musical highway! Also featured on vocals are Liezel Pieters, Ruan Geldenhys and Kieran O’Brien who cover everything from Dolly Parton to Kid Rock! Backed by a six–piece band consisting of Andy Murray (guitar and vocals), Sez Adamson (guitar and pedal steel), Calli Thomson (keyboards), Fresh (bass guitar), PW van der Walt (drums) and Jane Bailey (violin), Route 66 promises the perfect party to rock your blues away!
From the highlands of Kentucky to the cotton fields of Oklahoma, this talented 11-piece cast will present a wide range of instrumentation, featuring fiddle, steel guitar, electric guitar, the mandolin and the banjo. The show also features line dancing/
Route 66 runs until July 26. Tickets R115 pp Wednesday to Saturday (R80pp discounted specials Tuesday night and Sunday matinees). Bookings and enquiries to The Barnyard Theatre on 031 566 3045, e-mail gateway@barnyardtheatres.co.za or visit www.barnyardtheatres.co.za for more information.