Durban is set to be taken by storm on October
28, when six of South Africa’s most highly acclaimed guitarists take to The
Barnyard Theatre at Gateway’s stage in Riders
From The Storm, after a sold-out performance at the venue in April this
year.
Riders
From The Storm is an initiative undertaken by rock
guitarist Mel Botes (wearing his producer’s cap), who is renowned for his craftsmanship
on the electric guitar, his interpretations of legendary rock classics, his
original compositions and more recently his classical repertoire. It is
directed by his collaborator on numerous other productions, Richard H
Nosworthy.
The cracker line-up of guitarists for the
show at The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway has again been confirmed: Robin Auld,
Piet Botha, Mel Botes, Albert Frost, Valiant Swart and Nathan Smith.
The brief to these musicians was simple -
each should contribute three compositions to the group’s performance in which
that particular musician plays the lead guitar to accompaniment from the band,
and sometimes other members of the line-up. They were given a choice of doing
two original or two classic rock tunes. Furthermore, all the guitarists
contribute to four or five numbers where they all play together.
“The concept was born out of similar
projects undertaken by international rock legends such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe
Satriani and Steve Vai. Locally, we have also had unprecedented success with
the acoustic band 6 Snare, in which we have combined six of the most popular
Afrikaans folk musicians into one group, roughly following the same recipe used
by the international super-group The Travelling Wilburys. Joining six of the
most prolific electric guitar players into one rock super group was a logical
next step,” says Botes.
The show was first staged on February 20 2012
at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria. The band members were Mel Botes, Piet
Botha, Albert Frost, Mauritz Lotz and Valiant Swart. Nathan Smith was the
mystery guest and sixth member. The current line-up needs little introduction.
Botes himself is an accomplished guitarist,
and popular shows featuring his talents have included the sell-out Crazy Diamond - A Tribute To Pink Floyd,
Sultans Of Swing - A Tribute To Dire Straits, and his own original
masterpiece David’s Confession - About
Time, Chapter II.
Robin Auld is an award-winning artist with
an international CV spanning 20 albums. He has performed and recorded in New
York, London, Glasgow, Nashville, California; and has played events like Womad,
the SA National Arts Festival, Belladrum Tartan Hearts, Gold Coast Oceanfest
and Cambridge Folk Festival.
Piet Botha is acknowledged as one of the
pioneers of South African rock and has become a legend in his own time as front
man of the everlasting rock outfit Jack Hammer, as well as recording a host of
solo Afrikaans and English rock works.
Nathan Smith is recognised as the top
session guitarist in South Africa and has been the most productive guitarist in
South African rock music for years, playing with all of the great musicians of
our time.
Both Frost and Swart are legendary blues
players who have built up fan bases that follow them religiously. The show is
something seldom seen before on South African stages - a guitar super-group of
earth-shattering proportions!
Tickets R150 pp. Bookings and enquiries
through The Barnyard Theatre on 031 566 3045 or visit www.barnyardtheatres.co.za/gateway.
For further information e-mail gateway@barnyardtheatres.co.za
or www.facebook.com/gatewaybarnyard.
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