(Brian Finch)
One of South
Africa’s most seasoned and respected musicians, Brian Finch, will showcase 40 years
of song when he treats Durban audiences to one show only on December 23 at the
Barnyard Theatre at Gateway.
The
legendary country-rock musician, who has been performing professionally since
1968, had his first regular gigs at the old Al Fresco, the Lonsdale and Four
Seasons in Durban. After performing in these Durban venues in the late 1960’s,
Finch made a name for himself at the Troubadour and Nite Beat venues in
Johannesburg, while also taking part in folk festivals that were enormously
popular at the time. He also developed a popular professional partnership with
the late Kenny E Henson - “I met Kenny in Durban in 1970, when he was
performing with Lee Men Limited, and I was still doing folk gigs. We performed
as Finch & Henson from 1970 until 1981 – and then got together for various
concerts, right up until he passed.”
Career
highs, he says, were being a support act for Richie Havens in Cape Town,
meeting Cat Stevens, and having Durban’s Dave Marks believe in him enough to
co-produce (with the great Mutt Lange) his first album, Bringing Back the Good Times, which was released in 1974. “That
album is still in demand on sale at gigs and on iTunes.” A self-taught
guitarist and harmonica player, Finch owns four guitars – a Dobro, a Fender
Strat, an Ovation and a Takamine acoustic.
Home for
Brian these days is Prince Albert in the Karoo, where he has built a stone
house he shares with his wife of 40 years, Marion-ann. “When not travelling to
gigs, we run our own home theatre and present ‘up close and personal’ concerts
with dinner cooked by me,’’ he says. “We are also involved with an events venue
called Mustang Sally’s in Prince Albert, and put on music concerts there. We
have successfully hosted Wendy Oldfield, Tigger Reunert and Radio Kalahari
Orkes Band to sold-out audiences”.
Brian is currently
working on his 11th solo album, and will perform his favourites and
fan favourites from his 10 albums, as well as new material. He will be appear
at The Barnyard Theatre with Dan Chiorboli on percussion, Anton Cawthorn-Blazeby
on violin and Wayne Coughlan on steel guitar. He has also managed to obtain his
entire CD collection, spanning 40 years of music in the industry, which will be
available on the night.
Tickets R100 and seating will be as for normal shows, with
no standing room. The theatre will open at 18h30 and
the show will start at 20h00. For bookings and enquiries, phone The Barnyard
Theatre on 031 566 3045 or visit www.barnyardtheatres.co.za/gateway
For
further information e-mail gateway@barnyardtheatres.co.za, or visit www.facebook.com/gatewaybarnyard and www.brianfinch.co.za
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