(Abbo Hall, Chris Melling & Brian
Bedingfield. In front: Erin Fourie & Grace Botha)
Two
iconic female singer/songwriters are the focus of Tracy & Joan, the latest music show presented by Just Theatre
at the Hexagon Dive in Pietermaritzburg and later at The Knoll Historic Guest
Farm in Hilton.
Tracy
Chapman and Joan Armatrading are celebrated by singers Erin Fourie and Grace
Botha. This marks the first collaboration between these two popular Midlands
performers who have chosen to bring to the stage a tribute to two very
different, yet remarkably complimentary musicians.
Accompanied
by well-known musicians, Brian Bedingfield (who spearheaded the project), Abbo
Hall, and Chris Melling, the show brings together the best of both artists’
songs, with some lesser-known numbers in the mix. Many will remember
Armatrading’s All the Way from America,
Somebody who Loves You, Opportunity, and The Weakness in Me. Chapman’s famous numbers such as Fast Car, Talkin’ Bout a Revolution, Give Me
One Reason, are included, along with Baby
Can I Hold You, and many more.
The
two performers’ unique voices blend beautifully as they interpret some
memorable songs in a show that combines musical artistry with legendary
songwriting.
Erin
Fourie has become one of KZN’s most popular performers, both at local music
venues and in theatres. A former Idols
top 7, she has a vocal and stylistic range that encompasses most genres from
Rock to Jazz, with Musical Theatre thrown in. She has even been known to sing
Country! A regular at the Hilton Arts Festival, Fourie has had sold out shows
for the last three years.
Grace
Botha is a jazz musician who enjoys the stage and shares her renditions of
well-known songs while usually accompanying herself on piano or guitar. She
studied jazz formally at Howard College and amalgamates her love for jazz, pop,
folk and soul. She is one-half of the duo Sachet SA, has sung with Seb
Goldswain, opened for Jason Hartman's home town gig and sings regularly at
weddings, local restaurants and events where she feels most at home.
Brian
Bedingfield is featured on acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin and bass. He
has been involved in local music since the very beginnings of the Folk Club at
the Polo Tavern in 1980. He is a founder member of that very Maritzburg of
institutions, The Hairy Legged Lentil Eaters, which have gone from busking at
Art in The Park to iconic festivals such as Splashy Fen, Southern Cross, White
Mountain and Hilton Arts.
Singer/songwriter
Abbo Hall has been learning to play guitar since age eight. After attaining a
Diploma in Fine Art in Durban, he collaborated with long-time friends Fuzzy
Roadstone and Nibs van der Spuy to form an acoustic guitar trio which became
the show-stopping festival band of the 90’s, Plagal Cadence. After moving to
the KZN Midlands he began jamming with the local musicians which led to a
variety of Howick-based bands that played a mix of World, Folk, Rock, Blues,
Reggae, Classical and Latino. These include bands Pan, Fan the Fire, The Chili
Pips and Geode. Two years ago, he joined Pan Latino as the bass player.
Chris
Melling, aka "The Baviaan", is a local Midlands session muso (drummer
and percussionist) who has performed and recorded with countless bands over the
years. He works full time as a sessionist and at Marshall Music Midlands
handling sales and repairs of all instruments and is also a well-known drum and
percussion teacher.
Tracy & Joan has performances on May 24
and 25 at the Hexagon Dive on the UKZN Pietermaritzburg campus in Golf Road (tables
seat 10) and on May 31 at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm in Hilton (tables seat
8).
Shows
at 19h00 for 19h30. Tickets R120. These are picnic evenings: bring food, but no
drinks as there is a cash bar. Bookings through justtheatrepmb@gmail.com
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