Current page: Concert Diary 2009
Current page: Concert Diary 2009
This is a case of so far so good. Very good in fact. Tom and I left Manchester Airport on September the 4th with some trepidation knowing what we were going to do would be good but, just how good would be an unknown quantity. A case of turning back the pages.
On to the first stop, our old stamping ground, Abu Dhabi. Good to smell the scent of the sand again. Then on down to Jo'burg. Paul met us in and we spent the first 8 days with the wonderful Culwicks.
4 days in the Kruger Park and in the still wild part of Africa, we saw Elephant; Hippos; Crocodiles; Wildebeeste; every kind of buck including Kudu and finally a lion kill some 15 yards away.
Back to Jo'burg, the noise disconcerting after the peace of the park. Horseriding on Saturday morning then on the 15th down by overnight train to Port Elizabeth. The wonderful Ulrich Hoffmann met us in and I then find, NO VOICE. Laryngitis. Limped through the first gig at East London, but the crowd loved it. Thank heaven.
Next Port Alfred and a tad noisy but full of characters like Patrice the Belgian owner. Phenomenal B&B's where ever we went. Toni's place in Port Elizabeth was a triumph. Managed to sing and we sold out two shows for the one evening. Stories and songs and the two cooking on gas. 'Fields of Eden', and 'Lord' knocking them out. On through breathtaking country to Knysna and Jeffrey's wonderful B&B 'Bamboo'.
To George and we had sold out the Arts Theatre. Checked out the Cango Caves and a crocodile park en route and helped a large tortoise off the road out of the way of oncoming traffic. We also came over the Montagu Pass. The concert superb. Red did the stage. John the sound, and Ian the hall. Great guys and Beatrice had done a phenominal job on PR. Just goes to show.
Up early and flew down to the Cape. Elsa Hoffmann met us in and we went of with new friend Kevin to Stellenbosch. Sold out. Eugene did the sound and good to see old frinds Gill and Gavin again. The twin guitar sound and Tom's lovely 'Older man in Amsterdam' going down a storm.
Tonight is Muizenberg and that is sold out too... Onwards...
Chris. Cape Town 24th September, 2009.
Canterbury Festival 2009, Canada
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Click to see part two of Chris' tour diary for the 2009 South African tour
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