Tag Archive for 'tour'

A Tour That Dreams Are Made Of

Published on December 4, 2011 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Sunset, R44 South

This was my eleventh tour to Cape Town and it still surprises me. This city has totally stolen my heart. The thing about tours to Cape Town is that it doesn’t seem to matter how hard I’m working, it never really feels like work in the true sense of the word.

Kicking off a tour in Cape Town by playing my dream gig in my dream venue ensured that this was going to be the most epic tour thus far (you can read about that here if you haven’t already). It also meant that any gigs I’d booked at venues that didn’t measure up would hit harder than they usually do. I always book a few gigs on these tours that pay a guarantee to ensure that I can cover the cost of the tour, but they are predominantly “background music” gigs, not shows, and they do nothing for my reputation and even less for my emotional well-being, so this is going to have to change. I’m tired of compromising my worth.

But it’s been an epic six weeks that I can’t truly put into words to fully capture the magic of it all. I really do love this crazy intense life, and for all its toil, I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I made some great contacts and rad friends; played in some beautiful spaces to audiences who wanted to listen and heard inspiring stories from people who heard their truth in my songs. I launched an album in my dream venue, was treated like a Rockstar, got play listed on radio and sold out of album stock at a show; and was thoroughly spoilt by Kawai with a new stage piano which is even better than the last one (didn’t think that was possible!). I drove beautiful roads like the R44 south from Somerset West to the Overberg (epic view!); went 4×4ing on the Atlantis Dunes; climbed the Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie and climbed into the light (don’t tell the keeper!); was charged by a seal during a run on Blouberg Beach (not something everyone can say!); jumped around on old vintage cars at the Wijnland Auto Museum (I heart vintage cars); experienced my first casting for an ad; shot my first music video; watched Tori Amos rocking two pianos simultaneously and finally saw Yoav’s live set. I watched the sun set over the sea after running into the wind on numerous occasions; and I even managed to take a day off somewhere in the middle and did absolutely nothing for an entire day… and I get to dream a little bigger for what comes next, with thanks to a few people who are making a difference, simply by listening and believing. I’m living a dream. Thank you.

Crazy Beautiful Dream

Published on October 26, 2011 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

It has begun. Fight A New Day is officially released to the world on Monday – Halloween – and the big Cape Town launch celebration in my dream space, The Fugard Theatre Studio, is next weekend – yes, Guy Fawkes (my timing is completely unintentionally but ridiculously cool, I’m just saying).

I’ve been prepping for this for months, working solidly through the night the past few weeks to make sure that everything goes off perfectly, on time, as it should… and then I packed my car and hit the road for the 7 week promo tour that lies ahead, starting off in Gauteng…

I drove the 600km to Joburg feeling like a kid before Christmas. Even that long, straight road that I’ve driven countless times looked shiny and new. It’s almost sickening how chipper and excited I am. Hearing that the first single from the album received its first confirmed playlisting made the start to this tour rock even more than it already does. I have never worked so hard and dreamed so big, and I’m so ridiculously amped to watch this chapter unfold.

This week the printer delivers the final printed product!! The bubbly is chilling in anticipation… As soon as that box arrives, I send out local and international pre-orders and drop off stock with the distributor for retail stores countrywide. Worldwide digital distribution through iTunes and Nokia is prepped and ready to go. Details for the launch in Cape Town are coming together beautifully with a few media interviews coming up this week, VIP launch invites to finalise, last minute press releases and media kits to prepare, a setlist to write, a set design to envision, and a guitarist to rehearse with…. oh, and another 1,900km to drive.

It’s all a beautifully epic blend of crazy that I proudly call my dream. And it’s totally happening to me.

A Break From Intense (NAF2011)

Published on July 1, 2011 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

A trip to PE mid-intensity was the best idea I’ve ever had. The last week has been intense and epic (and the festival hadn’t even started yet!). With all the rehearsals, collaborations, pre-festival planning and poster-putting that has been going down, an overnight trip away from it all was just what I needed. It was a great idea getting to Grahamstown a week early (aside from the necessary rehearsals for Machitún) because I feel a lot more prepared for the week ahead. It’s also been quite nice to watch the town slowly come to life as more and more colourful posters fill the spaces and more artists and festinos start bustling in.

I’ve been fortunate enough to avoid any car trouble on the pretty extensive touring I’ve done over the past two years, so I guess it was inevitable that at some stage my car would have something to say about it all – or “not say” in this case as she wouldn’t start on departure for Port Elizabeth. Thankfully it was nothing major – just time for a new battery…

I know that in some cultures rain is a blessing, and I do like to count my blessings, although I can’t help but wonder what the deal is with my gigs in PE. It rains. Every. Single. Time. Wrapped up in a snug cocoon of cosy blankets while the wind and rain beat at the windows, I did manage to catch up on some admin that desperately needed some focussed attention before heading to the gig at Toni’s Place, the first of twenty shows on my “Winter Tour of Epic Proportions”. The venue was packed with an attentive audience who made my job super easy. It’s an absolute pleasure playing for an audience that really want to listen, and having been so caught up in music rehearsals for Machitún the last few days, a little pre-festival warm up show of sorts was perfectly timed. A huge thank you to Four Winds Folk Club for hosting the night and high fives to the rad lineup of artists who shared the stage!

Now it’s back to fest…

The Winding Road

Published on May 10, 2011 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .
 
Roadtrip!

I freaking love my job. I get in my car, drive across the country, stop over in these ridiculously cool places, meet cool people and play music. What’s not to love…? Okay, that’s a loaded question, so let’s say, “for the most part, what’s not to love…?”  

The tour I’ve just completed included 14 shows, covering a total of 5,600km from Durban to Cape Town and back, with a few out-of-the-way stops in between. I’m always sure to book at least 2 weeks in Cape Town itself because… well, you don’t really need an excuse, it’s Cape Town. The route there and back though is always pretty intense and generally involves driving almost every day and playing almost every night, which is not exactly the brightest idea, but despite promising not to do it to myself again, I keep doing it. Over and over and over and over again.             

"The Pipes" - Cango Caves

The tour kicked off with a show in East London which, as always, was loads of fun despite following directly after a 10 hour drive that should have only taken 7! Another 7 hour drive to Knysna the following day and an early show overlooking the bay that evening meant that I slept through most of day #3 (as expected) but did manage to enjoy a milkshake at the Heads before hitting Oudtshoorn for the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees for 2 days. I was so excited about being included on the KKNK lineup but unfortunately my set was booked in… an Afrikaans beer garden. Picture it: the (very) English pianist singing honest heartfelt songs in an Afrikaans beer garden sans backing track. Ja. Need I say more? In fact, the first thing the sound guy asked me was “where’s your backing track?” I kid you not. I did manage to get a note out in the first chamber of the Cango Caves though, so it’s all good (talk about taking the music underground), although I was very bummed to hear that they don’t host concerts there anymore… that would’ve been ridiculously cool.                 

V&A Amphitheatre (Pic by Jean Pierre Maritz)

You can diss the Capetonians as much as you like for their obsession with that rock, but there is something entirely satisfying when she comes into view after a crazy week on the road. After 4 shows, 1,980km and 5 days of intensity, Cape Town was, as always, a very welcome sight. I got some much-needed time in at T-Time Studio wrapping up mixes for the new album and the shows were pretty cool for the most part, with the highlight being a late afternoon performance at the V&A Amphitheatre at the Waterfront. A perfect Cape Town day and a rocking rad audience. At one of my Cape Town shows I chatted to a couple who’d had their first date at one of my shows last year and are now engaged. That made me smile.         

It took me 7 shows, 2,600km and 10 days to get back to Durban because the road back was a winding one, through places I’d never even heard of, let alone been to – one of the reasons I freaking love my job! Napier was first on that mystery list and my show at Suntouched Inn wins the credit as best show of the tour – the raddest hosts, the coolest audience and the best pizza! This town is so small that if there wasn’t a stop street on the main road, you would probably miss it entirely, but do yourself a favour. Seriously. It’s hard to beat an unexpected sold out show in the middle of nowhere and I have to admit that the rest of the tour just didn’t quite live up to that awesomeness, but the show in Greyton was nice enough and the town is beautiful and also definitely worth a visit. The Overberg is a crazy cool area full of interesting places and I can’t wait to discover more of it. The coolest thing about this tour was that I got to visit quite a few new places and I managed to get in at least one day of touristy sightseeing in Cape Agulhas. I climbed the L’Agulhas Lighthouse and stood at the most southern tip of Africa where the two oceans meet. I took a photo of the rock. Riveting stuff.        

Where the two oceans meet...

I also had a late booking for a show in Hogsback. Whenever I mentioned that I was going to Hogsback, people responded with this sparkle in their eye, like I was visiting the most magical place on earth and I have to say it comes pretty damn close so I’m not surprised that it’s credited as the landscape inspiration for Lord of the Rings. It feels as though you’ve stepped into another world entirely and is honestly one of the most surprising places I’ve ever been to. Aside from the beauty, I also didn’t expect it to be 6°C and will leave the resulting expletives to your imagination. Incredibly beautiful place you absolutely have to visit, preferably not alone like I did and preferably not for just one night. Take your hiking boots, and don’t forget your winter warmers!                 

Northern Drakensburg

The tour ended with 2 performances at the Smoking Dragon Festival in the Northern Drakensburg alongside an incredible line-up of South African female artists. A great concept that has limitless potential and I’m looking forward to seeing this new festival grow. As a Durban girl, I don’t need much convincing to visit this part of the country and it was fitting to end the tour in such a grand landscape.                 

And another tour comes to an end. A huge thank you to everyone who had a hand in making it a successful one, my hosts for their kindness and to the various audiences, big and small, thank you for listening. As with life of the road, I learnt a lot on this one although I’ve come home with more questions than answers, but as I settle back into Durbs-by-the-Sea for a few weeks and reflect over the past month, for the most part, the good makes up for the bad and there is always something that makes it all worthwhile. I drove new roads and visited new places. I (finally) caught my first Cape Town sunset from the top of Signal Hill. I became part of the story of how two lovers met. I dodged a cold that could’ve ruined it all. I ate too much pizza. I stayed in the smallest town I’ve ever stayed in. I sold out a show in the middle of nowhere and fell in love with a town I’d never heard of. I got stuck in a flock of sheep for what seemed like forever after sleeping through my alarm and hitting the road later than I should have. I discovered new artists that are becoming all-time favourites. I stood at the foot of Africa between the two oceans just to say that I’d done it. I met beautiful new people that I now call friends and I saw old friends that I’m lucky enough to see on a regular basis. Because I have the best job in the world. For the most part.

Going nowhere slowly...

Cheetah Encounter

Published on August 28, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Joseph, the Cheetah

I spend a lot of time on tour in Cape Town but haven’t really spent much of that time exploring the incredible sights. On my last tour I finally managed to get to the Old Biscuit Mill which I hope to make a tradition on many tours to come – a great way to spend a Saturday morning, and so very “Capetonian”. On a holiday three years ago (probably the last time I had a holiday) I saw the penguins and seals, caught the whales off the coast on a very lucky drive down the peninsula, and took pics of those famous coloured huts on Muizenberg beach. So today being the last day of my current tour, I decided it was time to catch up on some exploration… but this time, something very special!

My sister took the day off from work and we set off for Moyo at Spier Wine Estate, just outside Stellenbosch to meet Joseph, a cheetah! I’ve seen a few pics scattered on the web of friends and family who’ve experienced this. It truly is quite incredible and I highly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity. Half way through my encounter with Joseph he started purring, and I had to double check with the trainer at my side that it was, in fact, purring and not growling because it was loud and intense. Apparently Joseph is quite the superstar, having appeared on the silver screen and on more stages than I have! I’m thinking of featuring his intense purr on one of the tracks on my next album so that I have an excuse to invite him on stage… now that would be rock ‘n roll!

We took a walk around the Outreach facilities at Spier afterwards to meet a few other characters on the premises including Baggins the serval, Malaika the caracal, Ntombi and Moya the black-backed jackals, and two very hyperactive meerkats named Sebastian and Minki. If you’re ever in the area, check out Cheetah Outreach, it’s absolutely well worth the visit.

The Tantrum Dance

Published on August 7, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

I’m in the small, out-of-the-way town of Newcastle in northern KZN for two shows this weekend, before heading up to Joburg. When I mention playing shows in Newcastle, I generally get the same surprised response from people, but to be honest, it’s one of the smaller towns in SA that I most look forward to visiting. There’s a music club held once a month at a bar called Melo’s which I played at last night, and this being my second visit, I was prepped and ready for another great night enjoying the company of some great people, doing what I love.

It’s not often that I crumble on stage. In fact, I’m pretty good at hiding my emotions (when necessary) when I’m up there in the bright lights. Last night, however, my cool, calm and collected persona was challenged by what I now refer to as The Tantrum Dance. My music, especially when I’m playing solo, is definitely not of the get-up-and-dance variety, and I have no issues with that. My focus is lyrics, so I prefer people to sit and listen and process what I’m singing, but that’s not to say I don’t appreciate it when someone feels the beat, and last night, someone certainly did.

I admire people who have no inhibitions – those people you find yourself frowning at because they’re the only one on the dance floor, letting themselves go as if no one is watching. It’s refreshing and not something you see very often, unless you live in a small town where true characters abound. From the start of my set, this guy felt every note, so much so that I could see other people in the venue getting a bit uncomfortable, and almost embarrassed. But half way through my set, when I started to play “Oh Boy”, my cool, calm and collected self went out the window. As I started the first chorus, his previously moderate (by comparison), almost expressionistic movements, turned into jumping that I can only describe as a toddler’s tantrum, and that was it for me. I couldn’t keep a straight face anymore and launched into uncontrollable laughter. I have never been so entertained by someone in an audience before and I just couldn’t control myself anymore.

The great thing about this kind of thing happening at a show is that it changes the connection with an audience and relaxes them into a different vibe. When I was called back for an encore, I decided to replay “Oh Boy” because I couldn’t finish it the first time round, but obviously he came back for round two as well. The audience only fully realised on a second listen how suited the lyrics were to the additional entertainment, which made for even more hilarity, and I barely managed to maintain until the end of the song. I don’t know that I will ever be able to play that song again without thinking back to that little out-of-the-way show in Newcastle. Perhaps you had to be there.

Addicted To The Road

Published on July 29, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

The Open Road

It’s a week before I ride off into the sunset on the next edition of tours, and I’m chomping at the bit to get back on the road. I’ve realised over the past few weeks at home that I am, in fact, addicted to touring. It’s crawled under my skin and gripped my being entirely. I won’t lie, the last year of touring has not always been the easiest ride, but it’s certainly been a life-changing and thoroughly rad experience.

When I was at ‘varsity, I always had this urge to get in my car and just drive somewhere… anywhere… everywhere… just away. It was a ridiculous thought at the time because I was far too responsible and guarded in my early 20s, but I remembered this old craving a few months ago and realised that I’ve been living that desire wholeheartedly. The concept isn’t as whimsical anymore, and certainly involves none of the “running away” motivation that I had back then, but the basic format is the same.

Coming home after a long period on the road is a beautiful thing, and I’ve realised over the past year how much I love the place I call home. Things I’ve so often taken for granted take on a whole new meaning when I arrive back in my own space, sleep in my own bed, get back into some semblance of a routine that allows a certain degree of normality to set back in, and spend time with my family and friends who I miss so much when I’m away. Durban is exceptionally gorgeous in winter, so over the past few months especially, my appreciation for my hometown has grown tenfold as I’ve returned from the “real winters” of Joburg, Cape Town and Grahamstown. There aren’t many venues to choose from in Durban so I only play here every few months or so between tours, but this also means that I get to rest my voice a bit, regroup and focus on writing.

There is one thing about being home, however, that I don’t much care for. As a self-managed musician, I am my own booking agent, which is certainly one of the most essential parts of this job in that it secures the work, therefore allowing me to play music in the first place, but it is my least favourite role. Scheduling dates at the right venues along planned routes to fit just right into a period of time that doesn’t clash with other big events or exams or rugby matches… not fun. But necessary. And I get that. At the end of the day, I don’t think it matters what you’re doing, there is always going to be something about your job that you don’t really like, and unless you give that job to someone else, you’ve just got to get on with it. So that’s what I do when I’m home – I book the next tour, plan the next route, find more venues, schedule more dates, and try my best not to wish the days away to the next epic adventure.

Essentially, it’s all part of the ride and it will get easier over time, but I can’t hide my excitement as the next tour fast approaches because that is, after all, why I do what I do.

A Year In The Making

Published on June 1, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

In studio recording S T I L L - December 2008

Hey Rockstars,

So, a year in the making and probably about time I started ranting and raving like the rest of the them… Welcome to musings of a professional dreamer, an account of life on the road from here to there, and all the spaces inbetween.

It is one year since I took the plunge and decided to do this music thing fulltime, and looking back over the past year I cannot believe where I stand now in comparison to those daunting days not so long ago. I’ve been so happy on the open roads of this beautiful country over the past 12 months, and cannot describe the intense satisfaction that comes from living this dream. As much as I regret not making the commitment sooner, I now know that everything leading up to this was a necessary part of the ride that got me here.

I’m home in Durban for three weeks after spending the most part of the last 3 months on the road, crisscrossing South Africa from Durban to Johannesburg and Pretoria, Bloemfontein to Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, and all the breathtaking spaces in between. Apart from playing some awesome venues with some radical local artists and meeting some super cool new faces along the way, a few highlights and interesting moments in May included breakfast at the Old Biscuit Mill in Cape Town (a must do); learning to make a fire out of pure necessity; meeting the man responsible for the first album I ever bought (James Stewart from The Usual); attending my first live stand-up comedy show (the comedy bug has bitten!); finalising some awesome partnerships for the future of my music; a very unexpected psychic reading from an audience member after a show that totally caught me off guard; some beautiful words by Fiona Gordon from Artslink, who reviewed the last Cape Town show (thank you); and falling in love with a piano named Kawai that I hope to own in the not-too-distant future. The first print of the album also sold out (with the second already in circulation), and I have to send a huge shout out to everyone for their support. Your support is my independence, and I truly cannot thank you all enough for making this dream a beautiful reality. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The countdown has now begun for my debut at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am! The Durban girl is certain to experience her coldest winter yet, but the immense programme of awesome shows on offer will be my refuge, and performing 12 shows of my own is sure to keep me out of trouble. I’m setting up a few more major city tours following the festival as well, and I’m very excited for what’s still to come…

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the awesome support over the past year. I can’t wait to see what the next one brings… I’ll see you on the road, onstage, or online in some shape or form soon.

“Take every chance you can possibly take. Chase every dream you have ever believed in. Treat every moment as if it’s the last. What are you waiting for? Just believe.” Believe, from the forthcoming album by Shannon Hope (as soon as she finds the money to make it…)

Love & Rockets,

Shannon H