…..SoSuterBill…..

……BY BILLY SUTER……

A BAND new to Durban’s Rhumbelow Theatre circuit will soon be entertaining at the theatre’s Umbilo venue, in Cunningham Road – paying tribute to the music and memories of Cliff Richard and The Shadows.

Even better news is that we have four tickets to give away to attend the  7.30pm performance on Saturday, February 15. For competition entry details see the end of this post.

The band is Gauteng’s The Shadows Experience, and it will also perform its tribute show, Cliff and The Shadow Tribute Concert Tour, at 7.30pm on Friday, February 14, and 2pm on Sunday, February 16.

There can be little doubt as to the huge impact Cliff Richard and The Shadows had, and the enormous contribution they made to the world of rock and pop during the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s. It could possibly be summed up in the words of Shadows guitarist Hank Marvin, when he spoke out before the Cliff and The Shadows Final Reunion Concert at London’s O2 Arena in 2009, when he said: “Move It was the first ‘real’ British rock and roll song … and we still love playing it!” Move It was recorded and released in 1959.

The Shadows Experience concert tour is, to a large extent, based on the Cliff and The Shadows Final Reunion Concert of 2009 in London, which covered most of the biggest hits and most famous music by these artists, both vocal and instrumental.

The Shadows Experience band was formed two years ago in Johannesburg. Known for their versatility, all members of the band are fully professional in their own right and each have performed in numerous bands and venues.

The band recently took the new show to the Western Cape, where it performed at venues in Somerset West, Hout Bay, Tiger Valley Barnyard Theatre, Muizenberg, Stellenbosch and Grand West Sun in Goodwood. This was followed by an open-air “Music in the Park” performance at Silver Lakes Golf and Wildlife Estate in Pretoria, and several other venues.

The band features Rodney MacLeod on lead guitar and vocals. Having acquired his first guitar in the ’60s, Rodney pursued a career in music while being a property developer. He has performed countrywide and backed Crocodile Harris (of Give Me the Good News fame) as well as Zayn Adam of Pacific Express.

Lars Franzsen, on acoustic and rhythm guitar and vocals, went from playing the violin from third-grade to a school rock band during the ‘60s, to a worship leader from 1999 to 2012. He lead worship at the International Worship Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2006, and produced and released a praise and worship CD in 2008.

Lars is a co-founder of popular ’60s and ’70’s band, Legacy, and produced the very successful ‘Under African Skies’ Paul Simon Tribute Concert, in Pretoria in 2023. Apart from music, Lars is also a professional architect, helicopter pilot, cartoonist and published author of short stories.

Guido Mol, the band’s bassist, started playing Spanish guitar in 1964, at the age of eight, in Belgium.The Shadows was the band that inspired him to play guitar. He studied music for three years, playing six-string electric and acoustic guitar, and 4-and 5-string bass guitar, and has played in various big‐bands, and rock and blues bands.

In 1982, Guido moved to South Africa and he is currently the President of the Shadows Club Northern Chapter, a club dedicated to playing only  music by The Shadows and Cliff Richard.

Peter Booysen, on keyboards and vocals, is originally from Springs, and is a singer, songwriter, recording artist and performer. He is also a worship leader who has had the shared staged with many noted gospel artists.  He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays with many artists and bands and regularly does solo, duo and band performances.

Drummer and percussionist Robert Domijan has gigged and recorded professionally, locally and internationally, for more than 40 years. He has collaborated with many artists while exploring various genres, including jazz, pop, rock, blues and country.

Tickets for the Rhumbelow Theatre performances cost R200 each and booking is via Webtickets or by emailing roland@stansell.co.za

Seating is at tables and picnic baskets are permitted, but all beverages must be bought at the theatre pub. Light meals are also on sale at the theatre.  Limited secure parking is available.

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WIN SHOW TICKETS… WIN SHOW TICKETS… WIN SHOW TICKETS

Care to put yourself in line to be the winner of FOUR TICKETS to the 7.30pm, Saturday, February 15, performance of Cliff and The Shadow Tribute Concert Tour, at Durban’s Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo?

You simply have to be a follower of the SoSuterBill site to win.  At no cost.

If you are not already a follower, click on the word ‘…..SoSuterBill…..’ that appears under Billy Suter’s face on the red curtain at the top of this post. Next, scroll down a little and leave your email address in the blank space alongside the ‘Subscribe Free’ banner. You will then be a follower, and receive email notification whenever a new story is filed on the site.

Once you have subscribed (there is no cost), send your NAME and PHONE NUMBER via email (NOT THIS SITE’S CONTACT FORM) to sosuterbill@gmail.com and place the words ‘SHADOWS TRIBUTE GIVEAWAY’ in the subject field. 

Note that the competition closes at 6pm on Wednesday, January 29, and the winner of the four tickets will be contacted soon after. His/her name will be posted in this spot thereafter. (The lucky winner of four tickets is Dhesi Naicker).

Also note that tickets may not be exchanged for another performance and that the prize is for tickets only (not travel and/or accommodation should this prove necessary).

NOTE: PLEASE READ ENTRY DETAILS CAREFULLY AS SOME PEOPLE ARE ENTERING COMPETITIONS INCORRECTLY.

ALSO NOTE THAT ONLY ONE ENTRY PER SUBSCRIBER WILL BE CONSIDERED.

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