"RIDERS FROM THE STORM"
Atterbury Theatre, Lynnwood - 20 & 23 February - Book at Computicket!
This show is a phenomenon about to happen! It unites, for the first time ever, the most groundbreaking electric guitarists in South Africa's rock scene on one stage! The band consists of MEL BOTES, PIET BOTHA, DAN PATLANSKY, ALBERT FROST, MAURITZ LOTZ and a mystery player at every concert. The production will launch at the Atterbury Theatre on 20 February 2012, playing original and favourite rock classics! Watch this space for more information!
"VUUR SEISOENE" - TERUG OP DIE VERHOOG na Aardklop vrystelling in Oktober 2011 - Atterbury Teater, 31 Jan 2012! Bespreek by Computicket!
Die immergroen kitaarvirtuoso en rockmusikant, Mel Botes, het onlangs een van sy mees ambisieuse projekte geloods met die produksie “Vuur seisoene” by Aardklop 2011. Botes, een van ons land se mees produktiewe musikante, wat gehore steeds landwyd aan die gons het met sy vertonings “Crazy Diamond - A tribute to Pink Floyd”; “David’s Confession, About Time – Chapter II” en “Sultans of Swing - A tribute to Dire Straits”, het reeds vir ‘n geruime tyd sy bewondering uitgespreek vir die klassieke meesters en veral sy voorliefde vir Beethoven, ‘n persona waarmee hy sterk vereenselwig. Volgens Botes self was die produksie by Aardklop slegs ‘n voorsmakie van die hoogtes waartoe hy hierdie musikale verwerkings wil neem.
Die produksie bied alles wat ons geleer het om van hom te verwag: daardie kenmerkende klank van sy Fender kitaar, ‘n groep uitgelese musikante insluitend die pianiste Christel Steyn, Barry Steenkamp (‘n lid van die radio Kalahari Orkes) en Theuns Botha, tesame met watertand audiovisuele materiaal en hipnotiserende beligting.
Die produksie word in vier bedrywe aangebied waarvan die eerste een, getiteld “Onsterflike beminde” baseer is op die passie en die tragedie van die komponis Ludwig van Beethoven. Dit volg die verhaal terugskouend vanaf die dood van Beethoven na die groot werke wat hy gekomponeer het. Die onsterflike beminde is natuurlik die enigmatiese minnares waaroor daar al dikwels gespekuleer is. ‘n Ou musikale vriend van Botes, die rocklegende Piet Botha vertolk die rol van Beethoven op die klankbaan. Die tweede bedryf, getiteld “Die jaargetye” is baseer op die werk van Antonio Vivaldi en volg die metafoor van die lewe as seisoene, en hoe liefde en religie hierin voorkom. Botes het alreeds vir ‘n geruime tyd te kenne gegee dat hy graag hierdie musiek wou speel en doen dit nou vir die eerste keer voor ‘n gehoor. Die derde bedryf, getiteld “Die dekadente klein mannetjie” neem die produksie na ‘n nuwe dimensie deur die werk van Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart op te dis in ‘n speelse, verleidelike manier. Mozart word uitgebeeld as ‘n dekandente en diaboliese karakter wat dikwels onnutsig en humoristies te werk gegaan het. Die laaste bedryf, getiteld “Blomme van onheil”, neem die verhaal verder deur die musiek van Johann Sebastian Bach uit te brei en die simboliek van lig en donker te ondersoek, veral deur musiek soos die beroemde Toccata en Fugue op ‘n vlak uit te voer soos nooit voorheen nie. Botes is soos altyd, nie bang om grense te skuif en heilige koeie aan te durf nie en vermeng selfs van sy eie oorspronlike musiek in die produksie. Alle verwerkings van die musiek is Botes se eie.
Moenie dit misloop nie – hierdie is een van die mees grensverskuiwende produksies wat gehore ooit sal sien. .
NEW PRODUCTION "Sultans of Swing" - BARNYARD MENLYN - 13 FEB / BARNYARD WILLOWBRIDGE 27 FEB 2012!
For the past three years, multi-talented musician and master guitarist Mel Botes, has tantalized audiences all over the country with his critically acclaimed musical performance, Crazy Diamond: A Tribute to Pink Floyd. Audiences and critics agreed that he mastered the complexity and density of the Floyd in a way that none of the other tribute shows have achieved. He then followed this with David’s Confession: About time, an original composition of his own, featuring various other acclaimed musicians with him.
Now, by popular demand, he is presenting the next chapter in this remarkable series of rock & roll nostalgia with the long awaited “Sultans of Swing: A tribute to Dire Straits”. Featuring the same pin point accuracy in his playing, the same acclaimed band and the same delightful Botes touch, this show promises everything audiences have come to expect from the virtuoso. Like in the case of his previous shows, this show features all of the favourite songs of the band and its enigmatic front man, Mark Knopfler. The title is derived from their definitive song with the same name, which has of course become a standard in serious guitar playing repertoire.
The show premiered on 31 October 2011 and again on 9 November 2011 to packed audiences at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria!!
PRESS RELEASE (20 July 2011) - DAVID'S CONFESSION, About Time, Chapter II
Botes leads the way with virtual art gallery
Mel Botes is again revolutionising the music business with the introduction of a virtual art gallery. The art gallery is based on scenes and characters from his rock masterpiece, David Confession - About time, Chapter II.
According to Botes, David's Confession - About Time is the second chapter (1st) in a four part series on the life of a composer and musician and the way he deals with success, family life and the spoils of success. Filled with mythology, time travel and mysticism, the storyline delights audiences with impeccable stage design and casting, hauntingly beautiful rock music played by Botes on guitar/vocals, Ghapi on drums and vocals, singing sensation Jon Delinger on guest vocals and a host of other top musicians including a 6-piece choir.
In addition to this, he now introduces this exquisite art collection. The idea of the art collection is to portray the story in a way that does justice to the timelessness of this, Botes's finest piece.
David's Confession - About Time - Back on stage in 2012 in the form of an art exhibition, book launch and a show!! Watch this space for more details !
The last time this incredible and sorely missed theatrical rock music production was staged, was in December 1999. David’s Confession is not a band - it’s a musical project, the brainchild of respected songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Mel Botes, surely one of SA’s national assets. It features original drummer/vocalist Philip Botha, nowadays known as Ghapi, an incredible talent who could quite easily compliment any world class band you care to name.
Augmented by some of the finest session players in the country, as well as a six member choir, the stage was set for what was to be one of the most memorable and exciting evenings in the history of SA rock music. This was the second and last of two shows held at this fantastic venue in August 2010 after 12 years.
The setting was perfect, the lighting and sound spot on, and the musicianship flawless, with the costumes and at times robotic movements of the three male and three stunning female vocalists/dancers adding to the spectacular production.
With “Journey To The Centre Of The Earth” -type narration by Michael Richards, the story of David unfolded, accompanied by some of the finest conceptual progressive rock music you will ever hear, in South Africa, or anywhere in the world. The excellent Jon Delinger handled a number of lead vocal parts, together with both Ghapi and Mel. The original album, entitled “About Time”, and released in 1999, was featured in its entirety, from beginning to end. It’s unfortunately not available, but is available as a FREE download via www.melbotes.co.za until 12 April 2011 @ midnight!. The album, produced by Peter Pearlson, is an unrivalled milestone of progressive rock in this country, matched only by the likes of Off The Edge and very few others. The word “masterpiece” immediately springs to mind. But the production was more than that. It was creative, exciting, dramatic, emotional, and, for some, a dream come true. It was David’s Confession, live, at last. It’s about time....
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