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Meri Kenaz Live in Port Elizabeth

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Award winning musician and performer, Meri Kenaz, is on a Soul-Folk journey from the Eastern Cape to Underberg this April. She hails from the Eastern Cape, but recently turned Capetonian to get in touch with the country’s creative pulse. And indeed creativity pulses through her live performances. This April Meri will be performing selected shows in and around her old neck of the woods (EC) on the way to South Africa’s longest-running Music Festival, Splashy Fen (www.splashyfen.co.za). Look out for her in Jeffreys Bay, Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown, Chintsa, Port St. Johns, and at Splashy Fen.

Meri Kenaz is no stranger to the touring circuit, she’s toured nationally on her own, and has repeatedly toured with Internationally acclaimed Blues guitarist, Dan Patlansky, opening the stage for his virtuoso electric guitar playing with her own powerful percussive guitar playing and original songs. She was accredited with a Silver Standard Bank Ovation Award at the Grahamstown Festival 2010, and humbly shares this title with one of SA’s ‘old souls of Folk’, Nibs van der Spuy.

She’s been acclaimed to have a “voice [that] comes close to capturing the passion and intensity of human nature. The power and passion of her playing does true justice to the incredible quality of her voice” (Cue 2010). Kgomotso Moncho of The Star explains how “When she sings her voice tends to take on another character boasting spiritual intonation which comes out naturally. To get to where she goes when she performs one requires a sense of freedom or a certain ease within themselves. But sometimes the music is just too powerful that one has no choice but to submit to it. Kenaz writes poetically and there is a genius about her and the music” (The Star Early Edition, 13 October ’10).

Dates:

  • Fri, 15 April – TONI’S PLACE, Port Elizabeth, Time: 7:30PM. Bookings essential: 041 364 1964
  • Sat, 16 Apr – POTTER’S PLACE, JBay, Time: 6:30PM for 8. Meals are served before show only. Bookings essential: 042 293 2500
  • Mon, 18 April – RHODES UNION, Grahamstown, Time: 8PM
  • Tue, 19 April – BUCCANEERS, Cintsa
  • Wed, 20 April – JUNGLEMONKEY, Port St. Johns
  • Sat, 23 April – SPLASHY FEN Saturday, Time: 1PM (Fest runs from 21-25 April), Splashy Fen Marquee

Her 7-track EP, Deeper, will be on sale. This might be the last chance to get hold of these limited edition collector’s editions. The nifty fabric cover is hand-packaged, hand-stamped with original designs, numbered and sealed with love. Her full album is due for release in May, at which time these EP’s will be discontinued.

Meri Kenaz appears at Tonis Place on 15 April 2011
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.