JANNIE DU TOIT – 40 YEARS ON THE ROAD WITH AFRIKAANS MUSIC
After forty years of passion for Afrikaans music, Jannie du Toit introduces ONDERWEG (loosely translated: UNDER WAY), a multi-media presentation in the form of a coffee table book, a DVD and two CD’s - released with the assistance of Rapport and SUN MeDIA. For the release of ONDERWEG acclaimed author PG du Plessis has scripted a production set to tour the country from late September to December. Jannie will be accompanied by his stage partner of 25 years, Christa Steyn - piano) and virtuoso cellist Susan Mouton (Clinton Zerf and Arend Brink will respectively stand in for these two instrumentalists when needed). The show is directed by Emma Bekker. The premiere - in aid of MES - takes place on September 27th at the Arts Centre of the University of Johannesburg, the campus where Jannie took his first steps on stage as a first year RAU student in 1971.
The acclaimed singer-songwriter has experienced the exciting journey of an outsider, starting when Afrikaans music was at an all time low, to where it has now become a highly significant factor on the South African music scene. ONDERWEG is a coffee table book with a difference: Jannie du Toit, Afrikaans boytjie from the countryside, has since his childhood nurtured a passion for music which he now portrays in a story spangled with anecdotes, photographs, news paper cuttings and letters. It is a delightful visual experience including the front page illustration by a friend of many years, Piet Grobler – internationally renowned illustrator who now works and lives in Britain. The book is complemented and contextualized by a double CD with forty tracks and a DVD with some twenty-five visual clips – memories from early recordings of Trilogie, Jannie’s folk-rock outfit in the seventies, to his rendition of a song from a Jacques Brel-show with Laurika Rauch last year. Amongst the multitude of interesting sound recordings, ten new tracks have emanated from recent stage shows and other projects.
Many people consider Jannie du Toit to be a founder of modern light Afrikaans music. He moved away from the formulaic, predictable rut in which Afrikaans music was caught up around the sixties, and focused on originality. For him the synthesis of music and text has always been of the utmost importance, and since the early years he remained on the precarious path of non-commercial Afrikaans music.
Whilst completing his LLB-studies at the former RAU Jannie worked in Licensing at SAMRO in the mid-seventies. Especially during the nineties and early 2000’s his independent recording label, JNS Musiek, as well as manufacturing agency JANUS Musiek played an important part in the development and motivation of exceptionally talented local artists, and Jannie encouraged them to fearlessly listen to the sound of their heartstrings. Amongst various forms of recognition, the prestigious Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (Science and Arts Academy) awarded him a medal of honour in 2008, citing his remarkable contribution to Afrikaans music.
ONDERWEG schedule:
October 28 - Pierneef Theatre - Pretoria
November 6 - Pierneef Theatre - Pretoria
November 25 - PE Opera House - Port Elizabeth
November 26 - Port Natal High School -Durban
December 2 - Wynand Mouton Theatre - Bloemfontein
December 3 - Civic Theatre - Nelspruit
December 13 - ATKV Walvis-saal - Hartenbos
December 14 - Oude Libertas Amphitheatre - Stellenbosch
Sponsored by Rapport, in conjunction with SUN MeDIA, the ATKV, RSG and NCPPD (National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities). For more info go to www.facebook.com/onderweg40
Enquiries:
(012)329-0709 or 072 460 5568
Or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
