SINGER-songwriters, Wendy Oldfield and Paul Hanmer, will be performing in KwaZulu-Natal as part of their nationwide Songlines tour. Their collaboration beautifully fuses jazz, folk, pop and African rhythms to produce a truly memorable sound.

Both well-known musicians, composers, songwriters and performers, they bridge a path between genres with their own original style and sound, exposing audiences to a new space of live music appreciation.

Oldfield said: “Paul and I were put together in a SAfm collaboration series about eight years ago at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

“The series was all about putting together these unlikely musical pairs for concerts. It was the first time Paul and I played together. And I always wanted to revisit that experience. It was so special.

“We play each other’s songs. Paul arranges my songs in the Paul Hanmer way, so my pop songs are transformed into these epic jazz pieces! And I do the same. I take his music and add my flavour to it, with lyrics and melodies, chanting and djembe.

“The response we’ve received so far has been fantastic. We’ve had encores all the way. The music is something special. Even I am still astounded by its beauty. You just have to come experience it for yourself!”

Fans can catch them at the Caversham Mill Restaurant in the Caversham Valley on Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31. Supper is served from the al a carte menue from 6 pm, with the show at 8 pm. Tickets are R120, excluding the meal. For more information and to book phone 072 125 3392 or 033 940 0145 or email cavershammill@mweb.co.za

On Saturday, August 1, Oldfield and Hamner will be performing at the Bush Tavern, Umdloti, at 8 pm. Tickets are R50 at the door. For more information email Robert at mail@bushtavern.com

The pair’s final KZN date is at 1 pm on August 2 at Open Strings in Kloof. Tickets are R100. For more information and to book email Rod at rodnichols@telkomsa.net

The Songlines Tour is made possible thanks to the Concerts SA Mobility Fund, which offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music tours, administered by Concerts SA, a joint South African/Norwegian project. —

SIDEBAR
Who is Wendy Oldfield?
Born in Cape Town in 1964, Wendy Oldfield first made a name for herself performing the hit This Boy with rock outfit The Sweatband in the early eighties.

After success with songs like Tonight, Shape of Her Body, This Boy and years of touring and performing, she left the group to start a solo career.

Her first solo album Beautiful World set the wheels in motion for a succession of hits, including Real World, Acid Rain, Miracle and Don’t Stop Believing.

In the late nineties she released a string of albums including Ruby, Duwayo and On a Pale Blue Dot.

Oldfield also joined world music group Mondetta with Steve Newman, Julia Kim, Gito Baloi and Elad Neeman. They released the album Small World, and performed to packed houses at venues around South Africa.

Oldfield completed and released her fifth solo album Holy Water toward the end of 2002 which earned her a nomination for a South African Music Award for best adult contemporary.

In 2012 she decided to re-enter the performing arena and independently financed her next solo album, Supernova, produced by Robin Auld. Her main focus now is to get back on stage and perform.

Who is Paul Hanmer?
Born in Cape Town in 1961, Paul Hanmer began classical piano and theory lessons in 1970. After two years at the University of Cape Town studying for a BMus degree, Hanmer left to work with guitarist Paul Petersen. In 1987 he moved to Johannesburg where he was influenced by bands such as Sakhile and Bayete.

In Johannesburg Hanmer formed Unofficial Language with Ian Herman (percussion and drums) and Peter Sklair (electric bass). The trio recorded Primal Steps in 1994.

Hanmer has recorded with Tananas, Miriam Makeba, Ray Phiri, McCoy Mrubata and Pops Mohamed and formed part of Tony Cox’s Cool Friction Band in 1996. In 1999 he performed and recorded with Sheer All Stars and produced Gloria Bosman’s debut album Tranquility.

Sheer Sound released Hanmer’s first album as a leader, Trains to Taung, in 1997. Since then he has recorded five more albums, Window to Elsewhere, Playola, Naivasha, Water and Lights and Accused No 1: Nelson Mandela.

A duo album featuring Hanmer with McCoy Mrubata entitled The Boswil Concert was released in June 2011.