In association with Concerts SA, Durban’s soul folk singer-songwriter-guitarist Rowan Stuart will be performing at the Barnyard Theatre at Gateway at 7.30 pm on Monday, August 22.

Following his Winter Tour across South Africa, Rowan returns to his home town, and will be joined by a full live band comprising Andy Turrell on bass guitar, Cheryl Engel (Connecting Stars) on backing vocals and percussion, and Jude Kenrick (Easy Freak) on drums. The event also celebrates the launch of Rowan’s latest single Silver Balloon, released this month.

Rowan has created an inimitable brand of soul folk music, with pop and world influences. Recalling Sting’s imaginative storytelling, Death Cab for Cutie’s sense of space and beauty, and John Mayer’s tight grooves, Rowan uses his notable prowess on the guitar as the foundation for his creativity.

His career came into full swing in 2014 with the release of Hidden Doors, his first acoustic album – the fourth in his career. He has since toured South Africa extensively, and opened for some of the country’s biggest acts, including The Parlotones, Prime Circle, Freshlyground and many others.

Rowan’s talents were recognised by Cort Guitars, who invited him to become a South African brand ambassador. On big festival stages or in intimate venues, Rowan strives for excellence with every performance.

The evening will include a special guest performance by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Cheryl Engel of Connecting Stars. Formerly a studio session singer, Cheryl officially launched Connecting Stars in 2012, creating her own brand of folk rock.

Acoustic guitar, piano and beautiful melodies form the backbone of the Connecting Stars experience, intertwined with strains of glockenspiel, ukulele and harmonica. Cheryl draws on both painful and joyful life experiences to craft poetry that forms the lyrical basis of her songs.

Since 2013, Connecting Stars have gained success locally as well as abroad, with their debut South African single Pieces receiving radio play across the country, and their song Stuck achieving the rare feat of charting on the US Billboard AC chart, peaking at #28.

This was followed by two tours of the United States, and culminated in Connecting Stars winning the Songwriter of the Year Award at the Texas Sounds International Country Music Awards.

Rowan’s show at The Barnyard Theatre Gateway is supported by the Music Mobility Fund, a funding mechanism administered by Concerts SA which offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music tours.

Concerts SA is a joint South African/Norwegian initiative housed under the auspices of the Stakeholder Hub within the SAMRO Foundation; it receives financial, administrative and technical support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the SAMRO Foundation and Concerts Norway.

Working with musicians, promoters, venue owners and audiences, the project aims to support live music in South Africa by finding and implementing ways to create a vibrant and viable live music circuit.

It also aims to develop an interest in and appreciation of live music by showcasing music performances and conducting workshops at schools.

Tickets for the concert are R120 – book via email gateway@barnyardtheatre.co.za  or phone 031 566 3045.