Afrikaans singer Jannie du Toit and his group will be performing live at the Jan Celliers School Hall in Greenside, on 3 May. The show is titled Doep is nie dood nie.
“This is a very cosy venue with ample safe parking,” said Du Toit. He is the guitarist for Doep is nie dood nie, and has been in the music industry for 43 years.
In the seventies he studied at Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) which is now the University of Johannesburg, and where he formed a student group called Trilogie.
“This was my first endeavour into the music industry…in that period my music took me throughout South Africa and around the globe,” said Du Toit.
Doep is nie dood nie features the formidable body of songs written by the late Koos du Plessis who is arguably the “Bob Dylan of Afrikaans music”, according to Du Toit.
“Koos tragically died young, thirty years ago, but left behind a wealth of wisdom in his impressive oeuvre of songs and other writings,” explained the guitarist.
Du Toit is driven to keep the legacy of his friend [Du Plessis] by introducing his music to the new generation.
“The event is intended to be a re-appreciation of some artistic endeavours of the highest level in light Afrikaans music,” he added.
The event is supported by Clover South-Africa and the Nelspruit Innibos Arts Festival.
A former journalist Carl Theunissen friend and colleague of Du Plessis, compiled the show and whiz kid Clinton Zerf is the arranger and musical director.
Susan Mouton, principal cellist of the Johannesburg Philharmonic and Du Toit on the guitar, completes the musical ensemble.
After an opening season at the Oudtshoorn Arts Festival, the itinerary for Doep is nie dood includes performances at Nelspruit, Potchefstroom and Grahamstown Festivals. Finger food, sherry and warm drinks will be available before and after the show. Admission to the event costs R150.
Apart from performances country wide, a tour to the Western Cape in December and an extensive tour to the Benelux countries in April next year are part of the big plans.
Details: Jannie du Toit agterplaas@gmail.com
