Natalie Chapman’s call to action

Of this talent, there’s a choice, you can either use it for personal gain or alternatively to help others. Without going into too much detail about which is the better of the two, let’s concentrate on the rarer option, which is self-evidently, helping others.

South African singer songwriter Natalie Chapman masters the latter. In what was considered to be an impossible task, the artist completed 90 performances in 90 consecutive days in 90 different towns last year (places that many have never even heard of), covering more than 13 500 km across South Africa.

Awarded a LEAD SA Hero Award for her efforts, her intent was to give a voice to survivors of violent and sexual crimes, spreading a message of hope, motivation and music and at the same raising funds for Epic Foundation.

Come to 2015 and Chapman will once again embark on such a journey, continuing the conversation, and breaking the ice on a very awkward subject through music.

The tour will kick off on Wednesday, January 28, joined on stage by some of SA’s finest acts including Josie Field, Andra, Raoul and Black Friday, Garth Taylor and Shotgun Tori.

Apart from spreading her message at performances in community halls, live music venues, and theatres, Chapman will also be performing at women’s and children’s shelters, children’s homes, schools and prisons, speaking to the perpetrators as well – people who have so often been victims themselves.

Tour dates (subject to change)

Day 1: January 28 – Atterbury Theatre, Pretoria

Day 2: January 29 – Dei Gratia Family Restaurant, Tzaneen
Day 3: January 30 – The Hat and Creek, Phalaborwa
Day 4: January 31 – The Hat and Creek, Hoedspruit

Day 5: February 1 – Woodridge Palms, Rustenburg

Day 6: February 2 – Potchefstroom

Day 7: February 3 – Botswana
Day 8: February 4 – Die Ou Winkel Teater, Mareetsane

Day 9: February 5 – Kathu, Katexas

Day10: February 6 – Groblershoop

Day 11: February 7 – Upington

Day 12: February 8 – Pofadder
Day 13: February 9 – Tauren Steak Ranch, Springbok

Day 14: February 10 – Garies

Day 15: February 11 – Die Dam Bistro, Clan William

Day 16: February 12 – Calvinia Hotel, Calvinia

Day 17:February 13 – Williston Mall, Williston

Day 18: February 14 – Jupiter Guest House, Sutherland

Day 19: February 15 – Saronsberg Teater, Tulbagh

Day 20: February 16 – Riebeek Kasteel

Day 21: February 17 – Saldanha

Day 22: February 18 – Darling

Day 23: February 19 – Villa Pascal, Durbanville

Day 24: February 20 – Paarl

Day 25: February 21 – Diemersfontein Wines, Wellington

Day 26: February 22 – Café Art, Stellenbosch

Day 27: February 23 – Franschoek

Day 28: February 24 – Barrydale

Day 29:February 25 – Field and Fork, Swellendam

Day 30: February 26 – Botrivier/ Windhoek (TBC)

Day 31: February 27 – Somerset West Golf Club, Somerset West

Day 32: February 28 – Perigators, Pringle Bay

Day 33: March 1 – Pakalolo, Hout Bay

Day 34: March 2 – Cape Town

Day 35: March 3 – Kalk Bay / St James

Day 36: March 4 – Red Herring, Noordhoek

Day 37: March 5 – Prince Albert

Day 38: March 6 – Knysna/Wilderness (TBC)

Day 39: March 7 – Plettenberg Bay

Day 40: March 8 – Willowmore

Day 41: March 9 – The Lamb, Nieu Bethesda

Day 42: March 10 – Cookhouse

Day 43: March 11 – Port Elizabeth

Day 44: March 12 – Grahamstown/Rhodes (TBC)

Day 45: March 13 – Buccaneers, Cinsta

Day 46: March 14 – Queenstown
Day 47: March 15 – Maclear

Day 48: March 16 – Mthata

Day 49: March 17 – Hole in The Wall
Day 50: March 18 – Ingeli Forest Lodge, Kokstad

Day 51: March 19 – Ramsgate

Day 52: March 20 – Port Shepstone

Day 53: March 21 – Umkomaas

Day 54: March 22 – Buds on the Bay, Durban

Day 55: March 23 – Umhlali

Day 56: March 24 – African Whispers, Cresthome

Day 57: March 25 – Beaumont Eston Farmers Club, Eston

Day 58: March 26 – The Knoll Barn, Hilton

Day 59: March 27 – Ballito

Day 60: March 28 – Dunning Country House, Midlands

Day 61: March 29 – Clarens

Day 62: March 30 – Wyndford Holiday Farm, Fouriesburg

Day 63: March 31 – Bethlehem

Day 64: April 1 – Ficksburg

Day 65: April 2 – Lesotho

Day 66: April 3 – Bloemfontein

Day 67: April 4 – Welkom

Day 68: April 5 – Kroonstad

Day 69: April 6 – Parys

Day 70: April 7 – Vereeniging

Day 71: April 8 – Bethal

Day 72: April 9 – Ermelo

Day 73: April 10 – Middelburg

Day 74: April 11 – Nelspruit

Day 75: April 12 – The Coachman, Dullstroom

Day 76: April 13 – Canimambo Restaurant, Graskop

Day 77: April 14 – Pilgrem’s Rest

Day 78: April 15 – Max Mar Lodge, Marble Hall

Day 79: April 16 – Sinkshack, Bronkhorstspruit

Day 80: April 17 – Cockpit Brewhouse, Cullinan

Day 81: April 18 – Centurion

Day 82: April 19 – Kameelfontein

Day 83: April 20 – Kempton Park

Day 84: April 21 – Benoni

Day 85: April 22 – Alberton and Edenvale

Day 86: April 23 – Soweto

Day 87: April 24 – Windhoek (TBC)

Day 88: April 25 – Cradle of Humankind

Day 89: April 26 – Upper Deck, Hartbeespoort

Day 90: April 27 – Freedom Day – Johannesburg