SA: Guy Buttery and Vusi Mahlasela to share stage for first time

The performances will take place across two legs, beginning with three shows in Cape Town in September before moving to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in October.

The collaboration between Mahlasela and Buttery dates back to 2006, when Buttery contributed guitar and mandolin to Mahlasela’s album Naledi Ya Tsela, which also featured American singer-songwriter Dave Matthews.

A decade later, Mahlasela appeared on Buttery’s 2016 self-titled album, providing vocals on ‘Werner Meets Egberto in Manaus’ and ‘The Upper Reaches’, the latter featuring Piers Faccini.

The upcoming performances will mark the first time the two musicians have presented their collaboration together on stage. Both artists are expected to perform solo material before joining forces for duets and other collaborative pieces.

The concerts will bring together Buttery’s fingerstyle guitar and broader African and global influences with Mahlasela’s distinctive vocals, poetic songwriting and South African folk traditions.

Mahlasela, widely known as “The Voice”, has built a career spanning several decades. Raised in Mamelodi, Pretoria, he began performing at an early age and later performed at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1994.

He has released nine albums and collaborated with artists including Dave Matthews Band, Sting, Paul Simon, Josh Groban, Ray LaMontagne, Natalie Merchant and Taj Mahal. His honours include a South African Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, two honorary doctorates and the National Order of Ikhamanga.

Buttery is an internationally recognised acoustic guitarist, composer and multi-instrumentalist whose work incorporates South African musical traditions, African influences and global textures. He has performed across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Brazil and Italy.

He became the youngest nominee in South African Music Awards history at the age of 18 and has since won two SAMAs, multiple Ovation Awards and the 2018 Standard Bank Young Artist Award. His collaborators have included Dave Matthews, Jethro Tull, Will Ackerman, Salif Keita, Kaki King and Jon Gomm.

The concerts are scheduled as follows:

• 17 September – Holy Trinity Church, Kalk Bay
• 19 September – Slave Church, Cape Town
• 20 September – Slave Church, Cape Town
• 24 October – Schlesinger Theatre, Michaelhouse, KZN Midlands
• 25 October – Schlesinger Theatre, Michaelhouse, KZN Midlands