Godfather of South African rock
Carstens has released 12 albums; five as the lead singer of Springbok Nude Girls, one as part of electronica project Bhelltower and six as a solo artist. He’s had over 20 top-ten singles and won five Sama Awards including Best Rock Album in 2004 for Another Universe and Best Adult Contemporary Album in 2006 for The Hello Goodbye Boys. In 2016, he won Song of the Year for Ontwaak, taken off his debut Afrikaans album, Die Aandblom 13, which won a Ghoema for Alternative Album of the Year in 2017. He has been called “The Godfather of South African rock” by Mail & Guardian and the Sunday Times hailed him as “one of the most prolific songwriters and performers of our time.”
During his career, Carstens has performed with U2, The Rolling Stones, and REM, among many others; headlined every major South African music festival; and performed at some of the most legendary and exclusive international music festivals including Isle of Wight, Glastonbury, V Festival, and Hard Rock Calling.
Since the release of his first record with Roxy Music in 1972, Ferry has been internationally acclaimed as one of the most innovative and stylish musicians, songwriters, and singers to emerge in pop and rock music. Now he is coming to South Africa as part of his Global Tour in 2019.
Widely regarded as the embodiment of the glamorous and romantic worlds evoked by his songs, Ferry is also lauded as an icon of sartorial and personal cool. A former student of fine art, and as involved in the visual aspects of his work as he is in the composition and performance of the music, he has conceived and directed some of the most original, controversial, and critically applauded album sleeve artwork of the last four decades.
Ferry came to prominence as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the glam art rock band Roxy Music achieving three number one albums and 10 singles which reached the top 10 in the UK between 1972 and 1982. Their singles included Virginia Plain, Street Life, Love is the Drug, Dance Away, Angel Eyes, Over You, Oh Yeah, Jealous Guy, Avalon, and More Than This.
He began his solo career in 1973. His solo hits included A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall, Let’s Stick Together, and This Is Tomorrow. Ferry’s best-selling album Avalon (1982) saw further release of singles such as Slave to Love and Don’t Stop the Dance followed by the UK number one album Boys and Girls in 1985. When his sales as a solo artist and as a member of Roxy Music are combined, Ferry has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
As an artist and musician, Ferry possesses the rare distinction of being regarded as both classic and timelessly contemporary – an accomplishment achieved by both his recordings with Roxy Music and the range and intensity of his solo albums.
This may be the last chance for South African fans to watch Bryan Ferry live performing all his hits live.
Tickets available at www.bigconcerts.com and Computicket.
