British singer-songwriting legend Yusuf/Cat Stevens will tour South Africa for the first time in November. The Peace Train Tour commemorates the 50th Anniversary of his first major hit single and debut album Matthew & Son released in 1967. The three-city 2017 concert tour will commence in Cape Town and end in Durban.
Oh Baby, it’s a Wild World!
This 50th Anniversary Tour will offer local fans an unmissable concert in three major cities, where Yusuf/Cat Stevens will sing his hits Wild World, Moonshadow, Father & Son and Peace Train and the much-loved Morning Has Broken, as well as songs from his new album.
Throughout his five-decade career, Yusuf/Cat Stevens has remained a popular artist amongst South Africans. His long-time association with this country began in the early ‘70’s. The global hit, Can’t Keep It In held the number one spot on the South African national hit parade for six weeks in 1972. In 2001/2 Yusuf/Cat Stevens added African harmonies and traditional sounds to two of his major hits, Wild World (Bana, Bana) and Peace Train which he recorded with a local choir, the Incwenga Voices.
https://youtu.be/WkZJSFd0Ghw
He also performed Peace Train with this choir at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg as part of the broadcast via satellite to a Stop the War Coalition event in London that also featured Cold Play and Ronan Keating. In November 2003, Yusuf/Cat Stevens returned to SA, again to perform Wild World but this time with his former session player, Peter Gabriel as part of the Nelson Mandela’s 46664 concert line-up in Cape Town. Returning to South Africa in November this year, Yusuf/Cat Stevens’ Peace Train Tour brings the artist back to this country but for his first ever tour.
Background
Having first found fame as a teenager in 1960s England, Cat Stevens grew from being a teen idol into becoming one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all time. In addition to his vast musical achievements, his lifelong spiritual quest and search for meaning has added intrigue and depth to a groundbreaking career.
Cat achieved early success in the mid ‘60s with Matthew & Son, Here Comes My Baby and The First Cut Is The Deepest. In 1968 the heavy workload of non-stop appearances and touring, and the excesses of a pop-star lifestyle took its toll and Cat contracted TB. He was hospitalised for several months and began a significant process of inner reflection and meditation. During this time Stevens began to question aspects of his life and spirituality and underwent a profound musical transformation.
https://youtu.be/hr0rDW5j1KU
From 1970 to 1978 he recorded and released the albums that would establish him as a leading singer-songwriter of his generation. His album, Tea for the Tillerman, from 1970, went multi-platinum in the U.S. and Australia with such songs as Wild World, Hard Headed Woman, Where Do the Children Play? and Father & Son. It was Teaser and the Firecat in 1971 that made him a megastar, with songs like Morning Has Broken, Peace Train and Moonshadow – spending fifteen weeks at the top of the Australian charts, becoming the biggest-selling album of the country in 1972.
Life-changing events
In 1975 Cat experienced another momentous and life-changing event after nearly drowning in the Pacific Ocean. Following this he dedicated himself to the Divine path; leaving music he concentrated on education and humanitarian relief. The tragic events of 9/11 motivated Yusuf to, once again, take to the global stage. He spoke out in the media against the atrocities, against fanaticism and war, and called for peace and unity. In 2006 Yusuf returned to mainstream music with the album An Other Cup, which was followed in 2009 by Roadsinger. 2014 was another monumental year for Yusuf, as he released his fourteenth studio album Tell ‘Em I’m Gone and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is currently working on a children’s animation series and writing his autobiography, which is expected to surface next year.
This tour is presented by TEG DAINTY Presents in association with Showtime Management and Moonshadow Aus Pty.
What: The Peace Train Tour
Where and when: 8 – 9 November, TicketPro Dome, Johannesburg / 11 – 12 November, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town / 15 November Durban ICC Arena
Book: Computicket or 0861 915 8000
WS
