South Africa’s “Prince of the Piano” Ian von Memerty pays tribute to Elton John in Honky Cats, at the Playhouse Theatre in Somerset West, on January 28, at 7pm.
Ian is joined by the Centre Stage Band in a journey through extraordinary and evergreen songs – starting way back with Your Song and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – right through to The Lion King and Don’t Let The Sun go Down.
Ian says: “This is not an impersonation – because that would cheapen the unique phenomena that is Elton John, but it does give me the opportunity to do several things I don’t usually do.
“I get to work with a great band – because with the rocking sound of Crocodile Rock, and Burn Down
The Mission you need all the power and drive that great band can give you.
“It also gives me a chance to sing the songs of just one man, play the piano for the whole night, and wear some outrageous costumes – and I love that”.
Ian is known as one of the most versatile performers in South Africa. Winner of 15 national awards as a performer, creator and director, he is best known as the host of Strictly Come Dancing and the judge on SA’s Got Talent. But it is his two-piano show, A Handful of Keys, which has played to more than 420 000 people in over
1 400 performances, that has become part of South African entertainment history.
The Centre Stage Band consists of Gino Fabbri and Devon van Rooyen on drums, Andrew Warneke on bass, Boet Strydom on keyboards, Wayne Kallis on acoustic guitar, Curtis Kettledas on saxophone and ex-Clout and Little Sister guitarist, Sandy Robbie.
Tickets cost R150, and are available through Computicket.
