The official opening of The Barn with Shawn Phillips
Sunday the 31st January 2016, saw the official opening of the The Barn, formerly known as the Barnyard Theatre, under the new management of Mel Botes.
As a token of things to come, Shawn Phillips dubbed “the best kept secret in the music business” by the late rock musician Bill Graham, graced us with his iconic folk/rock musical style.
This event also saw the first day time gig held at The Barn, making it the perfect venue for friends and family to enjoy top quality South African musicians and bands.
The evening was filled with many locals and fans from afar, enjoying the fun and festivities, as Shawn played many of his classical songs and a few new releases.
Shawn is best known for his use of a variety of guitars, from acoustic to electric. It’s amazing to see how effortlessly he changes guitars during a song. It was also a privilege to see Mel Botes on guitar, accompanying Shawn on a few of the songs – an amazing collaboration for a non-rehearsed gig.
Mel Botes has been involved in the music industry and is an established musician, director and record producer. His goal is to restore The Barn, formerly known as the Barnyard Theatre, to its former glory with world class sound systems and quality entertainment.
The Barn also provided us with delicious top quality snack platters that were thoroughly enjoyed by all. And in the future, there’s a definite chance we’ll get to sample Mels’ famous potjie!
Let us not forget, The Barn is situated in one of the most beautiful areas along the Garden Route, surrounded by the forests’ tranquility. The beautiful gardens and tranquil environment definitely added a certain charm to the day.
In the near future, The Barn will be presenting classic movies on a big screen. This is a first for Plett, so be sure to keep an eye on our events page. The Barn is also available to the public for all types of events and functions.
Read more about The Barn and Mel Botes.
Watch this video ‘Woman’ off Shawn Phillips’ platinum selling album, ‘Second Contribution’.
Photo Gallery
Shawn Phillips live at ‘The Barn’