Awesome Easter

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KNYSNA ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - Local live entertainment fans were treated to a thrilling Easter weekend with five straight days of South Africa's top music and comedy acts passing through this section of the coast.

The Better Live "Awesome! Easter" line-up in effect already started the week before Easter, with Kurt Schoonraad and Dave Levinsohn's Coastal Comedy Tour on 25 March.

They were followed by rousing performances by Radio Kalahari Orkes and Prime Circle at Mel's Place in Plett and Blend Country Restaurant in Knysna. The shows proved to be apt precursors of the packed weekend that lay ahead.

Last weekend in Knysna kicked off at Blend with a heartfelt performance by Ard Matthews on Thursday 1 April, with the veteran muso and former Just Ginger member offering an intimate acoustic guitar set, laced with fine wit, to form an intimate bond with the crowd.

Photo gallery: Ard Matthews' Easter show

He was followed by legendary South African rock doyenne Karen Zoid on Friday 2 April. With Knysna local Jonno Sweetman doing percussive backing, Zoid started her performance with her trademark rendition of Afrikaners is Plesierig and remained rock-steady throughout the evening, only occasionally mixing it up with covers or some of her more intimate ballads.

Photo gallery: Karen zoid rocks Knysna

SA legend Karen Zoid rocked during her Easter performance.

Next up, on Saturday 3 April, were The Parlotones, who are no strangers to Knysna. This was more than evident because they were the first to sell out their show at Blend as part of the Awesome! Easter line-up. Back in Knysna for the first time since December 2019,

The Parlotones rocked the stage once again, with people leaving their tables and chairs to dance and rock along to the band's many hit songs.

Photo gallery: The Parlotones return to Knysna

Things calmed down somewhat on Sunday 4 April, as Jesse Clegg was back on stage in Knysna. Armed with his acoustic guitar and backed up by guitar and drums, Clegg provided an eclectic mix of songs old and new in a masterful performance.

He also provided a special and emotional rendition of the only song he recorded with his late father Johnny Clegg, I've Been Looking.

Photo gallery: Jesse Clegg on show in Knysna

The weekend was wrapped up by SA comedian Kevin Fraser, who took charge of a rainy Monday night on 5 April. Dishing up a performance speckled with music and dance, the eccentricity Fraser's fans have come to know through his social media presence, was in full force.

With jokes about everything from American border control to life down under and being locked down in SA, Fraser kept the audience's bellies shaking throughout his show.

Photo gallery: Laughs galore from Kevin Fraser

Kevin Fraser was his typically-eccentric self during his performance.
Photos: Blake Linder