GLITZ AND GLAM AT PORT ALFRED HIGH SCHOOL MATRIC FAREWELL

Rob Knowles held his first “One-Man Show, with Guests” at Harry B’s last Saturday night, which was also a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Port Alfred.

Knowles is familiar to many locals who have seen him perform his music mixed with comedy act before. He has performed a number of times with Flame Metter, more recently with Scott Harvey, and in earlier days with Roland Gaspar at the erstwhile Barmuda.

Although an old hand at performing, this was the first time Knowles took the reins in terms of

arranging and producing a show, roping in friends Claude Samuel and Kathleen MacDonald. He started with a Gordon Lightfoot classic, If You Could Read My Mind, which was well-suited to Knowles’ baritone voice. He then launched into some comedy, describing it as “a hodge-podge of my life” and warning the audience that were was “no chronological order or even logical order to the show”.

MacDonald came on stage for a duet with Knowles, Stumblin’ In, made famous by Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman of Smokie.

Singing to backing tracks, MacDonald, who has a very pleasant voice , continued solo with Help Me Make it Through the Night and Don’t it Make

My Brown Eyes Blue.

Then Knowles was back on stage for more comedy, after which Samuel, playing guitar and in a drum seat providing his own percussion, did an unusual and appealing cover of Blueberry Hill with raspy vocals.

He continued with The Animals’ House of the Rising Sun, and a marvellous instrumental where he began with slide guitar on his lap then transitioned to playing upright.

While people waited for the delicious meals prepared by Crystal Carelse at Harry B’s, Knowles played some gentle background music, including Moonshadow, Leaving on a Jet Plane and Sandman.

After supper, Samuel returned with another instrumental and a song he wrote himself. He used a special vocal effects mic to sing By My Side.

Knowles joined Samuel for a duet on Sweet Caroline, made unintentionally comedic by them losing track of the lyrics.

MacDonald came back on for These Boots Are Made for Walkin’, Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain and Venus, which was a hit both for Shocking Blue and Bananarama.

Samuel closed out the show. It was a laid-back, enjoyable evening among friends.

FREE COURSE: Bulelwa Maxam, left, and Tumelo Daniel manned a ‘pop-up shop’ for Fish River Resort last Saturday, promoting a hospitality short course presented by Stenden South Africa at the Fish River Resort. The course is available to applicants living in the communities of Prudhoe, Mgababa, Benton, Nier, Bell, Peddie, Hamburg and Gcinisa

Picture: JON HOUZET THE ENTERTAINERS: From left, Rob Knowles, Kathleen MacDonald and Claude Samuel at Knowles’ ‘One-Man Show, with Guests’ at Harry B’s last Saturday night

COOKING UP A STORM: The latest winner at Rosehill SuperSPAR, Wessie Westerman and his wife Annetjie, who won a full set of TuffCast pots and pans valued at R2,400 last week

Picture: NTOMBI MSUT U GLITTERING GOLD: Zukhanye Ndiniso, left, and Lindokuhle Tanana at the Port Alfred Civic Centre on Friday waiting for the convoy to the Port Alfred High School matric dance

Picture: NTOMBI MSUT U MATCHING MAROON: Anesipho Makinza, left, and Wongalethu Saul wore matching colours for the Port Alfred High School matric dance last Friday

Picture: NTOMBI MSUTU GLITZ AND GLAM: Yolanda Magawu, left, and Aphelele Bukani arrived in a black convertible BMW at the Port Alfred Civic Centre on Friday for the Port Alfred High School matric dance

Picture: NTOMBI MSUTU CELEBRATING THEIR DAY: Bradley Wilson, left, with his partner Danielle Steyn at the Port Alfred Civic Centre, waiting to go to the Port Alfred High School matric dance on Friday

NIGHT OUT: Enjoying the music and comedy at Rob Knowles’ ‘One-Man Show, with Guests’ at Harry B’s last Saturday night were, from left, Louise Hopkins, Trish Hopkins and Travis Dixon