LOCAL DUO OPENS FOR PARLOTONES
There’s a very special moment coming up for father and son duo Charles and Michael Webster this coming weekend. Not only will they perform as the opening act for famous South African band The Parlotones, but this will be one of their last iconic performances together before Michael leaves for university in Bloemfontein next year to study Fine Art. This opportunity, amidst Michael’s final matric examinations, makes for a momentous and memorable experience.
The band, aptly named Father and Son, will open for The Parlotones at the Out 500 music and comedy festival at White Mountain Resort from October 29 to November 1.
The festival, limited to 500 people in adherence to Covid19 protocol, showcases local and national musicians and comedians, including Australian-based South African comedian Kevin Fraser.
When Charles Webster, who is well known in the local music scene as a musician and the co-founder of Music in The Hills (MiTH), was approached by one of the festival organisers and asked to open for The Parlotones, Webster asked his son to join him onstage. This opportunity was too good to pass up, even with Michael due to write his final Afrikaans exam the next morning after his performance.
“We discussed this with my son and my wife, and decided to go for it. It’s a momentous occasion, and I get to perform with my son before he leaves for varsity,” Webster said.
Michael will travel up for the hour-long performance on Thursday night, and then leave straight afterwards to be home for his exam the following morning. He will then return with his family after his exam to enjoy the rest of the festival.
The father and son duo have been playing together for six years – Charles on vocals and guitar, and Michael on percussion. They are regulars at local music spot Music in The Hills (MiTH), and also perform gigs at weddings and live music evenings at Artisan Cafe.
It is not just Webster’s son who inherited his passion and musical ability, though.
His two daughters are also singers and music enthusiasts. Before leaving for university last year, daughter Rebecca belonged to well-known local band Fill the Blank, which performed many gigs at music spots, and made it to the finals of some of the prominent Battle of the Band competitions, including at East Coast Radio and Liberty Midlands Mall.
Webster feels immense pride at his children having found their own musical paths and their great love and taste for music.
“I made a policy that I would never force my passion for music on them, and would never tell them when to practise.
“I am so proud to see them pursue their music on their own, for themselves,” he said.