Michelle Shocked celebrates 25 years as “The Campfire Girl” with two live performances at the Fugard Theatre on 8 and 9 August 2011.
Joined by top South African musicians, including her long time touring partner Schalk Joubert (who has toured with her over the last five years in the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand) on bass, top SA drummer Kevin Gibson and the multi-talented Melissa van der Spuy on keyboards and vocals, Shocked will display her multifaceted talents as a world-class singer, songwriter, storyteller and entertainer. Shocked received her first international exposure in Europe, particularly Britain, with her debut album The Texas Campfire Tapes. Her break into US national renown came with the release of her 1988 album Short Sharp Shocked, which was met with strong acclaim from listeners all around the world. Songs on the album included Anchorage, When I Grow Up, Memories of East Texas, If Love was a Train and Graffiti Limbo. On the crest of this independent momentum, Captain Swing and Arkansas Traveller was released. In 1995, she contributed an original song to the soundtrack for the film Dead Man Walking called “Quality of Mercy”. In 1996, she released a studio version of an underground release Kind Hearted Woman (black cover) on the short-lived Private Music label. Starting in 2002 with the release of Deep Natural, Shocked established her own label, Mighty Sound. She reissued expanded versions of her entire catalogue, made possible by having retained complete ownership of her work when she signed with Mercury in 1987. Shocked continues to make music as an independent artist. In June 2005 she released a trilogy of albums called Threesome (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Mexican Standoff and Got No Strings). In September 2007 she released album ToHeavenURide. On May 12, 2009 her new album, Soul of My Soul, was released on Mighty Sound (distributed by Megaforce/MRI through RED Distribution). This year’s Campfire Girl tour bears witness to the enduring legacy of her highly unusual debut, The Texas Campfire Tapes, a bootleg famously recorded on a Sony Walkman and released, unbeknownst to Shocked, by an enterprising Briton. Shocked was more surprised than anyone when the album made its debut on the UK independent charts in November 1986. “I never made a record,” she recalls, “so why would I expect to be on an English chart?” This early experience and a 1996 legal battle to retain her catalogue ownership against Mercury Records, made Shocked a natural poster child for artists’ rights. In 2003, The Texas Campfire Tapes finally found its way home to her Mighty Sound label. Meanwhile, her 5-year Roadworks themed touring project curates songs that are long-time audience favourites while introducing live new material, including some songs of a work-in-progress called Indelible Women. The tickets for Michelle Shocked live at the Fugard Theatre are R200 and R150. Booking is through www.computicket.co.za, or phone the Fugard Theatre Box Office on 021 461 4554. About the Fugard Theatre: The 280-cinema style seater Fugard Theatre is located within the historic Sacks Futeran building in Cape Town’s District Six, with the renovated Congregational Church Hall in Caledon Street as its entrance. Construction of The Fugard Theatre was underwritten by its founding producer Eric Abraham, and is named in honour of Athol Fugard, South Africa’s greatest playwright. All seating is now reserved and can be booked on line at www.computicket.com or the box office on 021 461 4554. Those interested in the theatre should contact the Fugard Theatre General Manager Daniel Galloway on .
