Event information
Mel Botes, guitar virtuoso, supreme vocalist and composer, together with a top-class crew of some of South Africa’s finest musicians, presents the legendary sounds of Dire Straits and other iconic guitar heroes. Don’t miss this live open-air show, on Muratie’s garden terrace beneath the ancient oak trees that guard this historic estate, featuring memorable music, great company, good eats and even better wine.
The first half of the show is a tribute to Dire Straits, with the band playing a collection of their biggest hits, including ‘Money for Nothing’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and many more. The band Dire Straits, formed in London in 1977, soon reached the top of the British charts with their single ‘Sultans of Swing’. What followed was a juggernaut of hits lasting through the ’80’s up until 1995 when the band called it a day. Mel Botes and his band have been performing the songs of Dire Straits at venues across South Africa since 2014. Mastering Mark Knopfler’s guitar style is a daunting task, but Mel has the attention to detail necessary to reproduce the subtleties in playing and tone exhibited in songs like ‘Telegraph Road’ and ‘Why Worry?’
The second half of the show showcases music from some of the greatest rock guitar heroes, highlighting celebrated songs by Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd and many more iconic artists.
A visit to the historic estate reveals a piece of history where time has largely stood still, where the unique old-world ambience is almost tangible. Guarded over by magnificent ancient oak trees, the passion for preserving the estate’s rich, centuries-old heritage is captured in every nook and cranny of this family farm. Even the Muratie wines reflect a tangible sense of time suspended, with the estate’s wines named after extraordinary characters from the past who moulded Muratie as we know it today, each wine with its own charming story described on the back label.
