OPEN TUESDAYS AT DIE BOER
Open Tuesday is a project started by die Boer theatre restaurant in Durbanville specifically to help young or unknown artists to reach a wider audience. South Africa has a huge amount of young talent (as well as very experienced artists) that rarely get a chance to play on a professional stage because they are labelled as “not commercial enough.
The idea is to provide a (free) platform on every second Tuesday for deserving but unknown artists to hone their skills under proper show conditions in front of an attentive audience, unlike the many festivals’ open stages where most of them have to start their careers. This is a tradition that may be new to die Boer, but has been very successful for many years around the best dinner-entertainment venues in the world like The House of Blues in New Orleans and the Jazz Café in London.
We usually schedule two “acts” on one night. The first artist does a maximum of 45 minutes and the last one, which is often a band, more or less an hour.
Most people are simply blown away by the quality of artist that is usually on display on these nights and Open Tuesday is fast becoming one of our most enjoyable “shows” The reasons are obvious:
Entrance to the public is free... you can arrive (or leave) anytime you want, you don’t have to eat (but of course you can …anytime during the show if you so wish)
OPEN TUESDAY 9 March 2010
Natasha Meister – Lady plays the Blues!
 Canada’s loss is South Africa’s gain! This girl is simply brilliant! She has the kind of voice that just stops you in you tracks! Jurg Human.. die Boer
Born into a musical family, with her Swiss father being in a small time country band when he was young, and with her South African mothers family music background, Natasha Meister was given the right foundation and support to start her music career.
Encouraged by her parents, Natasha started singing at the age of 6. She and her older sister, Shari, began their music journey singing as a country gospel duo in church. They entered singing competitions when they were young and usually came in the top 3. As they were getting older, they became more serious about their music...with the help of friends and family, they sang at senior homes, weddings, parties, and local festivals.
Sister, Shari, learned to play piano at a very young age, but Natasha on the other hand, only started learning guitar at the age of 14, being inspired by her dad who encouraged her. He taught her the basics on acoustic guitar, and Natasha taught herself from there.
Natasha at the age of 16, and Shari being 19; the two sisters walked into a local Canadian music club after hearing about a music competition being held....that's where they heard the "blues" for the first time! Being inspired by what they heard, they started listening to: Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and more modern blues like: Collin James and John Mayer.
Now playing the blues, Natasha bought herself an electric guitar and Shari bought herself a keyboard. They began to play at pubs where their music was greatly appreciated. They sang backup vocals for a well-known local blues band, "The Screamin' Flamingoes", for a short while, creating more exposure and opportunities. Creating a name for themselves, Natasha and Shari started working with the "London Blues Society" located in Canada, where they got the opportunity to play in bigger halls, festivals, etc....and with bigger names such as Sean Kellerman, Lucky Peterson, Eddie Clearwater, and Bobby Rush.
When Natasha turned 18, her parents decided to move to South Africa, simply for "change" and because it was her mother’s homeland. Both daughters were encouraged to come with, and so Natasha did, in hopes of maintaining and growing her music career elsewhere, but sister, Shari, decided to stay in Canada.
When Natasha and her parents arrived in South Africa, they lived in Wilderness for a short while. Natasha played as a solo act in restaurants and pubs like the "Blue Olive" in Wilderness, "Button Rouge- Blues and Jazz Cafe" and "Zanzibar" in George. But with little opportunities there, Natasha and her parents moved closer to the big city of Cape Town.
Natasha has played at: "Fogey's", "Barleycorn Music Club", "Plassteater", "Perigators", "Decodance", and "Bella's"...to list a few.
She has gratefully been given the opportunity to play with well-known artists around Cape Town...playing with Tim Parr and Steve Van, opening for "The Dane Taylor Trio", and opening for "The Boulevard Blues Band".
Natasha is currently keeping busy working with her own band, "P.S. Natasha Meister", with Peter Stein on bass, and Steven Gordon on drums. The band plays every Saturday night at "Bella's" in Kenilworth.
To all artists wishing to perform on these open nights, either for a 40min set or just a song or two, please contact Jurgen at jurg@dieboer.com.
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WIL JY BY DIE BOER OPTREE:?
ie by die groot venues speel nie en as jy nie by die groot venues speel nie!! 
Ons wil help om die langtermyn welstand van die uitvoerende kunste in die algemeen, maar in die besonder “lewendige musiek” te bevorder. Die vreugde van musiekmaak lê daarin om saam met ander musikante te speel, of jouself te begelei. Daarom gee ons voorkeur aan kunstenaars wat sonder “backtracks” speel. 
