Legendary US Singer performs in Windhoek

American singer/songwriter Shawn Phillips will be performing at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) on February 24.

This will not be his first time in the country. Since his last appearance in Namibia in 1994, he has brought out a studio album, three DVDs, and has moved to South Africa where he lives with his wife and five-year-old son.

‘I’ve wanted to get back to Namibia for so long. The beauty of the country had an extraordinary impact on me. I’m thrilled to be able to perform in Namibia again,’ said Phillips.

Phillips spends six to eight months of the year on tour. The highlight of his 2011 tour calendar was performing with Donovan and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page at the Royal Albert Hall in London in June. ‘Donovan got us all together to do a live version of the album, Sunshine Superman,’ says Phillips, ‘I played sitar on the original album in 1965, and Jimmy played lead guitar. It was wonderful to perform with these incredibly talented people again.’

Phillips, a Port Elizabeth resident for the last eight years, is a senior crew member of the National Sea Rescue Institute in Port Elizabeth.

He is currently working on a new studio album and is hoping to collaborate with many of South Africa’s talented musicians on this project.

Though he is still regarded as the music industry’s ‘best kept secret’, Phillips has enjoyed a massive upswing in his career over the last 10 years. This resurgence has resulted in extensive touring commitments in Italy, German, Lebanon, South Africa, the USA and Canada. Ongoing interest from Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the Far East will most likely keep 69-year-old Phillips on the road for years to come.