Arno Carstens wows sold-out crowd in Umtentweni
It was an evening of great food, warm company and outstanding South African talent - a welcome boost for the leafy suburb.
Legendary South African singer Arno Carstens delivered two sold-out, back-to-back performances at Jaxx Restaurant in Tweni last week.
Known for his powerful solo-stage presence, Carstens, armed with his guitar and unmistakable voice once again proved why he remains one of the country’s most respected artists.
His blend of energy, humour and vocal mastery kept fans captivated from start to finish.
After all, he is an award-winning musician who has toured with U2, The Rolling Stones and The Police, to name a few.
Throughout the hour-long performance, he even flipped the traditional encore on its head. Instead of the crowd calling for ‘one more’, it was Carstens who jokingly delivered the line first, much to the delight of the audience.
He surprised fans with a few well-chosen covers – including one from Mike and the Mechanics. Interestingly, Carstens features as lead vocalist and co-writer on three tracks on the band’s 2011 album The Road, a fun fact many might not know about him.
He also treated fans to a selection of Afrikaans songs, sharing that he was inspired to create Afrikaans hits after opening for international superstar Celine Dion for five nights.
Dion’s success with French-language music, he explained, encouraged him to explore language and genre more boldly – another career milestone many South Africans may not have known about.
But he saved the best for last – when he launched into favourites from the Springbok Nude Girls era, nostalgia swept through the venue, with guests singing along, finger-tapping and swaying in their chairs.
It was an evening of great food, warm company and outstanding South African talent – a welcome boost for the leafy suburb of Tweni, which continues to endure the brunt of the ongoing Mzimkhulu River bridge closure.
A few lucky fans even managed to snap a selfie with Carstens, capturing a moment that will no doubt go down in their personal history books.
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