Sissy and Barry McGurk. Photo supplied
Having toured the UK and Canada in 2015 and five European countries in 2016, Sissy (Erika McGurk), Oudtshoorn’s well known vocalist, will this year be touring the UK in July and the USA in August.
Over several decades Sissy was the leader of the Independent Church Choir in Bridgton.
For the last five years she has been the lead singer of the Oudtshoorn production Magic Moments, which was the winner of the Lilizela National Tourism Award in 2016 for the best cultural and lifestyle experience in the country.
Magic Moments, a dinner show presented at the home of Sissy and Dr Barry McGurk – her husband and keyboard player – was recognised with this award for enabling and encouraging overseas guests to experience South Africa as the residents know it.
According to Dr McGurk all the events abroad are charitable and at the invitation of people who have been to the dinner show.
“They arrive as strangers but many of them leave as friends. Some of the Americans we will visit have been to the show several times. This year we will be doing a circular tour of Atlanta, Georgia, Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, Birmingham, Alabama and finishing off in Washington DC.”
“I’m pleased to be going to the UK again with shows in Bristol and London,” said Sissy. “It’s my fifth trip to the UK and I always enjoy performing there. The audiences are so appreciative. But I’m really excited to be going to the USA for the first time, especially Nashville and Memphis which are so famous for music. We’ll have lots of time for visiting some of the attractions like Graceland and the political sites such as the White House. ”
Barry concluded jokingly: “We are looking forward to the trip and avoiding the winter here. It makes all our children jealous.”