Laurie Levine

Over four records and countless live performances, the South African-based artist has taken her original material to a growing fan base, earning multiple accolades along the way.

Among these was a best producer award (for producer Dan Roberts) for her critically acclaimed album, Six Winters at the annual South African Music Awards (SAMA’s) and two Standard Bank Ovation Awards at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. The UK release of Six Winters led to two successful UK tours in 2012 and 2014 and rave reviews internationally.

It’s no secret why Levine has managed to sustain a career in a home market that’s dominated by Gospel, urban and pop – and is now poised for a strong international push. As her fans know well, Levine’s gift lies in her ability to draw on the deep roots of folk music, and mix it in with a myriad of other influences, including from America’s Appalachia region and her native South Africa.

With the acoustic guitar as her main instrument, her recordings see Levine – and a host of superb musicians – deploy an array of instruments (pedal steel, dobro, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, strings) that add the kind of atmosphere and layers that propel her songs out of simple singer-songwriter territory.

Whether solo or with onstage collaborators, Levine has supported her releases with a slate of live performances that have cemented her standing as an artist of real power – and helped mark her out as a melodious, soulful singer capable of carrying emotion without any hint of histrionics.