Blog Archives - Palm Strings

Hogsback has been on our bucket list for a very long time. This June,2024 Mike had a gap in his teaching schedule so we decided to venture to the Eastern Cape and explore! What a paradise Hogsback is! If you love mountains and nature this is definitely the place to be. After a journey of 610 kms our instruments, although strapped to a BMW RT 1200 ,were perfectly in tune when we unpacked them on arrival at Away with the Fairies, our ‘home’ for the duration of our stay. We sat in front of a lovely fire with some wine and a pizza and retired early for some much needed sleep.

A glorious sunshine drew us to the Madonna & Child Falls-a 4km walk through a Forrest alive with birds and exquisite indigenous Ironwood, Blackwood, Stinkwood and Yellowwood trees-I almost thought I was in Natures Valley again doing the Tsitsikamma Trail!

On the way back there was an irresistible icy pool that I had to swim in and another hike up to the Swallows Tail Falls which was a tricky path but seriously rewarded with spectacular Falls. I really got the feeling of being on a multi day hike-when one has walked for quite a few kilometres and starts fantasising about a beer or a glass of wine or some good food…

The following day saw us in search of St Patrick’s Chapel-one of the few left in SA which doesn’t lock its doors-ever!After quite a slog uphill most of the way we finally came upon a charming stone and thatch Chapel and as luck would have it, we arrived at the same time as Lynne from Cathedral Weddings ,who was checking on lighting for a wedding tomorrow-we played a few tunes-she convinced us to play at the wedding in return for a walk in her private garden to see her private waterfalls at 42 on Main plus videos and advertising for her destination weddings. Any excuse to come back here is a good excuse for us!! We’ll simply hop on our trusty BMW and do what we do!!

Greeting us in the car park at the Chapel next morning was a herd of cows-seems that they have free reign in the Eastern Cape-as well as ‘right of way’-a bit like bicycles in the Netherlands. Turns out it was the grooms birthday so when he arrived at the Chapel we played happy birthday for him and got chatting. His bride -to -be was his girlfriend when they were both 18-life happened-and now,on his 66th birthday -they decided to tie the knot in a private affair in Hogsback. We were thrilled to be able to make music for him and his bride-even playing their favourite song he happened to mention which we downloaded in the Church and played for their exit . They left the Chapel dancing!Definitely a wedding we won’t forget!

As winter is giving way to spring, albeit slowly in the Cape this year, Palm Strings has entered a new season in its history. Funerals and memorial services around Cape Town have brought relief from the usual busy travel schedule that takes us to the outer reaches of our province to entertain wedding guests at lush wine farms.

Perhaps we were not ready for this season of funerals and memorial services until now. The repertoire we’ve built over the decades has given us a rich store of musical emotions to call upon when the moment arises. For example, one dearly departed was lovingly remembered by his kin as being of somewhat insistent character. After the eulogy, we broke out Frank Sinatra’s My Way, much to the delight of the fawning guests who could warmly bask in the vivid memory of their beloved father, brother, uncle and friend.

Another time, a small memorial service at a Newlands house began as a somewhat tense and complicated affair, but ended a rip-roaring party—no doubt we had the songs on hand to make each of those unique moments.

If you should find yourself in this most unfortunate of situations, consider allowing Palm Strings to turn tragedy into triumph and making your memorial service or funeral a moment to remember.

We’ve added a host of songs to our repertoire that have quickly become modern wedding classics.

A Thousand Years by Christina Perri from the 2012 classic Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2

A Million Dreams from the 2017 hit film The Greatest Showman

Head over to our Audio Samples page for more!

This weekend the Palm Strings Duo is delighted to be serenading the guests wining and dining at Southhill Guest Farm at Elgin just outside Cape Town. The annual Blossom Festival celebrates the dawning of spring and takes place from 2–3 October 2021. The festival is known for crisp white wines native to the region, excellent cuisine and music to match.

The Duo will be entertaining guests over breakfast, lunch and dinner, pausing for rugby as necessary. They do this by virtue of the reams of songs they have memorised, to satisfy every musical taste. Whatever the occasion, Palm Strings has just the right tune.

Palm Strings will be entertaining guests of Maritjie’s Famous Pub & Grill at Baardskeerdersbos to their trademark blend of toe-tapping pop and folks songs and beloved classics.

They’ll play from 17:00 till late on Saturday 28 August — come early to get the best seats!

Titia got a call from someone who wanted a violinist to play Schubert Serenade for her wedding on 9 January this year. This song was not part of Palm Strings’s repertoire at the time so they arranged it for violin and guitar, rehearsed it and met the bride at the Chapman’s Peak turnaround to play for them since they are based in Hout Bay. A more Covid-friendly venue surely didn’t exist. Needless to say, they were booked on the spot!

Courtney and Sasha tied the knot on Saturday 7 December 2019 at Altydlig, a beautiful old farm on the mountain above Kuilsriver. It was a hot day and the view of Table Mountain could not have been better. The service was on the lawn and the high tea afterwards was outside on the balcony of the Manor House maximizing the experience of being in the Cape Winelands.

For three years, Palm Strings has been asked to play for a certain family in Cape Town on Christmas Day as part of their Christmas celebrations. This is what the hostess had to say, “Just wanted to thank you both so very, very much for playing for us once again and for being so flexible with the playing arrangements. It was just magnificent, we all loved it and thank you so much for remembering that I love “She!” [song by Charles Aznavour] Wishing you both a wonderful, healthy & happy New Year.”

Palm Strings have had some super gigs playing for Soirées at various shopping centres for LE Creuset . How wonderful to be associated with such a stunning brand! Music was traded for pots!

What a lovely wedding! The 12 Apostles provided a gorgeous venue and Palm Strings provided equally wonderful music.