Big Country South Africa at Woodstock Brewery

Name: Big Country South Africa at Woodstock Brewery
Start: 2025-10-25T17:00:00+02:00
End: 2025-10-25T22:30:00+02:00
Location: Woodstock Brewery

Schedule

Sat Oct 25 2025 at 05:00 pm to 10:30 pm

UTC+02:00

Location

Woodstock Brewery | Cape Town, WC

Big Country South Africa at Woodstock Brewery feat. Rocking Horse, Rock the Boat, Hugo Veldsman trio and The Betsies!
Experience a tapestry of sound at this South African roots music celebration, as we bring you a vibrant live show dedicated to the intermingling of Country, Rock, Blues and Folk!
It’s an evening that honours the shared heritage of these genres, where the deep-seated emotional honesty of the music acts as a powerful cultural connector, inviting listeners into a communal space of shared stories, rich harmonies, and raw, authentic expression.
Showcasing four incredible acts, this line-up is a journey through the South African Country music landscape, featuring everything from the pioneering bands who first forged the genre's local sound to the dynamic new guard carrying the torch into the future.
Doors 5pm
Show starts 6:30pm
Ticket options:
Early Bird Trail - R150pp
The Highway Roll - R200pp
Last Call Lane - R250pp
*Please note, this is a standing show. Limited seating however will be available on a first come basis.
About the Artists;
Rocking Horse
40 Years as SA’s #1 Original Country Music Recording Band.
Formed in late 1985, brothers Clive & Tony Ridgway, along with Dave Rattle, Julian Mayer and Barry Buret, set off on a musical journey as ROCKING HORSE, performing a blend of “Country-Rock with a pinch of The Blues.” The band was soon labelled SA’s #1 Country Rock Band, a tag that is still relevant today, four decades later!
After a few years performing as a touring band alongside an array of Pop and Country stars, Rocking Horse released their debut album “Someone Loves You” on the Transistor Music record label. It was 1988, and the years that followed saw the band touring throughout SA, sporadically releasing new, originally-penned compositions along the way. They were regular faces on 80s and 90s TV and were heard on national radio stations that playlisted Country and Country-crossover tracks.
The Ridgway Brothers became regular visitors to Country Music’s ‘Mecca,’ Nashville, during the 90s. Seeking to learn more about the art of song writing and deepen their understanding of what it takes to write both authentic and commercial country songs, they met with mainstream and independent publishers and players. Picking up invaluable experience performing on the songwriter circuit in Nashville, the brothers regard their time spent on Music Row as a significant phase in their careers and students of their chosen genre.
All the while, Rocking Horse continued adding Ridgway/Ridgway Country and Country-Rock compositions to their legacy, recording, and releasing numerous albums from 1991 – 2023, then, on 25 April 2025 in collaboration with Next Music, Rocking Horse released “CERTIFIED SA COUNTRY LEGENDS”, an album unlike anything recorded before. What sets “CERTIFIED SA COUNTRY LEGENDS” apart from any other local Country compilation, is that it is a collection of all original songs performed by the legends that have set the standards for the artform in South Africa.
The album chronicles the story of SA Country Music in a unique and authentic way, showcasing the community of artists that over the last 60 years have made SA Country what it is today. The sixteen songs on the record were purposefully composed by Clive and Tony Ridgway to suit the voices and singing styles of each of the artists invited to feature on the project – Bobby Angel, Barbara Ray, Billy Forrest, Tommy Dell, Clive Bruce, Joanna Field, Lance James, Lee Magnum, Vangie Coker, Matt Hurter, Maritza, Paul Greeff, Caroline Du Preez, Bernie Williams, Alan Ladd and Rocking Horse.
“CERTIFIED SA COUNTRY LEGENDS” is a collection of exceptional songs from two songwriters and a band that has set the bar for authentic, original country music in South Africa – brothers Clive and Tony Ridgway, and Rocking Horse.
Rock The Boat
Rock The Boat is a South African country-rock duo formed by husband-and-wife team Wendy Niehaus and Stewart Irving.

Their collaboration blends heartfelt storytelling with dynamic musicality, creating a sound that resonates with fans of both country and rock genres.

Stewart Irving gained prominence as the lead singer of the South African band Ballyhoo, notably after their hit "Man on the Moon." He also achieved solo success with his hit "Superstar."
Wendy Niehaus brought her experience as the frontwoman of bands like Crystal December, Gasoline, and Sounds Like Thunder. Together, their harmonized vocals and emotive performances have become a signature of their music.
Rock The Boat continues to perform live across South Africa, bringing their unique blend of country and rock to audiences nationwide.
Their music is characterized by expressive guitar work, soaring vocals, and rich harmonies that reflect their personal and musical partnership.
Hugo Veldsman
Since his 2019 debut, Hugo Veldsman has swiftly established himself within the Southern African Folk and Roots scene. In just six years of performing, writing, and touring, he has shared the stage with some of the country's top musical exports. His distinctive lap steel guitar sound, a quintessential feature of his work, channels his deep love for Americana and Blues. This blues influence is masterfully fused with his unique "alternative folk" songwriting style, which is rooted in his intricate finger-picking technique—a skill honed during his classical guitar training at the Stellenbosch Conservatorium. Whether delivering soft, meaningful songs of hope or launching into romping, stomping blues straight out of a Mississippi bayou, Hugo Veldsman and his band consistently captivate audiences of all sizes.
The Betsies
The Betsies are a boundary-breaking, original sister act breathing new life into the South African music scene with their unmistakable blend of Country, Folk and Americana.
Raised on harmonies of Country music, these multi-instrumentalists channel the grit of the Karoo, the charm of Nashville, and the storytelling tradition of their own backyard.
With Landi Degenaar on banjo and acoustic guitar, Zelmari Degenaar on Bass, Hugo Veldsman on pedal steel and Paul Avenant on drums, The Betsies craft hauntingly beautiful songs that linger long after the last chord fades. Their sound is raw yet refined — a rare fusion of vintage Americana and fresh Southern African soul. Whether playing intimate unplugged sets or bringing down the house at festivals, The Betsies captivate audiences with their blood harmony, poetic lyrics, and undeniable sister chemistry.
First introduced to global audiences on Apple TV’s My Kind of Country, The Betsies are now carving out their own sonic path — rooted in honesty, harmony, and a fierce love for music that tells the truth.