Rock the Boat & Rocking Horse live at café Roux

Rock the Boat (JHB) are headed to Cape Town for 2 very special live performances, showcasing their brand-new album, “Keeps Me Breathing” (set for release 17 October 2025).

The first of these live performances will be taking place at the iconic café Roux in Noordhoek on Thursday 23 October 2025 and features legendary County Rock outfit, Rocking Horse, who will be performing a set on the night.

About the artists:

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.

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.

BOOKING NOTES:

•  If you can’t get the table configuration you want and end up booking seats on different tables as a result, please do so under the same email address and we’ll automatically put you together on one table. In fact, any seats booked under the same email address we will assume are together and arrange seating at one table. If this is not the case, however, or if you are booking with friends under different email addresses, just let us know and we’ll make a plan to seat you together. If the event appears sold-out, or you want to add to an existing booking, the same applies – just drop us an email to events@caferoux.co.za and we’ll do our best to make a plan!

•  If you struggle with the booking or online payment process, or want to swap tables, we can’t help with that – so please contact Quicket on support@quicket.co.za. And, if you can’t make the show and want to try to resell your tickets, please make use of Quicket’s secondary ticket sale option online – or let us know and we’ll try to sell your tickets on the door.

DOORS OPEN AT 6PM, SHOW STARTS AT 7:30PM

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