Musician who topped South Africa's Hot 100 to play shows in the South West

An interior designer by trade, a competitive surfer for his country, a model and a singer-songwriter to boot who recently topped the Sony Ericsson Hot 100 in South Africa, Farryl Purkiss Kwa-Zulu Natal is a man who wears many hats with ease.

Purkiss, whose relaxed soulful folk-rock music has taken his own country by storm, will be playing a handful of dates in the South West, as well as shows in London and festivals in Europe in June and July.

"I started playing music as just a hobby" he says. "I jammed and messed around with singing and writing songs and didn't really take it that seriously. Then one day, I accidentally ran into my musical hero, Jack Johnson, and I suppose his advice and inspiration made me want to get into this full-time."

Rescuing Jack Johnson and fellow celebrity surfer Kelly Slater from a mob of fans after a surfing session, the evening culminated in Farryl and Jack jamming in Farryl's kitchen. Having started writing songs as a teenager, the meeting with Jack Johnson inspired Purkiss to think seriously about a career making music.

Recording his debut album Chapter 1 with a local producer, playing most of the instruments himself, Purkiss like most musicians shys away from pigeonholing his style, saying about his songs "They're basically stories about my life, where I've come from and where I am today".

To listen to Farryl's music check his website www.myspace.com/purkissmusic

"Think of warm sunny days at the beach, jam sessions round the fires with acoustic guitars and djembes and you've almost got it... almost" www.tonight.co.za

"His songs carress you" - Michael Smith, Drum Media, Australia

Farryl will appear on Thursday June 19th at the Taphouse in St Agnes, 20th at Sandsifter in Gwithian, 21st June in support of Donavon Frankenreiter (who he has previously toured with) at the Gold Coast OceanFest in Croyde, and on 22nd June at Gylly Beach Café, Falmouth.

For lineup info and ticket links for the Gold Coast OceanFest check their website www.goldcoastoceanfest.co.uk