'n Fondsinsamelingskonsert vir Mathys Roets wat op 18 Junie om 19:00 by Pierneefteater aangebied word:

Die kunstenaars is Carel Trichardt, Petru Wessels, Piet van Wyk de Vries en Annecke Redelinghuys.  Alvier hierdie kunstenaars het op hul eie manier ‘n verbintenis met Mathys.  Mathys se eerste solo-optrede was in die middel negentigerjare by Carel en Petru se Die Teaterhuisie terwyl Piet en Annecke nie alleen self sangers is nie, maar ook liedjies geskryf het wat op Mathys se CD’s opgeneem is.  Annecke het oa Dwergieman en Lyf geskryf wat dikwels deur Mathys tydens vertonings gesing word.  Van Piet is daar op Mathys se nuutste Afrikaanse CD – Fluister – nie minder nie as 8 liedjies opgeneem.  Van hierdie liedjies wat dikwels tydens Mathys se optredes gehoor word, is oa Mariëtte se Wals, Fluister, All that matters en ‘n Man se liedjie.  Kom ondersteun asb en help so hierdie vier kunstenaars om met hulle gratis optrede vir Mathys een van sy verlore optredes se inkomste vir hom te vervang totdat hy weer self kan begin optree.  Al Mathys se CD’s en DVD’s sal op die aand hier te koop wees.

What’s the definition of music? They say that it’s a combination of all sorts of sounds and it usually contains some kind of melody or rhythm. Many people can’t start the day without a cup of coffee. For me that “cup of coffee” is music. It’s my addiction and it’s my way of experiencing the daily journey of feelings. It’s not what the heart experiences, for the heart is just an empty thing with blood inside. It’s what the mind experiences and that depends on our own attitudes. For instance; we can decide what kind of music we like and it all will differ from person to person. There is no right or wrong answer.

Four years ago I picked up the guitar for the first time and I taught myself the first three chords. It was that day when I realized for the first time how many beautiful sounds I’m surrounded with. I started to listen to music in a different way and I started to feel each sound. A few weeks after I started playing the guitar someone asked me how many hours a day I spent practising the guitar. I just showed him my fingers: it was covered with bloody blisters, because every time I practised, the blisters got cut open by the strings. That answered his question quick enough. I spent hours and hours and hours trying to be just as good as all the famous musicians. Bryan Adams sings in the song “ Summer of ‘69” the following: “I got my first real six string…and I played it till my fingers bled…” I think I can relate to those words.

All I’m trying to say is that it’s hard work to play any kind of instrument, but then again, if it’s your passion then it’s no work at all.