After 16 years experience, eight albums and a dozen SAMA nominations between them. After two national tours together and now dubbed the ‘Collaboration of the Year’, these two Johannesburg based singer songwriters come together in their folksy indie collaborative side project, 'Side By Side'. This acoustic album is their first recording together. Stripped down and intimate, the songs capture the essence of their live show and highlights their vocal differences which, when combined, are hauntingly beautiful. The album features acoustic interpretations of their most popular songs, allowing both old and new fans to experience the material in a whole new light. *** 2014 Standard Bank Ovation Award Winner at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa More about Laurie Levine: Since surfacing with her remarkable debut, Unspoken, back in 2007, Laurie Levine has meticulously crafted a career that has turned her into a singer-songwriter of real substance. Over four records and countless live performances, the South African-based artist has taken her original material to a growing fanbase, earning multiple accolades along the way, among these was a best producer award for her critically acclaimed album, Six Winters (2011) at the annual South African Music Awards in 2012. Her latest album is ‘Border Crossing’. Levine has performed in the UK, where she released ‘Six Winters’ to critical acclaim at the end of 2012. She has also performed at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, opened for Rodriguez in London and international singer songwriter Joe Jackson in South Africa. She has also played at a number of Africa’s premier music events and festivals, including Oppikoppi, the Joy of Jazz Festival and the National Arts Festival. Levine’s gift lies in her ability to draw on the deep roots of folk music, and mix it in with a myriad of other influences and at the heart of Levine’s material is her storytelling ability. Whether tales of grief, loss, sex, betrayal or first loves, Levine’s ability to open a door with her words, and let listeners into an intimate world. "Her songwriting insights and vocal delicacy will be warmly welcomed by those who like folk and country with an individual sparkle." DAILY MIRROR (UK) “Evocative, emotive, stunning... All the adjectives in the world could never come close to truly describing the hour or so of magic that Levine bestowed on those present.” THE TIMES LIVE More about Josie Field: Six (6) times South African Music Award (SAMA) nominee, including ‘Best Female Artist’ 2009 and 2012, Josie Field has had one of the more interesting journeys through the South African music landscape. Her signature sound is a potent mix of lyricism and fire, heartfelt issues and tender constructions. Her unique voice, as well as her style of vocal delivery has set her apart from the sugarcoated pop princesses of the music world. While Josie is certainly no folk musician, she does however employ certain aspects of folk, blues and country alongside the power and passion of rock, a potent mix which has earned her critical and commercial acclaim and seen her share the stage with international acts like James Blunt, Ziggy Marley and even Westlife. She was also one of the fortunate South African music artists selected to perform for Nelson Mandela at his 90th Birthday celebrations. "In a scene saturated with prefabricated pop stars Josie Field is the real singer songwriter deal" CHANNEL 24 "Josie is one of the most talented and laid back artists and her music keeps her fans hanging onto her every lyrical word" JHBLIVE