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Associated Press
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
French guitar virtuoso Pierre Bensusan returns for his 50th anniversary tour
Currently on tour in China, the French superstar guitar legend launches his North American revisit June 7th in Los Angeles 'Pierre is one of my favorite guitarists. He has created a new way of playing and is the king of the DADGAD tuning.'— Michael Hedges NASHVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES, April 15, 2025 / / -- Multi-award winning acoustic guitar virtuoso Pierre Bensusan is returning to North America for his 'One Guitar - One Voice' 50th anniversary tour. The French-Algerian is considered a superstar in Europe, and is a popular return performer in countries such as China. One of the world's most eloquent World Music artists of our time, Pierre is known as 'Mister DADGAD' for his mastery of the unique guitar tuning style. When Michael Hedges titles one of his compositions 'Bensusan', you know that the inspiration behind it must be special and Pierre Bensusan certainly is. Guitarists from Leo Kottke to Larry Corryel, to Tuck Andress, Tommy Emmanuel, Mark Knopfler, Andrew York, Andy Timmons, to Steve Lukather… have sung his praises, and Steve Vai released three Bensusan albums on his label Favored Nations. And it's not just guitarists who are so inspired by Pierre's music, as a recent studio collaboration with him on Donny Osmond's latest album 'Start Again' goes to show. Pierre begins his US and Canadian tour June 7th, after shows in China, the UK and Switzerland. The tour will stretch from British Columbia to the Atlantic Ocean in the Southeast, from Southern California to the tip of Nova Scotia, and everywhere in between. Click for tour dates. Pierre's Media EPK: English EPK French EPK 'Listening to Pierre's music is rejuvenating.' Steve Vai 'This is beautiful... Pierre is one of the GREATS!!!' Tommy Emmanuel Cgp. 'Pierre Bensusan's music is a true inspiration.' Suzanne Vega 'With only his steel-string-acoustic guitar – and sometimes his rich, affecting voice – Mr Bensusan can disassemble your heart and hand it back to you restored and renewed. As he did to mine tonight. A true giant.' James Volpe Rotondi (former senior editor, Guitar Player Magazine) For further info, please contact Cletis Carr at CPR Artists Nashville. [email protected] Cletis Carr CPR Artists +1 615-801-2718 [email protected] Visit us on social media: Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Russia Today
05-03-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
South Africa sets exports record
South Africa's agricultural exports rose to record highs and reached $13.7 billion (R255.5bn) in 2024, marking an increase of 3% from the previous year. Despite this positive trend, the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) on Monday cautioned that the nation faces headwinds from escalating trade tensions, particularly between the US and China, a situation that could have ripple effects on South Africa's export market. The findings reveal a trade surplus of $6.2bn, albeit a slight decline of 2% from the prior year. This fluctuation in figures comes as economists warn of continued volatility in the rand, primarily driven by developments in the US and fluctuations in the US dollar. Prospects of relative strength in the rand loom as upcoming US tariff applications may be less severe than initially anticipated. South Africa's agricultural sector is increasingly pressured to diversify its market reliance, particularly with the US, given the tit-for-tat trade war that has erupted with China. In a provocative retaliation, China has responded to a 25% tariff imposed by the US, charged with neglecting the influx of fentanyl into US territory. Such geopolitical manoeuvring underlines the urgent need for South Africa to enhance logistical efficiency and maintain, if not expand, its market presence across the European Union (EU), Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz chief economist, said if South Africa were excluded from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), the country would face an average import duty of about 3% at the Most Favored Nations Rate. This underscores the fact that Agoamainly offers price competitiveness to the products South Africa exports to the US. 'The 3% tariff would advantage other competitors that access the US market duty-free as South Africa currently does under the Agoa. South Africa's agricultural exports to the US - mainly citrus, grapes, wine, and fruit juices - account for 6% which also includes exports to the Americas,' Sihlobo said. 'Still, this is not to minimize their value as few specific industries are primarily involved in these agricultural exports to the US. Since the start of Agoa, the percentage share of South Africa's agricultural exports to the US has remained at these levels.' South Africa is on short notice with the US as that country highlights that government has taken aggressive positions towards the US and its allies, including accusing Israel, and not Hamas, of genocide at the International Court of Justice, and reinvigorating its relations with Iran. According to Investec chief economist Annabel Bishop, markets also perceive a deterioration in the political relationship between SA and the US after the former recently removed aid support from South Africa, and concerns are growing over South Africa Agoa's free trade access into the US. According to Agbiz, the EU is South Africa's third-largest agricultural market in 2024, with a share of 19%. Citrus, grapes, wines, dates, avocados, pineapples, fruit juices, apples and pears, berries, apricots and cherries, nuts, and wool were amongst the top agricultural products South Africa exported to the EU in 2024. Sihlobo said the country needed to accelerate initiatives including investments in the port and rail infrastructure and improving roads in farming towns. 'South Africa must work hard to retain the existing markets in the EU, the African continent, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. This is even more important in the current climate, where US policymakers are increasingly discussing raising tariffs,' Sihlobo said. He added that the departments of trade, industry and competition, as well as international relations and cooperation, and agriculture, should lead the way for export expansion in the current export markets and the search for new export markets. Sihlobo said South Africa should expand market access to some key BRICS countries, such as China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. 'The BRICS grouping should emphasize the need for member countries to lower the import tariffs and address artificial phytosanitary barriers hindering deeper trade within this grouping,' he said. He also noted that other strategic export markets for South Africa's agricultural sector included South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Mexico, the Philippines and Bangladesh. 'The private sector and the South African government share this ambition for export market expansion. In the current fragmented world, more resources and marketing must be used for this work,' he published by IOL
