Sien Francois van Coke soos jy hom nog nooit tevore gesien het nie. Unplugged by Emperors Palace – 23 Augustus om 15:00.

FRANCOIS VAN COKE UNPLUGGED

Theatre of Marcellus

Emperors Palace, 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park

Sunday, 23 August 2026 at 15:00

Bookings at www.LTickets.co.za

For more than two decades, Francois van Coke has been an unmistakable voice in South African music – an artist who helped transform Afrikaans and rock music, first as the frontman of Fokofpolisiekar and then Van Coke Cartel, and later through a successful solo career. Now, audiences can experience his music in a unique and intimate setting when Van Coke brings his “Unplugged” show to the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace on Sunday, 23 August, at 15:00. Bookings can be made via www.LTickets.co.za, by calling 011 815 3000, or at www.lefra.co.za. The production is presented with the kind cooperation of Ambassador Execudrive, BluBlood, Britz Couriers & Removals, Emperors Palace, Feeste.net, Hollywood Costumes, LTickets, Lift Airlines, Mannah Guest House and Conference Centre, Mobilis Auto, RSG, Shereno Printers, and Van Loveren Wines.

For this special performance, Van Coke is joined by his guitarist, Richard Onraet; together, they bring the well-known songs, personal stories, and raw emotion of his music to the stage in a more stripped-back format. This is Francois van Coke as audiences have not necessarily experienced him before – without the massive rock stage and full band, but with the focus squarely on the songs, the lyrics, and the artist behind it all.

Van Coke’s influence on Afrikaans music can hardly be overstated. As the frontman of Fokofpolisiekar – formed in 2003 – he helped lift Afrikaans music out of its traditional comfort zone. He created a new space where rock, rebellion, vulnerability, and honesty could coexist. However, since his debut solo album in 2015, Van Coke has demonstrated that his artistry extends far beyond his work within a band. His solo career has developed a strong, distinct identity, with albums such as Hierdie is die Lewe, Dagdrome in Suburbia, Kanniedood, and – most recently – Die Ruimte, his fifth solo album.

Die Ruimte, released in 2025, offers a unique glimpse into the artist’s life at this stage of his career. The album’s title was inspired by the words he frequently says to his children: “I love you more than space.” His children also contributed directly to the album’s content, featuring a special song he wrote for them.

Some of the most cherished moments of his career are cast in a new light – ranging from the music that made him the voice of a generation to the more personal songs that eventually became part of his solo repertoire. His trademark honesty, always a key element of his song writing, is given the opportunity to shine even more brightly in this format. One of the songs that established his solo career early on is Toe Vind ek Jou, a collaboration with Karen Zoid. The song resonated widely in 2015 and confirmed Van Coke’s ability to write deeply personal, emotionally resonant songs that connect with audiences beyond the confines of rock music. His music can be loud and defiant, yet remarkably human. This duality comes to the fore strongly in Die Ruimte – a quality also evident in songs like Breek and DSK. With Richard Onraet by his side, the “Unplugged” show offers the perfect opportunity to experience Van Coke’s music up close: in a more intimate setting where the lyrics and melodies take centre stage.

For fans who have followed him for years, this offers a new way to hear familiar favourites. For those who may know him primarily as an energetic rock star, it provides a chance to get to know the person and songwriter behind the stage persona. An intimate afternoon with one of the most important voices in modern Afrikaans music – Francois van Coke, his guitar, Richard Onraet, and the songs that have become part of South Africa’s musical landscape over more than two decades.

Francois van Coke Unplugged takes place on Sunday, 23 August 2026, at 15:00 at the Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace. Book your tickets now at www.LTickets.co.za.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

1.            In 2026, Lefra Productions continues to live up to its motto: “Lefra entertains South Africa”! For over two decades, Francois van Coke has been an unmistakable voice in South African music – an artist who helped transform Afrikaans and rock music, first as the frontman of Fokofpolisiekar and then Van Coke Kartel, and later through a successful solo career. Now, audiences have the opportunity to experience this music in a unique and intimate setting when Van Coke brings his *Unplugged* show to the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace on Sunday, 23 August, at 15:00. Tickets for the show can be booked online at www.LTickets.co.za or by calling Lefra at 011 815 3000.

2.            We would like to run readers’ or listeners’ competitions for the opening night. If you would like to make use of our competition line, please see the information below. We will draw and contact the winners, and then pass on the details for publication:

WIN TICKETS TO “FRANCOIS VAN COKE – UNPLUGGED” AT THE THEATRE OF MARCELLUS AT EMPERORS PALACE!

Three readers/listeners can each win a pair of tickets to ”Francois van Coke – Unplugged” at the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace on Sunday, 23 August, at three o’clock. To enter the competition hosted by [PUBLICATION/RADIO/TV TITLE] and Lefra, SMS the following details to 37338: COKE, [PUBLICATION, RADIO, TV], followed by your name and surname, e-mail address, and your city or town. Alternatively, the same information can be e-mailed to wen@lefra.com with the subject line “LEFRA & [PUBLICATION] COKE COMPETITION”. Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and the organizers’ decision is final. Example: Coke Huisgenoot Piet Pompies piet@pompies.co.za Hoopstad.

3.            For interviews please contact Charl Senekal at 011 815 3000 / 061 616 6138 or e-mail admin@lefra.com.

ISSUED BY: LEFRA PRODUCTIOJNS

MEDIA ENQUIRIES/COMPETITIONS/INTERVIEWS/PICTURES:
CHARL SENEKAL
TEL: 011 815 3000
CELL: 061 616 6138
E-MAIL: admin@lefra.com

FRANCOIS VAN COKE UNPLUGGED

Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace, Jonesweg 64, Kempton Park

Sondag, 23 Augustus 2026 om 15:00

Bespreek by www.LTickets.co.za

Vir meer as twee dekades is Francois van Coke ’n onmiskenbare stem in Suid-Afrikaanse musiek – ’n kunstenaar wat Afrikaans- en rockmusiek help verander het, eers as frontman van Fokofpolisiekar en toe Van Coke Kartel, en later met ’n suksesvolle solo-loopbaan. Nou kry gehore die geleentheid om dié musiek op ’n besonderse en intieme manier te beleef wanneer Van Coke sy Unplugged-vertoning op Sondag 23 Augustus om 15:00 na die Theatre of Marcellus by Emperors Palace bring. Besprekings vir kan gedoen word by www.LTickets.co.za, 011 815 3000 of by www.lefra.co.za. Die produksie word aangebied met die vriendelike samewerking van Ambassador Execudrive, BluBlood, Britz Couriers & Removals, Emperors Palace, Feeste.net, Hollywood Costumes, LTickets, Lift Airlines, Mannah Gastehuis en Konferensiesentrum, Mobilis Auto, RSG, Shereno Drukkers en Van Loveren-wyne aangebied.

Vir hierdie spesiale vertoning word Van Coke vergesel deur sy kitaarspeler, Richard Onraet, wat saam met hom die bekende liedjies, persoonlike stories en rou emosie van sy musiek in ’n meer gestroopte formaat na die verhoog bring. Dit is Francois van Coke soos gehore hom nog nie noodwendig vantevore beleef het nie – sonder die groot rockverhoog en die volle band, maar met die fokus vierkantig op die liedjies, die lirieke en die kunstenaar agter dit alles.

Van Coke se invloed op Afrikaanse musiek kan kwalik oorskat word. As die frontman van Fokofpolisiekar, wat in 2003 gevorm is, het hy gehelp om Afrikaans uit sy tradisionele musikale gemaksone te lig. Hy het ’n nuwe ruimte geskep waar rock, rebellie, kwesbaarheid en eerlikheid langs mekaar kon bestaan. Sedert sy eerste solo-album in 2015 het Van Coke egter bewys dat sy kunstenaarskap veel verder strek as sy werk binne ’n groep. Sy solo-loopbaan het ’n sterk eie identiteit ontwikkel, met albums soos Hierdie is die Lewe, Dagdrome in Suburbia, Kanniedood en, mees onlangs, Die Ruimte, sy vyfde solo-album.

Die Ruimte, wat in 2025 vrygestel is, bied ’n besondere blik op die kunstenaar se lewe op hierdie stadium van sy loopbaan. Die album se titel is geïnspireer deur die woorde wat hy gereeld vir sy kinders sê: “Ek het jou meer lief as die ruimte.” Sy kinders het ook direk tot die album se inhoud bygedra, met ’n spesiale lied wat hy vir sy twee kinders geskryf het.

Van die mees geliefde oomblikke uit sy loopbaan word in ’n nuwe lig geplaas – van die musiek wat hom ’n generasie se stem gemaak het tot die meer persoonlike liedjies wat mettertyd deel van sy solo-repertoire geword het. Sy bekende eerlikheid, wat nog altyd ’n belangrike deel van sy liedjieskryfwerk was, kry in hierdie formaat kans om selfs sterker na vore te tree. Een van die liedjies wat sy solo-loopbaan vroeg gevestig het, is Toe Vind ek Jou, saam met Karen Zoid. Die liedjie het in 2015 wyd aanklank gevind en het Van Coke se vermoë bevestig om ook buite die rock-raamwerk liedjies te skryf wat diep persoonlik en emosioneel met gehore verbind. Sy musiek kan hard en uitdagend wees, maar terselfdertyd besonder menslik. In Die Ruimte kom hierdie dualiteit weer sterk na vore – iets wat ook in liedjies soos Breek en DSK gehoor kan word. Met Richard Onraet aan sy sy bied die Unplugged-vertoning dus die perfekte geleentheid om Van Coke se musiek van nader te ervaar: kleiner, meer persoonlik en met die woorde en melodieë voorop.

Vir aanhangers wat hom al jare volg, bied dit ’n nuwe manier om bekende gunstelinge te hoor. Vir diegene wat hom dalk hoofsaaklik as die energieke rockster ken, bied dit ’n kans om die mens en liedjieskrywer agter die verhoogpersoonlikheid te leer ken. ’n Intieme middag met een van die belangrikste stemme in moderne Afrikaanse musiek – Francois van Coke, sy kitaar, Richard Onraet en die liedjies wat oor meer as twee dekades deel geword het van Suid Afrika se musieklandskap.

Charl Senekal
admin@lefra.com
011 815 3000
Lefra Produksies
http://www.lefra.co.za