The Hovering - Album & Book Launch, Art Installation

For immediate release:

Two Local Creative Forces Unite for The Hovering

George, South Africa – 24 October 2025

On 24 October, the Market Community Theatre in George will host a beautiful collaboration between two celebrated South African creatives: nationally recognised singer, composer, theatre entrepreneur and artist Petronel Baard, and acclaimed academic, writer, artist and poet Louisa Punt-Fouché. Together, they present The Hovering—an immersive artistic experience that combines a live performance, art installation, music album, and the official launch of Punt-Fouché’s latest book, Breathing with the Earth.

A Fusion of Music, Poetry and Visual Art

At the heart of The Hovering lies the dialogue between music and poetry. The evening marks the official launch of The Hovering - a brand-new album featuring Louisa Punt-Fouché’s poems set to music and sung by Petronel Baard -accompanied by her orchestra and friends—Franco Engelbrecht (piano, orchestra leader), Johan Engelbrecht (percussion, guitar, violin), and Lelanè van der Merwe (cello, violin) — Baard gives voice to poetry through her composition and singing, creating a soundscape that hovers between memory, meaning, and renewal.

The programme is further enriched by Punt-Fouché’s striking art installation, An Unveiling of Many-Voiced Blue Landscapes, a visual journey into the themes of ecology, human consciousness, and transformation that run through her body of work.

Celebrating Louisa Punt-Fouché

A prolific thinker and creator, Punt-Fouché has published fourteen books and is recognised for her work at the intersection of poetry, philosophy, psychology, and art. Her latest book, Breathing with the Earth, also launched on the evening, anchors The Hovering, offering words and imagery that spark dialogue between the natural world and human creativity.

The Voice of Petronel Baard

Riversdale-born Baard, widely known for her soulful performances and contribution to South Africa’s cabaret scene, brings her artistry full circle in this collaboration. A former ATKV Crescendo winner with an award-nominated debut album, Baard’s distinctive voice captures the emotional truths and textures that the project seeks to illuminate.

The Hovering: A Living Presence

More than a concert or exhibition, The Hovering is an experience that “evokes a watchful, expectant presence that nurtures new beginnings and transformation.” It invites audiences to engage with sound, word, and image as two creative voices merge into one artistic vision.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, 24 October 2025

Venue: Market Community Theatre, George

Tickets: R200 per person (Art Installation from 18:00 , Live Show at 19:00)

Bookings: Via Quicket or Heather at 072 364 3304

Join two of South Africa’s most distinctive creative forces as they bring music, poetry, and art together in a celebration of imagination, resilience, and renewal - anchored by the launch of both Breathing with the Earth and the new album The Hovering. We have a limited number of tickets available for free for the press. Please let me know as soon as possible but by latest on Monday, 20 October, if you would be able to attend this in person.

I also attach a recent review of this collaboration by renowned critic, for your perusal. https://www.netwerk24.com/netwerk24/kunste/musiek/petronel-baard-sweef-tussen-woorde-en-wysies-met-hovering-20250715

For queries and event details or future sponsorship opportunities, please contact Morne Voigt on +27631002269 or on [email protected]