Top SA music comes to the KZN Midlands
Hilton College Theatre will host iconic South African band Tree63 on Friday, 27 February at 19h00. The performance promises to be powerful and nostalgic, featuring classic hits alongside newer material, delivered in an intimate, world-class venue. “This show is about reconnecting with audiences and celebrating songs that have carried meaning for so many people over the years,” says founder and frontman, John Ellis. “The Hilton College Theatre is a beautiful setting for that rekindling.” Tickets are priced at R200 and are available via Webtickets.
Formed in Durban in 1997, Tree63 is one of South Africa’s most successful and enduring musical exports. Led since its inception by singer-songwriter and guitarist Ellis, the band quickly rose to prominence with a run of radio and chart hits including Treasure, Stumbling Stone and A Million Lights. Early success attracted the attention of US-based InPop Records, launching Tree63 onto the global stage. Tree63 released their first new single in a decade, How Much Longer?, in November 2025, with a brand-new studio album scheduled for release over Easter 2026.
Opening the evening will be special guest and legendary KZN Midlands musician, Skippy Kubheka, adding further depth and community flavour to the evening. The show, locally produced by Charles Webster, forms part of Tree63’s renewed live journey and celebrates nearly three decades of music that has resonated with audiences both locally and internationally.
In 2025, with the blessing of original members Darryl Swart and Daniel Ornellas (now living abroad), John Ellis brought Tree63 back to the live arena with a new lineup and renewed creative focus. The result is a band that honours its past while performing with fresh energy, clarity and purpose.
About Charles Webster Music
Charles Webster Music is a KwaZulu-Natal Midlands–based live music and production platform dedicated to creating meaningful musical experiences. Whether it’s his own solo performances, band performances, local shows, involvement in Music in the Hills (MiTH) or producing incoming artists, Charles’ work spans performance, promotion, and live show production, with a strong focus on community and quality. Charles is passionate about building a sustainable live music community that serves audiences and musicians alike. More information is available via his online platform: www.charleswebstermusic.com
More about Tree63:
With a catalogue that has soundtracked a generation, and new music pointing to the future, Tree63 Live at Hilton College Theatre is set to be a memorable evening of South African music history - performed live, with purpose and heart.
The band’s US debut album, released in 2000, produced multiple number-one radio hits and earned the Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year. This success was followed by The Life and Times of Absolute Truth (2002), featuring fan favourites Anxious Seat and No Words, and The Answer to the Question (2003), which yielded Billboard’s number-one radio song of 2004, Blessed Be Your Name, alongside King and You Only. King also earned John Ellis an ASCAP Song of the Year award.
Between 1997 and 2015, Tree63 released seven studio albums and toured extensively across South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. After disbanding when Ellis relocated back to South Africa from Nashville, the band briefly reconvened for the 2015 Land album and tour, cementing their legacy as a defining voice in South African rock and faith-inspired music.
