Two international artists will be joining a "star-studded" local line-up of bands at Old Mutual's "Acoustic Encounters" music venue at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown from the end of June. British-born singer/songwriter Lloyd Cole - who first shot to fame with his band the Commotions in the eighties - has been secured for three "up close and intimate" performances in the small 200-seater venue, as has American songster Michelle Shocked.

Cole's debut album Rattlesnakes set the tone for a career that has shunned the trappings of mainstream pop, but that has won him critical acclaim and a solid core of loyal fans. VH1.com calls him "one of the most articulate and acute songwriters of the postpunk era".

Shocked, meanwhile, has her musical roots in political activism and has developed a reputation for taking on surprising new musical challenges - her list of album releases embrace a range of styles from folk, to Swing, to Gospel.

This will be their first visit to South Africa, and each artist's three shows at Die Taphuis venue are expected to sell out fast. The venue will, for the duration of the Festival (Thurs 28 June - Sat 8 July), host Old Mutual's "Acoustic Encounters" series, which also boasts a strong lineup of local artists.

"The Encounters concept is about nurturing collaboration between musicians, and giving them the space to develop new material and stage unique performances in intimate venues," Old Mutual Sponsorship Manager Tony Lankester said. "For the Festival we have paired up some awesome musicians - Neo Muyanga will be performing with Gloria Bosman; Wendy Oldfield with Paul Hanmer; and Steve Newman with Albert Frost. We've also thrown in some wildcards - folk-rocker Robin Auld is inviting a range of friends to perform with him on certain nights, and each evening will end with a massive Louis Mhlanga Jam Band collaboration," he said.

Cole's three performances will be opened by a collaboration between Chris Chameleon (ex-lead singer of Boo!) and author-poet Rian Malan.

Cole's many hits include his debut "Perfect Skin", "My Bag", "Brand New Friend" "Jennifer She Said", and "So you'd like to change the world". Shocked, meanwhile, has won acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic for her work and staunchly independent musical stance, and has become a familiar performer at various festivals. Her biggest hit single from the 80s, "Anchorage", still gets airplay on radio stations around the world.

The Accoustic Encounters line-up for the duration of the Festival looks as follows:

DATE	PERFORMERS
29 June	Neo Muyanga & Gloria Bosman	Robin Auld & Friends	Louis Mhlanga Jam Band
30 June	Robin Auld & Friends	Michelle Shocked	Louis Mhlanga Jam Band
1 July	Neo Muyanga & Gloria Bosman	Michelle Shocked	Louis Mhlanga Jam Band
2 July	Robin Auld & Friends	Michelle Shocked	Louis Mhlanga Jam Band
3 July	Wendy Oldfield and Paul Hamner	Neo Muyanga & Gloria Bosman	Louis Mhlanga Jam Band
4 July	Wendy Oldfield and Paul Hamner	Steve Newman & Albert Frost	Louis Mhlanga Jam Band
5 July	Wendy Oldfield and Paul Hamner	Steve Newman & Albert Frost	Louis Mhlanga Jam Band
6 July	Chris Chameleon and Rian Malan	Lloyd Cole	Louis Mhlanga Jam Band
7 July	Chris Chameleon and Rian Malan	Lloyd Cole	Louis Mhlanga Jam Band
8 July	Chris Chameleon and Rian Malan	Lloyd Cole	Louis Mhlanga Jam Band

Subscribe to our newsletter for more information on things to do, events, nightlife and news in South Africa.