Guitarist and singer Gary Thomas will perform his first solo show in a year at the Alma Café in Alma Road, Rosebank, on Saturday September 1, at 8pm. Thomas was classically trained in school and later studied jazz at university. His diverse musical background shows in his combination of fingerstyle picking, rapid virtuoso strumming and percussive playing. Singing with two microphones with varying reverb effects, he uses his voice in the orthodox manner as well as textually layering extra tones over the music. He also adds sounds from a wooden stomp box and violin bow playing. Tickets cost R100. Email jono@almacafe.co.za or call 021 685 7377 to pre-book.