Windhoek — A gutsy solo acoustic performance from the young and talented musician, Savannah Collins (18), who was the opening act for the Bank Windhoek Music Circle for the beautiful Sharon Van Rooi and the Fu Jazz band, at NICE Restaurant on Saturday - brought her own unique blend of raw rock/blues to the stage.

Fresh out of Grade 12, this ambitious artist has shaken things up lately with a string of local live gigs, offering a stripped down acoustic repertoire of fly guitar and husky vocals that has made its mark on the local music industry since she first appeared on the scene two years ago. Saturday's performance brought out some of Savannah's new material she has been working on behind the scenes, namely a foot tapping, finger clicking bluesy original called "Be Free", which she is busy recording to release as her first hit single.

This was yet another feather in this young talents cap, as she held her own in a line-up amongst Namibia's truly amazing songbird Sharon Van Rooi, the accomplished musicians of the Fu Jazz band and their awesome back up female vocalists Maho and Charmaine.

The multiple Sanlam/NBC music makers winner, Sharon, brought an up-beat tempo to her repertoire, with a Whitney Houston medley tribute, hitting those notes from all time favourite songs like I'm every Woman.

Sharon who has captured Namibia for years with her golden voice is kept busy performing corporate functions, but has bursting back onto the music circuit again with a more modern take on her well-known singing talents.

A new face to the scene was a laid back R&B/Soul performance by Raymond Pande who was discovered at one of the song nights.

Savannah has been very active in recent weeks, performing with the likes of Shishani before she jetted back to Europe and songbird Lisa Ehlers, as well as a VIP Hilton Sky Bar appearance, sporting her trade-mark corset, studs, leatherette and black guitar.

She recently closed a gig for South Africa's legendary Brian Finch, bringing out her acoustic renditions of Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones and Guns 'n Roses, where her gravel voice and 'fly' guitar strumming techniques characterises her own twist on old rock classics. Savannah also set the pace with a power packed repertoire at the recent Playhouse Acoustic Showdown, where she opened the show for seven top acts which included amongst others The Four Right Cords, Miss H, SA Idols entry John Rock Profit and Raymond to mention some.

With plans on furthering her music studies in Cape Town next year, this up and coming starlet aims to pack in some more gigs over the festive season.