Blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Dan Patlansky may be the hardest-working musician in South Africa . The success of his seventh studio album, Dear Silence Thieves - heralded as the best blues rock album of 2014 by Blues Rock Review - has resulted in relentless touring.This year he has toured South Africa extensively, toured Europe twice, played in Zambia and is now starting another short tour around South Africa."It's a necessity," says Patlansky. "We need to continue to build our following. There's a limit to the number of times we can play the big centres, so we need to visit the smaller places - and I really enjoy doing it."After each performance Patlansky touches base with his fans. "It's pleasure and business. If I'm out there we sell more merchandise - but that's not my main motivation. It's research. I connect with the audience. I get the lowdown, the word on the street - what they enjoyed, what people want to hear."Patlansky and his band are renowned for their explosive live performances in which crunching guitar gasps, whisky wails and thumping beats collide and reverberate. How does he sustain the energy for these high-octane performances almost every second night?''It's tough to keep the energy up at times, but when you are passionate about your music it becomes a natural process to give your everything at each performance."Patlansky is taking September and October "off" to work on new material for his eighth studio album, before joining Joe Satriani, the world's biggest-selling instrumental rock guitarist, on his tour of the UK in November.''We've performed in Europe five times now and each time we return the audience gets bigger. The tour with Satriani will definitely kick our European following up a few notches."Another first for Patlansky will be the release of his new album on vinyl. According to Patlansky, blues followers want a physical product in their hand."They may download the album but they will rebuy it as a CD at a show. They want to read the cover, get it signed, have something tangible. I was constantly asked if my music was available on vinyl."It's not as big in South Africa yet but the trend is growing. The quality is significantly better."Patlansky will be performing at the Tarentaal Theatre in Rustenburg tonight, at the Cockpit Brewery in Cullinan on Sunday, at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria on Monday and at the Gateway Barnyard in Umhlanga on Tuesday. For further performance dates go to DanPatlansky.com..