LORD ECHO 'JUST DO YOU'

Just Do You is the first single from underground super-producer Lord Echo's (Craig Pearce) hotly anticipated 3rd album 'Harmonies'. So long has it's gestation been that it has reached a status reserved only for the mythical and the absurd. Some say it will never be finished with the album devouring its host creator and assuming a life of its own - but this first single proves other wise.

Lord Echo emerges from the darkness with a gleaming diamond in his hand - a slice of pure disco dub indulgence with all the rough trimmings that have made him a cult favourite from Tokyo to Trinidad.

With the real life concerns of the DJ always foremost in his mind, this 12" has something for every occasion with two different vocals and a radical excursion into the realm of left field disco dub that record collectors sweat over in feverish night dreams of cult record acquisition.

Both vocalists are long time Lord Echo collaborators : Electric Wire Hustles' Mara TK and Fat Freddies Drop's Toby Laing. 

Mara's version sees the golden voiced visionary wax lyrical on a night time affair stemming from a tiresome diplomatic function in a sweaty, exotic location deep in the recess' of your mind.  Toby's vocal was recorded in a hotel room in France on one of Fat Freddies Drop's sweeping European Tours and features some of the most obtuse yet deeply penetrating lines in contemporary songbook narrative.

Just Do You 12”

Side A
Just Do You feat. Mara TK
Just Do Dub

SIde B
Only You feat. Toby Laing
Just Do You Instrumental

WOMAD 2017 Line-Up announcement

With much excitement UK 2 Tone and Ska legends The Specials were the first announced to play WOMAD NZ 2017. 

Now, WOMAD NZ is over the moon to announce that joining them are: from Brazil, Grammy-nominee Bebel Gilberto, daughter of renowned singer João Gilberto performing her own laidback style of bossa nova; the French-Chilean musician, Ana Tijoux, whose sound captures where the street meets tradition; Vietnamese musicians Hanoi Masters who use half-forgotten traditional instruments to convey deep, personal connections to the upheavals of the Vietnam War; the New Orleans brass group Hot 8 Brass Band (USA), who will bring their signature blend of hip-hop, jazz and funk; "The Songbird of Wassoulou" Oumou Sangare (Mali) who is known for her seamless mix of old and new sounds that create a haunting backdrop for political lyrics, making her passion clear in any language and Sudha Ragunathan (India) who will take you to the heart of Carnatic music with her voice of gold.

Local artists include Wellington producer and multi instrumentalist Lord Echo (Craig Pearce) who blends boogie-laced Funk, disco-primed Reggae, futuristic Soul, and timeless African rhythms. Hailing from Auckland is Mt Eden, expect them to fire up their trademark extended build-ups, drum solos, double and triple drops and Auckland based Sons Of Zion whose fusion of reggae, heavy rock, dub and funk will get you dancing.

There are many, many, more exciting artists to discover at the WOMAD 2017 Festival, more below.

In alphabetical order: 9Bach (Wales), Ana Tijoux (Chile), Archie Roach (Australia), Aziza Brahim (Western Sahara), Bebel Gilberto (Brazil), Brushy one string (Jamaica), Emir Kusturica & the No Smoking Orchestra (Serbia), Hanoi Masters (Vietnam), Hot 8 Brass Band (USA), Inna Modja (Mali), La Mambanegra (Colombia), Lord Echo (Wellington/Aotearoa), Mercedes Peón (Spain), Mt Eden (Auckland/Aotearoa), Oumou Sangare (Mali), Rob Ruha (Matakaoa (Gisborne)/Aotearoa), Sinkane (Sudan/USA), Sons Of Zion (Auckland/Aotearoa), The East Pointers (Canada), The Soil (South Africa), The Specials (UK), The Swan Sisters (Christchurch/Aotearoa), Sudha Ragunathan (India), Swamp Thing (Tauranga/Rotorua/Aotearoa), Warsaw Village Band (Poland)

Tickets on sale from the WOMAD site, for ticketing options click here.  

FLY MY PRETTIES ANNOUNCE THE CAST FOR NATIONAL SUMMER TOUR

With the new album String Theory ready to be unleashed on the world on November 11, Fly My Pretties have today confirmed the 14-strong cast for their six date January 2017 tour.

Each show will see the same performers who appear on the String Theory album take to the stage. This cast features a number of Fly My Pretties favourites along with some of the most exciting new musical talents emerging in New Zealand, combining to create a truly special live performance experience.

Frontman and musical director Barnaby Weir will be joined by his The Black Seeds bandmates Jarney Murphy and Nigel Patterson, who, along with Mike Fabulous and The Nudge members Iraia Whakamoe, James Coyle, & Ryan Prebble, form the backbone of Fly My Pretties. Bailey Wiley, Laughton Kora, Ria Hall and Tiki Taane are four artists who are performing at the peak of their powers, filling out the robust sound that Fly My Pretties are known for. The cast is rounded out by A Girl Named Mo, Ills Winter and Miloux, who are back to blow audiences away across the summer tour, having wowed the crowds during their recent Fly My Pretties’ performances.

With music as a channel to explore the fabric of the cosmos and uncover the meaning of our lives within it, the tour will bring the String Theory album to life on stage, the way it was meant to be heard. The tour will showcase the best of New Zealand summers in stunning outdoor venues, setting this tour apart from any previous Fly My Pretties shows.

Tickets for the String Theory tour are on sale now, available through Ticketek in Wellington and Ticketmaster for all other shows. Priced at $72.00, all shows are all ages with children under 12 years are welcome free of charge with a paying adult – excluding the show at Coroglen Tavern which is R18. 

The Fly My Pretties – String Theory Cast is:
Barnaby Weir
Jarney Murphy - The Black Seeds
Nigel Patterson - The Black Seeds
Mike Fabulous - Lord Echo (Craig Pearce)
Iraia Whakamoe - The Nudge
James Coyle - The Nudge
Ryan Prebble - The Nudge
Bailey Wiley (Jaz Kapow)
Laughton Kora (Jaz Kapow)
Ria Hall
Tiki Taane (Ninakaye Taane-Tinorau
A Girl Named Mo
Ills Winter
Miloux

Civic Events presents Fly My Pretties – String Theory Tour

JANUARY
  
Saturday 7, Coromandel, Coroglen Tavern (R18)
Friday 13, Upper Moutere, Neudorf Vineyards
Sunday 15, Wairpara, Waipara Hills
Saturday 21, Havelock North, Blackbarn Vineyards
Sunday 22, Wellington, Botanical Gardens
Sunday 29, Waiheke Island, Cable Bay Vineyards

www.civicevents.co.nz

TOP FIVE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2016 APRA SILVER SCROLL AWARD

Five top New Zealand artists and acts have made the shortlist for the 2016 APRA Silver Scroll Award, recognising excellence in songwriting.

The finalists and their songs represent an eclectic mix of genres and range from iconic names in Kiwi music, to up-and-comers making their mark in the industry.

After winning the prized award in 2014, the internationally renowned Tami Neilson is back in this year’s list of finalists with ‘The First Man’ co-written with her brother Jay Neilson. It’s a heartbreaking song that reflects on the death of her father, written at a time of deep pain and grief, and yet also written out of deep love and celebration that narrates the time between a child’s life beginning to a parent’s life ending.

Stalwarts of indie pop ‘n’ rock The Phoenix Foundation (Samuel Scott, Lukasz Buda, Conrad Wedde, William Ricketts, Thomas Callwood, Christopher O'Connor) also make this year’s cut. It brings their total number of nominations over the years to six times in the Top 20 and an impressive four times in the Top 5. The band’s entry this year, ‘Give Up Your Dreams’, is an uplifting nod to the fine line between chucking it all in and soldiering on with a great big smile on your face.

Auckland singer-songwriter Lydia Cole is also up for the award with her song ‘Dream’. It’s a bittersweet two-part tale all about falling in love when you least expect it. It is the second song to have earned Lydia a spot in the Top 5.

Thomas Oliver is a first-time nominee with his love song ‘If I Move To Mars’, which explores the Wellington singer-songwriter’s fascination with the idea of living on the red planet with your lover – lying in the dirt, drinking Cognac and listening to records.

Also newcomers to the Top 5 are Street Chant (Emily Littler, Billie Rogers, Alex Brown, Christopher Farnham) with their song ‘Pedestrian Support League’. The indie-rockers’ song is loosely about life in their hometown of Auckland and that feeling you get when you return from life on the road, to a crummy flat in Grey Lynn.

“Great songs tell great stories and each of these songs give us beautiful, heartfelt tales of dreams, love and loss. It’s a diverse and eclectic group of songwriters, each at the very top of their craft and each very much deserving of our celebration,” says Anthony Healey, Head of NZ Operations for APRA AMCOS.

The APRA Silver Scroll Awards celebrated its 50th anniversary last year marking a significant milestone and a track record in recognising New Zealand’s brightest songwriting talent. It’s considered one of the most coveted awards in New Zealand music and has previously been awarded to Ray Columbus, Hammond Gamble, Shona Laing, Dave Dobbyn, Bic Runga, Don McGlashan, Neil Finn, Chris Knox, Brooke Fraser, James Milne & Lukasz Buda, Alisa Xayalith & Thom Powers (The Naked And Famous) and Ella Yelich-O’Connor (Lorde) & Joel Little.

The other awards presented on the night are:

●     APRA Maioha Award, celebrating exceptional waiata featuring te reo Māori

●     SOUNZ Contemporary Award, celebrating excellence in contemporary composition

●     APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award

●     APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award

As a part of the celebrations APRA will also be inducting a songwriter/s into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

All awards will be presented at Vector Arena in Auckland on Thursday 29th September. Radio New Zealand will broadcast and live video stream the APRA Silver Scroll Awards ceremony on RNZ National, Freeview Ch 50 and online at www.rnz.co.nz/music. The awards are proudly supported by Panhead Custom Ales.

APRA Silver Scroll Awards – top 5 finalists 2016:

* Lydia Cole – ‘Dream’ – Lydia Cole

* The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’ - Samuel Scott, Lukasz Buda, Conrad Wedde, William Ricketts, Thomas Callwood, Christopher O’Connor. Published by Native Tongue Music Publishing.

* Thomas Oliver – ‘If I Move To Mars’ – Thomas Oliver. Published by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd.

* Street Chant – ‘Pedestrian Support League’ - Emily Littler, Billie Rogers, Alex Brown, Christopher Farnham. Published by Arch Hill Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing.

* Tami Neilson – ‘The First Man’ – Tami Neilson, Jay Neilson.

#silverscrolls16
@apraamcosnz
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