After an enforced hiatus of three years, Bluesfest Touring is thrilled to announce three new 2023 tours heading for New Zealand, marking the long-awaited return of the Bluesfest Sideshow Season to NZ shores!
Kicking off this succession of stellar shows with a resounding bang will be THE SOUL REBELS & FRIENDS with TALIB KWELI and GZA performing two NZ shows in Auckland and Wellington next year. The New Orlean’s eight-member collective with Talib and GZA will raise the roof with this culturally significant show – and stay tuned as more special guests are announced in the next month to join this superb line-up!
Today’s announcement also includes the much anticipated return tour of Southern roots rockers and sister artists LARKIN POE, back with a three-city tour! Not having made it to NZ in 2020, Larkin Poe are set to perform shows in Auckland, Wellington andChristchurch. The Lovell sisters’ performance is like a breath of fresh air to the blues scene, with their unique brand of gritty, southern-fried blues, roots and rock n’ roll.
After an incredibly successful tour in 2022, and completely sold out shows in Sydney and Melbourne, American blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter CHRISTONE ‘KINGFISH’ INGRAM is coming to perform his only NZ concert, and first headline show at Auckland’s Powerstation next April. Be there to witness the musical genius of the 2022 Contemporary Blues Album Grammy Award Winner, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram and band!
Kicking off this succession of stellar shows with a resounding bang will be THE SOUL REBELS & FRIENDS with TALIB KWELI and GZA performing two NZ shows in Auckland and Wellington next year.
This will be the first NZ tour for the sensational New Orleans’ brass ensemble, an eight-member collective who are renowned for their almighty stage presence and numerous explosive collaborations. Riding high in 2022 after receiving global attention following the release of their new album, Poetry In Motion, THE SOUL REBELS have also appeared on Sony Music artist G-Eazy featuring Lil Wayne’s new single ‘When You’re Gone’, Def Jam artist Dave East and Nas’ ‘Godfather 4’ single, Big Freedia and Icona Pop’s ‘Pipe That, and reached fans with original singles ‘Greatness’ featured as ESPN’s official College Hoops theme anthem, and ‘Good Time’ featured on Netflix’s #BlackAF and Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!
Onstage with the eclectic brass ensemble will be Wu-Tang Clan founding member and frontman GZA, aka the Genius, bringing his smooth, cerebral flow, flawless technique, and lyrical dexterity and TALIB KWELI adding hip-hop high respect as one of the most lyrically-gifted, socially aware, and politically insightful rappers to emerge in the last 20 years. With Mos Def, Talib formed Black Star in the late nineties, and rumours are the pair will soon be dropping a sophomore Black Star release.
This is sure to be a culturally significant show set to be forever burned in the minds and musical hearts of Bluesfest fans, do not miss your opportunity to see this high calibre collaboration in action.
The announcement includes the much anticipated return tour of Southern roots rockers and sister artists LARKIN POE, back with a three-city tour! Not having made it to NZ in 2020 Larkin Poe are set to perform shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
The Lovell sisters’ performance is like a breath of fresh air to the blues scene, with their unique brand of gritty, southern-fried blues, roots and rock n’ roll. Formed around core members Rebecca and Megan Lovell, Larkin Poe’s electric and slide guitar riffs quickly earned them comparisons to the All man Brothers, and they were voted ‘Best Discovery of Glastonbury 2014’ by the UK’s The Observer.
Rebecca Lovell’s voice is full, comforting and charismatic as it seamlessly blends into her big sister Megan’s gospel-like backing vocals – all the while, both performing as multi-instrumentalists. It’s Megan that often steals the show, providing the perfect balance with some cracking lap steel solo’s garnering high-profile admirers in the likes of Elvis Costello, Keith Urban, Bob Seger and Russell Crowe.
In the extraordinary year that was 2020, Larkin Poe continued to be extraordinary, releasing not one but two albums; Self Made Manin June, and Kindred Spirits in November, the latter housing a fine collection of stripped-back versions of classics and new covers.
The latest full-length from Larkin Poe, Blood Harmony is a whole-hearted invitation into a world they know intimately, a Southern landscape so precisely conjured you can feel the sticky humidity of the warm summer air.
“We have such fond memories of our upbringing and experiencing the beauty of Southern hospitality in its truest form – it’s a very loving and inclusive energy”, says Rebecca. “There’s an idea that we don’t walk alone, and that there’s safety in keeping your door open to anyone and everyone. What we try to share through our music is the emotional equivalent of opening your door to everyone and inviting them in for sweet tea.”
Certain to impress, do not miss your chance to witness this Southern rock n’ roll powerhouse LIVE in concert next April.
After an incredibly successful tour in 2022, and completely sold out shows in Sydney and Melbourne, American blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram is coming to perform his only NZ concert, and first headline show at Auckland’s Powerstation next April.
Since the release of KINGFISH, his Grammy-nominated 2019 debut, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram quickly become the defining blues voice of his generation, whilst still a teenager.
And now aged just 23, the upward trajectory for Ingram’s star continues to burn bright, as he follows in the hallowed footsteps of generations of many esteemed Blues music luminaries before him, taking home the 2022 Contemporary Blues Album Grammy Award for his latest album 662.
“Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram is the future of the blues, singing and playing with edge, verve and vitality. Stinging guitar…sweet and melodic vocals” – Guitar World
Ingram’s journey began in the 662, in the city of Clarksdale, in Coahoma County, Mississippi, just ten miles from the legendary crossroads of Highways 61 and 49. Born to a musical family, he fell in love with music as a small child, initially playing drums and then bass. At a young age, he got his first guitar and quickly soaked up music from Robert Johnson to Lightnin’ Hopkins, from B.B.King to Muddy Waters, from Jimi Hendrix to Prince, but all the while developing his own sound and style.
662 is the next chapter in the still-unfolding story of Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram. He describes 662 as his own personal journey, a story that sits upon the legacy of his influential blues elders. The songs – reflecting his life in and away from his home in the Delta – speak to universal truths, as well as to similar experience shared by his large and growing multi-generational, multi-cultural fan base. From the blistering, hometown title track, ‘662’, to the irresistible ‘She Calls Me Kingfish’, to the show, soulful and poignant ‘Another Life Goes By’, to the funky truth-telling ‘Too Young To Remember’, 662 overflows with hard-hitting songs, jaw-dropping guitar work and deep, soul-possessed vocals.
NPR Music says Ingram’s playing is “astounding…it’s almost like he’s singing through the guitar.” Undoubtedly, Ingram is a blindingly brilliant performer, and his show is not to be missed!
