Mel Parsons ‘Drylands’ Release Tour with Christof (NL)
Eventfinda in association with Allan Scott Family Winemakers presents
Old School Arts Centre, 5 Stewart St, Raglan
Thursday 14 May 2015 8:00pm
All Ages Licensed $30.00
Run Times:
7pm – Doors & bar open
8pm – Christof
**Intermission**
9pm – Mel Parsons
Phone Sales: 0800 BUY TIX (289 849)
Physical tickets are available from the Old School Raglan Video store.
After dashing through the snow on a six-week North American winter tour, Fly My Pretties star and well loved kiwi singer/songwriter Mel Parsons is back in NZ and heads out on the road to celebrate the release of her new album ‘Drylands’ this April & May. Parsons will take in 22 dates tip to tail of NZ starting in Auckland at the Tuning Fork on April 15th, finishing up on the Kapiti Coast on May 16th.
With appearances at Woodford Folk Festival (AU), Folk Alliance International (USA), WOMAD (NZ) already this year, and an upcoming Byron Bay Bluesfest (AU) show with Fly My Pretties, Two-time Tui Award finalist Parsons and her stellar band have a dynamite live show presenting the new album, and is not to be missed.
Equal parts lush and dark, ‘Drylands’ is Mel Parsons’ 3rd full length album, and was recorded at Lee Prebble’s Surgery studio (The Phoenix Foundation, The Black Seeds), Wellington, in late 2014. Co-produced by Parsons and Irish-Kiwi Gerry Paul, the album is a sonic side-step from her last two releases while remaining true to the singer-songwriters’ essence – the telling of a good story. Hitting the studio immediately after a five week stint on the road, the pair had the ideal pre-recording roadtest “it gave us the opportunity to feel out what worked, which songs really connected with audiences” recalls Parsons.
As with her last release, Mel Parsons’ touring companion and long-time friend Anika Moa features heavily as a backing vocalist on the album. Co-producer Gerry Paul (who tours internationally with Grammy-winning bluegrass star Tim O’Brien) plays most of the electric and acoustic guitars on the album, with Bunnies On Ponies’ Craig Terris on drums, and Parsons’ longtime bassist Aaron Stewart rounding out the rhythm section.
In addition to Ron Sexsmith, other international guests on ‘Drylands’ include renowned Irish cellist Vyvienne Long (Damien Rice), and ex-Waterboys bassist Trevor Hutchinson on double bass. New York-based New Zealander Andrew Keoghan lends haunting vocals to the mellow retrospective
‘Friend’.
The support act for all shows is ‘Christof’ – Dutch folk musician and a rising star of the UK folk scene having recently supported The Staves, The Boxer Rebellion and Bear’s Den, winning fans across North America and Europe.
