Downstage goes psychedelic with Little Bushman
27.07.09
Hot on the heels of two top selling concerts by The Woolshed Sessions, Downstage's new music programme Soundstage presents Little Bushman on 2 August.
Little Bushman are a group of accomplished musicians Warren Maxwell, Tom and Joe Callwood and Rick Cranson. Their aim - purely to take the audience on a 'sonic journey' using their 60's influenced, spatially crafted songs and symbiotic improvisational skills to electrify the senses.
The spell-check definition of psychedelic refers to 'weird, distorted, wildly colourful', elements which caught the ear of Soundstage producer Angela Green. "I'd heard their last album, Pendulum, a number of times but it wasn't until I caught them live earlier this year that I truly understood what a tour de force this band is." Drawing on the classic sound of Led Zeppelin, Hendrix and Pink Floyd and mixing it with a New Zealand roots flavour, Little Bushman excel in taking an audience on an exciting musical trip.
Regular fixtures on the music festival circuit, Little Bushman have a reputation for stunning live performances drawn from the band members' jazz background, and tenure in seminal Wellington bands like TrinityRoots. "I love how Little Bushman build their set - they have an incredible sense of pacing and drama, tension and release, plus they are absolute consummate performers".
Soundstage is a new experiment in music presentation aimed at showcasing Wellington's best bands. Tailored for fans that prefer not to do battle with late nights and intoxicated punters, Sunday evening Soundstage gigs are the perfect chance to sit back with some friends, a glass of wine and enjoy the show.
It is more than just a concert in a different timeslot, it is a performance experience. Artistically, Soundstage bands have been challenged to put the theatrical environment at Downstage to good use and engage with the audience in a different way, whether premiering new songs, talking about their writing process, using film and projection or costume.
Audiences benefit from seeing their favourite acts in an intimate, seated venue, alleviating annoying sightline issues that you often get watching bands in a bar. Not to mention the added benefit of a respectable 7pm start time.
Downstage goes psychedelic
2 August
Little Bushman
7pm, 90 minutes. $35, allocated seating
www.downstage.co.nz/book
