The Acoustic Church Tour
This year's 2012 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour presents an exciting collaboration of three of New Zealand's most talented and versatile female singer/songwriters: Anika Moa, Boh Runga & Hollie Smith: Together in Concert for the first time ever.
Collectively they hold some 16 RIANZ Tui Music Awards, have had numerous number 1 hit singles and many more top 40 radio hits.
The talented trio and good friends have spent the last few months writing and recording together and have just released their first single to radio - Be Mine - a sticks-in-your-head pop gem that showcases their songwriting talents and their inimitable voices singing in harmony. Be Mine is the first single from what will be the debut album for Anika, Boh & Hollie, expected to be released early in 2013.
On tour, they will be performing a selection of their extensive back catalogues of hits - on stage together throughout the whole show - as well as new material from the upcoming album, all arranged specifically for the unique church venues.
Now in its fifth year, The Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour boasts 13 shows in 11 cities including, for the first time, Rotorua. The full run is Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, Dunedin & Invercargill.
Boh Runga, no stranger to theAcoustic Church Tour concept performed alongside Greg Johnson in 2009 and is looking forward to showing her fellow band mates the uniqueness of the acoustics in some of New Zealand's most spectacular churches, chapels and cathedrals.
Says Boh, "I've had the best time writing with Hollie and Anika. They are so freaking talented and getting to be part of their creative process is what being a musician is all about.Vibe- ing off of each other, laughing, learning our strengths and dynamics in our relationship, brilliant fun. To tour and explore the country with them will be the icing on the cake."
Anika Moa is equally enthused about the Tour:
"Doing what I love everyday is an amazing feeling, now I get to tour with two other brilliant, beautiful and amazing singer/songwriters too. I've looked up to Boh since I first became a muso and I've known Hollie a long time and sometimes wish I could have her voice as mine! This is going to be so fun cos we're all so zany!"
Hollie Smith agrees:
"If being in a room writing with these two awesome ladies is anything to go by, the Church tour is going to be an incredibly funny & an inspired time on the road. We are all looking forward to sharing what we've created and see it coming together properly live."
Civic Events co-promoter Brent Eccles is thrilled to have the girls on board for the Tour and says concert-goers are in for a real treat.
"The line-up for this years Classic Hits Church tour has all the elements I think you need for a landmark tour - talent, personality, camaraderie, all bound by great songs".
The Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour is a show in two halves. The first half will feature only the three artists in a more acoustic format, and in the second half, Anika, Boh &Hollie will be joined by their band members.
The 2012 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour launches at St John's Cathedral in Napier on Thursday 4 October and concludes at First Presbyterian Church in Invercargill on Saturday 20 October.
TOUR DATES:
Thursday 4 October
St John's Cathedral, Napier
Friday 5 October
All Saints Anglican Church, Palmerston North
Saturday 6 October
Old St Paul's, Wellington
Sunday 7 October
Old St Paul's, Wellington
Wednesday 10 October
St Andrew's On Liardet, New Plymouth
Thursday 11 October
Chapel of Christ The King, Hamilton
Friday 12 October
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
Saturday 13 October
Holy Trinity, Tauranga
Sunday 14 October
Civic Theatre, Rotorua
Wednesday 17 October
St Michael & All Angels, Christchurch
Thursday 18 October
St Michael & All Angels, Christchurch
Friday 19 October
Knox Church, Dunedin
Saturday 20 October
First Presbyterian Church, Invercargill
Tickets are on sale from Monday 6 August
Tickets for all shows except Rotorua are available from http://www.acousticchurchtour.co.nz and http://www.ticketek.co.nz
Tickets for Rotorua are available through http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz
