Amplifier

16.01.08

Three of New Zealand's most acclaimed singer songwriters touring the country. The evenings promise to be intimate, acoustic affairs; 3 solo sets by each performer highlighting their recent recordings. Paul, Age and Victoria will be playing small to medium sized venues the length of New Zealand in January through March 2008.

Paul McLaney.

Growing up in the shadows of North-East England's sprawling petrochemical factories then transplanted worlds away to the idle wiles of Aotearoa's northern reaches; music was the only constant in the life of Paul McLaney, singer, guitar-player. Yet his music has only furthered his travels, and his stylistic leanings have been anything but constant. From folky pop and thunderous rock'n'roll spanning the exploits of his band Gramsci to complete immersion in electronic music collaborations, McLaney's life has been one of movement.

Paul is now an Auckland based solo musician who's second album through Loop Recordings, Diamond Side, a folk album full of fingerstyle guitar songs, was released November 13th 2007 and is already garnering high praise as one of the albums of the year (Dominion Post). Diamond Side was recorded in Los Angeles by Michael Frondelli (Crowded House, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones) and follows the success of 2006's critically acclaimed and Tui award (Best Solo Male) nominated Edin. Before coming to Loop Recordings in 2006 Paul had released The Prayer Engine (1998) and The Shadows of Birds Flying Fall Slowly Down the Tall Buildings (2003) as solo efforts, Permanence (2000), Object (2001) and Like Stray Voltage (2005) with the band Gramsci. Paul has collaborated with many of NZ's top musical talent including SJD, Anika Moa, Concord Dawn, Rhian Sheehan, Module, Graeme Downes, Victoria Kelly and Jakob.

Age Pryor.

Age Pryor is a Wellington singer-songwriter who released his second solo album, Shanks' Pony, in April 2007. Relishing diversity, he can be seen performing solo, with his high-powered band The Suspicions, and often collaborating - most recently with the Jess Chambers Project and Anika Moa.

Pryor is a founding member of the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra and was a standout performer in the Fly My Pretties series. His album Shanks' Pony follows Homerecordings (2000), City Chorus (2003), Fly My Pretties Live At Bats(2004) and The Return Of Fly My Pretties (2005). Pryor also recently contributed two songs to the Miramax feature film Eagle Versus Shark.

Shanks' Pony was received with wholehearted praise on its release in April 2007: "Pryor has firmly established himself as one of our best musicians" - Tom Cardy, Dominion Post




Victoria Girling-Butcher.

When Victoria's mother took her to music appreciation class at three years-old, the teacher adamantly said, "This child has music in her". And there was no question for Victoria about what she would spend her life doing.

At eight she took up the cello, but hated practicing so went on to do classical singing lessons. She learned piano, but hated doing scales so faked it and played only by ear. Theatre, music and art were always a big part of the family, and because school was a bore, she put her energy in to drama, and music. It was as much about listening to music as playing it. "My best friend and I were completely focused on music. We would get her ghetto blasters and make soundtracks to expand our small town world.." She started writing songs at 10, left school at 15 and studied drama and music.

After years of solo and duo work touring around New Zealand with her guitar she moved to Auckland looking for a band, bonding with Marcus Lawson and Derek Metivier who became Lucid3. .

Eight years later and they are as active as ever but she relishes the thought of this tour to broaden her musical dexterity and unveil some songs from her future solo project alongside some Lucid3 favourites.

Tour Dates:

30 Jan
121 Ponsonby Road, Auckland

31 Jan
The Commercial Hotel, Dargaville

1 Feb
Wharepuke, Keri Keri

2 Feb
Salut, Whangarei

17 Feb
Victoria Hotel, Dunedin

18 Feb
The Fiordland Cinema, Te Anau

19 Feb
The Penguin Club, Oamaru

20 Feb
The Harbourlight, Lyttleton

21 Feb
Yaza!, Nelson

22 Feb
Le Cafe, Picton

28 Feb
HAPPY, Wellington

1 Mar
Bare Mode, Palmerston North