The Chaps (from left): John Dodd, Mike Moroney, Marcus
Turner and Hyram Ballard. Photo by Clive Copeman.
South Island musicians are represented strongly in the
Best Folk Album category of this year's Tui awards, with acts
from Westland, Canterbury and Otago all in the line-up.
The finalists are: Mel Parsons for Red Grey Blue,
Amiria Grenell for Three Feathers, and The Chaps for
Don't Worry 'Bout Your Age.
Dunedin's The Chaps hope to follow Delgirl's footsteps and
take home the Tui, as the Dunedin girls did in 2008 for their
debut album, Two, Maybe Three, Days Ride.
Bass player John Dodd says the band has grown considerably
since forming in 1989.
"I know that in our first few years I played electric bass
and Moroney played some electric guitar ... Over our 21
years, we've played a lot of songs. Many have fallen by the
wayside as we move on, but there are still a bunch of those
early things that are our backbone repertoire. Other than
that, it feels as if we just do what we do, and we are
essentially the same band, only wiser and balder (except
Hyram of course)."
As for the other finalists, Amiria Grenell is the youngest of
Kiwi folk stalwart John Hore Grenell's four children and
Three Feathers is her second album and third
recording. Family links run thick through the recording with
brother Redford featuring on drums and guest appearances from
partner Tola and Amiria's father John.
Westland's Mel Parson's Red Grey Blue sees her making
the folk finals for the second time.
The Tui for the Best Folk Album 2011 is to be presented at
the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu following the "Tui
Finalists Concert" on the evening of Sunday January 29.
• Record deal?
Country rock/pop singer Jody Direen was a regional guest
artist at the ODT's Big Night In concert at the
Forsyth Barr stadium.
The Mosgiel-born Otago girl grew up in Wanaka.
She's recently released her debut album Here We Go,
has placed third in a television talent quest, is soon to
open for one of New Zealand's best known bands and has been
discussing a recording deal.
"I am opening for the Waratahs early next month, and I have
been offered a record deal in Sydney."
• Kiwi winner
New Zealand musician Kimbra has joined a host of expats
who've taken on the Aussies and won.
Hamiltonian Kimbra won the Best Female Artist award at the
Australian music awards, known as the Arias, this week.
The debutant starlet picked up the award for the single
Cameo Lover (taken from her debut album Vows).
• Bic back
Talented writer, recording artist and performer Bic Runga
will be in Dunedin next week headlining the 2011 Classic Hits
Acoustic Church Tour. Fans will get to hear not only the old
favourites like Sway, Something Good and Get
Some Sleep but also her brand-new material, including her
first single in five years- Hello, Hello. Hear her at
Knox Church, Dunedin, December 6-7. The shows start at 7pm.
• Odd happenings
The controversial rap crew kicked off the Big Day Out bill
because of their homophobic and misogynistic lyrics will
perform a show in Auckland the night before the one-day
festival.
Known as OFWGKTA (Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All) or
simply Odd Future, the crew formed in 2007 and have released
numerous mix tapes and studio albums, all free at the band's
website.
Odd Future, led by 20-year-old mastermind Tyler, The Creator,
will play the Powerstation on January 19.
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