Dunedin band Native keeps busy, with gigs at pubs, festivals and corporate functions honing its highly unusual sound.
After months of fine-tuning and preparation, Native will release its debut album, Firedrop, with a show at the Maurice Joel Theatre, Otago Boys High School, this Friday, 5th of September, at 8pm.
Anna Macdonald, singer/songwriter from the Southern Coast based in Dunedin, will also be performing.
Tickets are on sale at the Regent Theatre and the door on the night. Comprising Hamish Mepham (vocals/guitar), Matt Dent (violin/percussion/vocals), Matt Caradus (mandolin/ didgeridoo/violin/vocals), and Greg Stanley (bass).
Native started out performing Celtic music.
Over time, the band’s sound has diversified into other genres and instrumentation, leading to an acoustic rock sound characterised by djembe (an African percussion instrument), stomp box and tambourine in place of a drum kit and melodies woven using a didgeridoo, violin and mandolin.
Recently Native claimed best original song at Fuse in Wellington, a nation wide talent scout.
The dream of recording an album began two years ago and one of the members built a sound-proof recording studio at home.
Twelve tracks were recorded, produced and mastered in the studio and will be released this week as Firedrop.
