Avalanche City returns home to tour NZ

Dave Baxter, aka Avalanche City. Photo / Supplied

He's already played in L.A., New York and London but Auckland musician Dave Baxter, the man behind Avalanche City, is looking forward to his first New Zealand tour, of intimate North Island venues, next month.

Baxter is bringing a string of his musician friends along to play mandolin, ukulele, glockenspiel and accordion for a full rendition of his debut album Our New Life Above Ground. The album debuted at number one on iTunes and the single Love, Love Love was touted as the fastest-selling single for a New Zealand group since digital music was first recorded.

The tour opens in Whangarei on July 26 and 27, moving to Matakana on the 28th and stopping at Devonport's Masonic Tavern on July 29 before heading to K Rd's Studio for an all-ages show as well as an R18 show on Saturday, July 30. Baxter then stops in Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga, Napier and Wellington and wraps the tour at the Feilding Civic Centre on August 7.

Tickets on pre-sale from Friday, June 24 from www.ticketmaster.co.nz; general sale from Monday, June 27.

Meanwhile New Year's Eve Festival La De Da in Martinborough has announced it will return for a second run, with an additional stage and a fresh line-up.

Fat Freddy's Drop warm up the main stage, along with American surf-rocker Donavon Frankenreiter, Sola Rosa and Iva Lamkum, while Six60 and Kora will kick off the party in the evening. The new electronic stage welcomes British drum 'n' bass and dubstep masters SKisM, Dodge and Fuski and Eddie K, and local acts State of Mind, Concord Dawn and the Upbeats with Lowqui.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday June 29 on www.1-night.co.nz/LaDeDa.

-TimeOut