Soaring ambition

Fly My Pretties Live. Photo / Supplied

Sadly all good tales must come to an end and for Fly My Pretties (FMP) and the band's latest project, A Story, the final full stop is about to be added. Barnaby Weir, the mastermind behind the ever-evolving ensemble of Kiwi musicians, says the plan was always to follow up May/June's nationwide tour and subsequent live album with two encore shows.

But back in 2004, when the Wellington-based singer - who also fronts The Black Seeds - conceived the FMP concept, he had no way of knowing what lay around the corner.

With the success of the second album, The Return Of Fly My Pretties, Weir realised the groundswell of affection for the constantly changing cast, which has included the likes of Hollie Smith and Samuel Flynn Scott. He is still surprised at how popular it's become. "I've been with The Black Seeds for a long time and we work really hard and do a lot of shows to keep ourselves out there. So the response to Fly My Pretties, which doesn't really tour, has a new line-up every time and only puts out live albums, shows me just how much people love it."

Weir views the collective as a chance to showcase lesser-known talent and sought new members for A Story, including rising stars Anna Coddington and LA Mitchell. He also enlisted the help of his father, legendary storyteller Dick Weir. The entire 16-strong cast will return for next week's encore shows, which will also feature guests from past incarnations.

And, while Weir says it won't be repeated, it isn't the end of FMP. He now faces the challenge of trying to top all that's been before. "I definitely want to do something better. I just need some time to think about what would be surprising, exciting and different."

When the new Fly My Pretties does eventually take flight, the group will surely be all this and much more.

* Fly My Pretties plays the Civic Theatre in Auckland on Friday, December 4 and Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on Saturday, December 5.