Sol3 Mio hit the road for summer

Sol3 Mio are promising to play new material when they hit the road this summer.

The cheeky Samoan trio, comprised of brothers Pene Pati and Amitai Pati and their cousin, Moses Mackay, have announced a series of live dates throughout February and March.

They'll perform eight shows, taking in Palmerston North, Napier, Tauranga, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch.

They'll also play a pre-Christmas show in Auckland, called Christmas in the Vines, at Villa Maria in Auckland on December 21, with special guests.

Sol3 Mio took opera to the masses with last year's record-breaking debut album, which spent 16 weeks at No. 1 and became the largest selling record in New Zealand in 2013.

That album saw them embark on a successful 19-date run of shows around the country, including a gig at Auckland's Vector Arena. At the time, they admitted to TimeOut they'd had to embark on a strict diet and exercise regime to keep up with the demands of touring. But reviews called the trio "irresistible" and said their shows included plenty of humourous interludes and banter along with their canon of opera classics.

Sol3 Mio have also ventured abroad, with shows across Australia and Europe. But they say they're ready to return home.

"It has been a crazy year for us," admits Pene. "We are so happy to be back in New Zealand, very excited about the Christmas show and about getting out to the heartland again."

Better yet, Pene says they've been penning new material to debut.

"We have been preparing new material, we can't wait to bring it home," he says.

A book about the trio, called Our Story, is being released in March. Based on lengthy interviews with the singers, and written by Donna Fleming, it promises to "chart their remarkable life story ... of heart, humour and Kiwi boys done good".

Tour dates

December 21: Villa Maria, Auckland
February 23: Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North
February 24: Municipal Theatre, Napier
February 26: ASB Bank Arena, Tauranga
February 27: Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
February 28: Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth
March 3: Stadium Southland, Invercargill
March 4: Town Hall, Dunedin
March 5: Horncastle Arena, Christchurch

- TimeOut