Grand finale to music tour

Two Kiwi country music finalists will be joining forces on the Wairarapa stage this weekend.

Wellington country trio The Shot Band will be teaming with West Coast singer-songwriter Katie Thompson to perform at King Street Live as part of their dual nationwide tour Lipstick, Lies and petrol.

Thompson and The Shot Band are coming to the end of their 13-date New Zealand tour, and Thompson said the smaller towns have been the most fun and engaging gig destinations. "I was rapt to be able to play in my home town of Hokitika", said Thompson, a nominee for Female Artist Of The Year at the 2012 New Zealand Country Music Awards.

"Westport went off. We weren't sure about doing two West Coast towns - but they absolutely turned it on for us.

"We've played in pubs, we've played in churches, we've played in theatres. It's been different each time."

Thompson became a fan of The Shot Band, whose singer Rob Joass was a nominee for Best Country Song after seeing them perform 10 years ago.

Not content with simply enjoying their music, she was determined to work alongside them.

"We'd locked and loaded our tour dates before we'd even met," she said.

"I pretty much just hopped in the van with them, and we were off on the road for two weeks. It's lucky we all get on."

Thompson, who has been playing the guitar since the age of 14, was first introduced to country music while doing live pub gigs on the West Coast.

"In Hokitika, there's only one outlet for jam nights - and you could play any choice of music, as long as it was country," she said.

Since then, she has opened for Elton John in Dunedin, and released two albums and a live EP.

She said she was happy with her country music nomination - but gets the biggest thrill from going on tour and playing live.

"Nothing beats getting out there and doing it," she said.

"Awards are all fun and games, the real music life is travelling for hours in a van with a bunch of smelly boys."

Thompson, currently based in Christchurch, has not yet been to Masterton and is looking forward to playing at King Street Live.

"Touring has been a great way to see the country," she said.

"We've been really lucky with the weather the whole time."

Katie Thompson and The Shot Band will be performing this evening at King Street Live, beginning at 8pm.

Tickets are available from www.undertheradar.co.nz.