Internationally renowned country, swing and bluesman Pokey LaFarge is to stage a one-off Wairarapa performance as part of his debut New Zealand tour.
Promoter Mark Rogers said LaFarge, who will play at King Street Live in Masterton on March 21, is a bona fide global luminary playing out of St Louis, Missouri, who is a past master of the American roots genre.
LaFarge, who was signed to Third Man Records by label boss Jack White, has been touring since last year with a five-piece band that includes bass-player Joey Glynn, guitarist Adam Hoskins, Ryan Koenig on harmonica, washboard and snare drum, TJ Muller on cornet and trombone and Chloe Feoranzo on clarinet and saxophone.
The Wairarapa date is part of an Australasian tour and LaFarge's first foray to New Zealand that will include two shows at Womad "as well as a steamy night of country, blues and swing at King Street Live", Rogers said.
"He's played with acts such as Jack White, The Raconteurs, Wanda Jackson and Old Crow Medicine Show and was described by UK rock mag Mojo as 'the performer who's ahead of the game right now'."