Backstage Pass is pleased to announce the next Arts on Tour New Zealand show to visit Te Awamutu will be Brave Caitlin Smith's Imaginary Band.
The concert will be the third for 2021, following on from the success of My Secret Life: Ian Sinclair and The Carnivorous Plant Society.
Ian Sinclair. Photo / Dean Taylor
Caitlin Smith (piano and vocals), Lance McNicholl (guitar) and Steve Cournane (percussion and cymbals) form a dream team performing jazz and folk music.
They will perform at Highfield Country estate Lodge Lounge at 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 5.
Caitlin Smith's latest album "You Have Reached Your Destination" creates a multi-sensory universe unto itself - Braille and a tactile labyrinth within the cover art, poetry and footsteps recorded between 14 originals.
A mesmerising, prolific and passionate performer, Caitlin sandwiches originals between the tastiest overs, especially the repertoire of her spiritual parents Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen.
The Caitlin Smith Trio (and earlier incarnation The Fondue Set) have held down well-loved residencies in Auckland for over two decades. This year marks the release of a collaboration/CD with the Auckland Jazz Orchestra, "East of the Sun".
Caitlin is a mesmerising performer, song-poet and story singer.
Legally blind since birth, she is a tireless advocate for accessibility issues and the healing and transformative power of creativity.
A vocal and songwriting coach to many of our best-known artists, Caitlin combines poetry and music in unforgettable performances that include her original compositions as well as covers penned by her musical heroes.
Joining her is session, gigging and touring musician and film score composer Lance McNicholl - a go-to guitarist in Aotearoa since the 80s.
Lance also works with Mahinarangi Tocker, Women in Blues, Steve Garden's Elephunk, the Nairobi Trio, Band R (with Murray McNabb), Gahu and currently Fat Mouse.
Completing the Imaginary Band is Steve Cournane - a drummer and composer who began playing with the Alpaca Brothers in Dunedin, in 1984.
Steve won a Tui for NZ Jazz album of the year in 2002 for the album "Stereoscope" by CLBob. This group released three albums and performed relentlessly around the country over a 10-year period.
In 2007 he moved to Lima, Peru, where he survived as a musician while studying the coastal Afro-Peruvian criolla music for another seven years.
He moved to Auckland in 2017 and currently plays cajón with Isla Flamenca (with Ian Sinclair) and is on the drumkit with BOAT and Bill Direen.
Backstage Pass acknowledges the support of the Waipā District Council's Community Event Fund.
Carnivorous Plant Society. Photo / Dean Taylor
Tickets for Brave Caitlin Smith's Imaginary Band are available from eventfinda.co.nz and Te Awamutu i-Site centre. Booking fees apply.
