Breaks Co-Op on tour

Performing at the 2014 Winery Tour in Gibbston on February 21 will be (from left) Stan Walker, Jordan Luck, of the Exponents, and Andy Lovegrove, of Breaks Co-Op. Photo by Steve Dykes.

Cuts from their first new album in eight years will be performed in between favourites from the double-platinum selling debut The Sound Inside, including mellow summer anthem The Otherside, when Breaks Co-Op take to the stage for the 2014 Winery Tour in Gibbston.

The New Zealand band has not toured here since The Otherside was on heavy international radio rotation and won of Song of the Year at the New Zealand Music Awards in 2005.

Breaks Co-Op last week released its new single Sounds Familiar, a breezy up-tempo Motown-flavoured pop hit in waiting, a taster for its third album of the same name, out in January, just before the band embarks on the winery tour.

Lead singer and guitarist Andy Lovegrove has been recording the new album in England with co-founder Hamish Clark.

Lovegrove said they were ''extremely proud'' of their new collection of strong songs, an evolution from the band's early electronica sound with co-founder Zane Lowe, and he could not wait to get back to New Zealand to perform.

''This new line-up is very exciting. There's some very accomplished singers in this band. The vocal element of Breaks Co-Op is quite a big feature, especially on the new album.

"There's lot of harmonies, so it needs to be strong vocally and the level of musicianship on this record is probably up a gear, so it's great to have these very experienced players getting involved.''

While Breaks Co-Op toured New Zealand extensively with fellow Kiwi outfit Goldenhorse, the band has not previously been on the Winery Tour.

''It's got a great reputation for being a wonderful gig to do, so from that perspective, I'm extremely excited about doing the Winery Tour with the new band,'' Lovegrove said.