Aldous Harding, aka Hannah Harding, might describe much of the material on her self-titled debut album as ''long and dreary'', but she's nonetheless celebrating its release by hitting the road on a national tour that includes gigs at Chick's Hotel, Port Chalmers, on Friday, May 2, and at Oamaru's Opera House on Sunday, May 4.
The daughter of Geraldine-based folk troubadour Lorina, Harding will be performing with longtime friend and guitarist Simon Gregory, and supported by Paul Timmings, who ''plays a wonderful mix of original Dylan-style songs and ambient Rye Cooder electric guitar''.
Apart from two songs, the majority of the tracks on her album exceed five minutes, offering listeners a sometimes intense, often meditative experience as she explores an obsession with artists ranging from Neil Young to Nick Drake to Fever Ray.
''My songwriting has always possessed a certain drone, not a lot of rise and fall,'' Harding explained.
''It's more about the delivery, an intensity you build through getting older, experiencing a mature sort of terror.''
Released on Lyttelton Records, the album was produced by Ben Edwards and New Zealand country music award-winner Delaney Davidson.
''They approached me a few years ago and suggested we put out a record. I was going through some pretty weird scenarios in my head at the time and was pretty aloof until a few years later.
''I just wanted simple renditions of the stories. I had help from Marlon [Williams] and Ben and they knew what was going on in my head so it was pretty simple. The musicians we used were all very capable and excellent at taking direction.''
Into the East heads north
Southland folk-roots-country duo Into The East is about to hit the road on a national tour that will also feature alt-country newcomer and Horizon Award nominee Sarah Conlan.
Since meeting in Invercargill 10 years ago, Liv McBride and Graeme Woller have worked on a variety of music and played covers at various gigs, ranging from corporate functions to weddings to markets.
Though they had a ''lot of fun'' and regularly secured bookings in various Southland venues, the pair decided to focus on their own songs in 2010.
The release of debut album Fight From the Inside last year led to a nomination for a 2014 Tui (for Best NZ Folk Album, won by Auckland duo Tattletale Saints) as well as Album of The Year and Band of The Year at the Southland Entertainment Awards and, more recently, a nomination for the Taite Music Prize.
Into The East performs at Lake Hawea Hotel on Monday, April 28.
Moa, Deans head south
Kiwi songstresses Anika Moa and Julia Deans are on the road together, their ''New Hearts Tourette'' the first chapter in an intermittent touring schedule to run over the next 12 months.
The pair will each play new songs from their respective forthcoming albums, and will join forces to perform some old favourites.
Anika Moa and Julia Deans perform at Plato, Dunedin, on Friday, May 2, and at the Riverhouse, Wanaka, on Sunday, May 4.
Phoenix Foundation tour
Wellington act Phoenix Foundation has wasted no time moving on after the release of 2013 album Fandango, following up with an EP, Tom's Lunch, due to be released on May 16.
To celebrate the release, which features two tracks mixed by David Fridmann (Flaming Lips, MGMT, Tame Impala), Phoenix Foundation has announced a six-date New Zealand tour that includes two gigs at Chick's Hotel, Port Chalmers, on June 7 and 8.
See it
• Aldous Harding performs at Chick's Hotel, Port Chalmers, on Friday, May 2, and at Oamaru's Opera House on Sunday, May 4.
• Into The East, Lake Hawea Hotel, Monday, April 28.
• Phoenix Foundation, Chick's Hotel, Port Chalmers, June 7 and 8.
• Anika Moa and Julia Deans perform at Plato, Dunedin, on Friday, May 2, and at the Riverhouse, Wanaka, on Sunday, May 4.
