The unmistakable aromas of the farm bring back memories for Westport-raised singer-songwriter Mel Parsons, who arrives in Queenstown with two actresses for an innovative show of original music, theatre and comedy one week today.
The country-folk artist who charmed patrons at the Winehouse, in Gibbston, in October, with songs from her follow-up album Red Grey Blue returns to the Wakatipu with The Bitches' Box and Mel Parsons' Woolshed Tour in the Remarkables Park Red Barn on March 7.
A cash-only bar and a school or community-group fundraising gourmet barbecue open all their shows at 7pm and proceeds from the Red Barn show will go to Wakatipu High School.
Two-time Tui award finalist Parsons begins at 8pm on guitar with a 45-minute set, followed by an intermission.
Actresses Amelia Guild and Emma Newborn perform their own hilarious take of life on the farm. They have expanded a well-received 10-minute performance piece into a full-length play, The Bitches' Box.
Ms Parsons told the Queenstown Times she and Ms Guild grew up together on the ski slopes of Canterbury and both were raised on farms.
"Farm life is second nature to us and it's very nostalgic for me.
Even just the smell, when you turn up at a woolshed, all the memories rush back from childhood. It's quite neat.
"It was Emma's first trip to the South Island at the end of last year. She's very much an Auckland girl, but she's absolutely loving it. She's enjoying the warmth of the woolshed hosts, the places we go to."
Audiences in remote locations flocked to woolsheds to enjoy the group's innovative performance style.
"We turn up with our kit to these sheds that are normally full of sheep and we turn them into show venues. It's been so much fun," Ms Parsons said.
"The second show we played was at Mt Somers Station and 20 shearers were shearing in their woolshed ... They said, 'Oh, we'll be out by 5pm,' and we've got guests arriving at 7pm, so we had a two-hour turnaround and we pulled it off, but it was definitely down to the line."
• The Bitches' Box and Mel Parsons' Woolshed Tour, Remarkables Park Red Barn, Frankton, Wednesday, March 7.
Tickets $33 plus booking fee at Eventfinder online; limited door sales $40 on the night.
