Delgirl
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:01 am

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Arts On Tour NZ is pleased to present the first concert tour of 2010, Delgirl. Delgirl is an all-women three-piece musical group from Dunedin.

These Southern gals, Deirdre Newell, Erin Morton and Lynn Vare have been making music together since 2000. Their debut album “Two, maybe three, days ride” received great acclaim and was awarded the Tui NZ Folk Album of the Year for 2008.

This self-released debut album was awarded the Tui at the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu. Their second recording “Porchlight” just released late 2009, has also received rave reviews and represents a more countrified offering compared to their debut.

The acoustic group describes its sound as “skiffily, folky, country, jazzy, bluesy roots music with a Pacific edge bordering a swamp”, and creates harmonies built around the double bass, guitar, ukuleles, banjo, snare and percussion.

The trio released its debut album in November 2007. The track ‘Ride’ from the album has been selected by NZ Trade & Enterprise to feature on a music placement export disc entitled ‘New Zealand-New Music’ which is distributed to music supervisors in TV and film worldwide.

The Performers:

Dunedin born and bred, Deirdre Newall is a talented double bass player who has played in many bands over the years, including the T & D Bigger Band who were finalists in the Folk section of the NZ Music awards 1997. Proud of her Scottish and Irish ancestry and their folk traditions, her songwriting and vocals also shine a torch for old time country, roots reggae and punk music. Her passion for the natural world leads the audience from songs about livestock to plastic flotsam and jetsam and bored dogs.

Having spent years on the road playing fiddle in the folk scenes of New Zealand and in Australia, Erin Morton eventually switched to her true love- the guitar. This multi talented musician, singer and songwriter also plays a fine ukulele and can literally claim to blow her own trumpet. Her early folk roots are evident in the strong story telling tradition her songs invoke and her delight of everyday things. A NZ Music Award finalist as a member of the T & D Bigger Band (with Newall), she has played in many bands over the years.

Singer, songwriter and musician Lynn Vare’s arsenal of instruments is as eclectic as her Ngā Puhi, English, Irish and French ancestry. Leaving behind the piano and flute of her youth, she picked up the ukulele, banjo, snare drum and triangle when she formed Delgirl with Newall and Morton in 2000. Writing songs about love, life and death, with the odd murder thrown in for good measure, her songs are rooted in the old time music and singalong traditions of her upbringing.

Reviews:

…Uncontrived harmonies and lead vocals, sweet and sometimes lamenting lyrics, all add up to something quite original and whimsically appealing. The music really does sound like it was born on a NZ beach, around a bonfire, and is imperfectly perfect… It’s a kind of Louisiana sound wrapped up in the heartland of NZ… - P.M. Berry. New Zealand Musician. 2008

… This talented trio of female musicians straddle more than one genre, but it is probably safest to refer to their recorded sound as an updated version of skiffle; equal parts country and folk with a rockabilly spirit and some traces of swinging acoustic jazz… the production is lush, the songs are strong – and for people who have enjoyed the likes of The Be-Good Tanyas and Tres Chicas it is nice to know that there’s a Kiwi band cut from a similar cloth. - Simon Sweetman. Dominion 02/08

…Delgirl succeed in evoking the casual flavour of a singalong while subtly crafting something more complex. For one thing, the women who make up this Dunedin trio harmonise like sisters, matching one another phrase for phrase and falling automatically into intricate parts. And while the almost all-acoustic backing of guitars, ukuleles and double bass has the woody tone of a table-side jam session, the clever arrangements give each song its own character… - Nick Bollinger. Listener, (15/122007)

Some bands have good musicians, some bands have a great attitude. Delgirl has both, but even better their new album…Two, Maybe Three, Days Ride is riddled with gorgeous vocal harmonies and smooth groove driven playing utilising the very bare bones of percussion. Should you be searching for local music with an expansive, rural and earthy sound to it, I would strongly suggest an afternoons picnic engagement to the countryside soundtrack that is Two, Maybe Three, Days Ride. - Martyn Pepperell. Groove Guide. 2007

This Dunedin-based, folk-country three-piece…has come with this album of close harmony, suggestions of alt.country and Polynesia, understated balladry and smart lyrics… the merest hints of Polynesian percussion behind the reggae-referenced rhythms, elsewhere they bring harmonies to wonderfully melodic and sometimes jazz-influenced originals…this one will woo and win you. - Graham Reid – www.elsewhere.co.nz 2007

About Arts on Tour New Zealand

Based at the historic Arts Centre of Christchurch, Arts on Tour New Zealand organises tours of outstanding New Zealand performers to rural and smaller centres in New Zealand. The trust receives funding from Creative New Zealand and liaises with local arts councils, repertory theatres and community groups to bring the best of musical and other talent to country districts.

The 2010 Arts on Tour programme begins with Dunedin based Delgirl followed by Pacific Curls (March), Adams and Gavin (April), Don McGlashan Solo (April) Penny Ashton’s Hot Pink Bits (June), Hot Club Sandwich (July), Antiques Rogue Show (August), Fiona Pears Band (October), and finally Whirimako Black (November).

www.aotnz.co.nz

Delgirl Tour Dates 2010

February

Fri 26 Cinema Paradiso 8.30pm Wanaka
Sat 27 Blue Ice Cafe Franz Josef 10pm
Sun 28 Shantytown Greymouth 7pm

March

Tue 2 Village Hotel Karamea 7.30pm
Wed 3 Wilsons Hotel Reefton 8pm
Thurs 4 Mussel Inn Onekaka 8.30pm
Fri 5 Mayfair Theatre Kaikoura 7.30pm
Sat 6 Methodist Church Ashburton 8pm

RE: Delgirl
Posted: Thu Sep 9, 2010 4:19 pm

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