08 September 2023 - 0 Comments

Today, Ōtautahi’s street party kings Yurt Party release their self-titled debut album. After five years electrifying festival dancefloors with their Balkan infused beats, they bring to the Big Stream what live crowds and street party-goers have been raving about.

Launching off with the pulse-racing single Hypervigilante, the 7-song release showcases the gamut of Yurt styles. Yippity follows, a Loony Tunes-meets-Balkans burner. Then there’s Pea Straw Thief, a bold departure into the realm of what the band affectionately calls farm funk. Taking a breather with Puddle, a deceptively simple tune with a taste of Thomas the Tank Engine, and Tango Dub, a jazzed-out Latin dub number, the heat is turned back up with the fusion-fuelled Hot Pickles. Rounding off the album is Salty Tango, which is in fact a retro Cuban jaunt that slinks off into the sunset.

Each track on this album demonstrates the musicians’ boundary-pushing creativity and eclectic musical influences, in service of collective joy. Born between the sizzling energy of their live shows and the cold shadow of the pandemic, this next chapter of the Yurt journey takes fans out of the frying pan and into the fire.

The band was lifted by the comeback of founding member and key songwriter Tom Harris, who spent 2 years in a dark room disabled by long Covid. Tom says ‘it’s pretty surreal going from being totally shut off from people to catalyzing conga lines in the space of a few months… surreal but amazing’.

The debut release comes after explosive performances this year at festivals around the country (Cuba Dupa, Single Fin Mingle, Tora Bombora) as well as sell-out shows and street parties.

Yurt Party are a one-of-a-kind musical feast, creating collective joy for over 5 years across Aotearoa. The 6+ piece Ōtautahi band have been performing around NZ, with footstomping fusions of Balkan, Latin and Dub goodness.

With their debut album, Yurt Party, the band distills 5 years of evolution from acoustic trio to groove powerhouse. Each track captures the intensity, enthusiasm and musicality of the band in their eclectically irresistible style.

The tracks on the album were written by various members of the band, who drew inspiration from the Balkans, Cuba and by collective improvisation with each other.

Stream/Purchase Yurt Party // Soundcloud

Seven Yurt Party album release shows have been announced:

Saturday 16 September // Pōneke // Rogue & Vagabond

Friday 29 September // Oamaru // Scotts Brewery

Saturday 30 September // Ōtepoti // The Crown Hotel

Friday 6 October // Ōtautahi // Loons

Saturday 14 October // Tāmaki Makaurau // Underground

Friday 1 December // Wairau // House of Pluto

Saturday 2 December // Whakatū // East St Cafe

Tickets on sale soon from undertheradar.co.nz

With stellar support from local acts Koizilla, Mundi, Newtown Rocksteady

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