04 February 2013 - 0 Comments

Vorn Colgan is that rarest of things in this age of uber-hyped instant stardom and the reduction of pop music to another reality-show format point: an underground artist. Since 1999, Colgan has been releasing albums to critical acclaim and building a small but fanatical following based on ceaseless touring with his phenomenal live band, all without the benefit of major label support or NZ on Air funding.

His 2011 release Down For It was a bona-fide masterpiece of pop songwriting, effortlessly switching between (and occasionally mashing together) seemingly disparate genres to create an entirely new vision of what pop music can be in the 21st century.  Simon Sweetman opined "Colgan is one of this country's greatest songwriters, never cloying or faux-romantic; these are direct songs; honest, cynical, sincere, hilarious and in many cases ridiculously catchy."  Grant Smithies concurred - "Here’s a man capable of wringing great pop from the bleaker aspects of modern urban life ... it’s the sharp eye for sadness that attracts me; his ability to use humour to expose pain, his affection for the underdogs."

Work has begun on Vorn's seventh studio album, and his February tour of the South Island presents an opportunity for fans to hear some new tunes, and for latecomers to become acquainted with possibly the finest back catalogue extant in New Zealand Music today.  Don't miss it...

WEBSITE: http://www.myspace.com/vornmusic

SOUTH ISLAND TOUR DATES

Saturday Feb 9^th Deville Nelson with The Ukes Of Hazard

Sunday Feb 10^th Hot Mama's Motueka with The Ukes Of Hazard 4pm Afternoon Show

Monday Feb 11^th Everyman Records In Store noon

Tuesday Feb 12^th Strawberry Tree Kaikoura

Wednesday Feb 13^th Restart Mall Christchurch 1pm Afternoon Show

Wednesday Feb 13^th Dux Live with The Phonolites

Thursday Feb 14^thChicks Port Chalmers

Friday Feb 15^th Coronation Hall Maori Hill Dunedin with Delgirl

Saturday Feb 16^th Fork and Tap Arrowtown with Delgirl

Sunday Feb 17^th Wunderbar Lyttelton with The Phonolites 7pm Show

SUPPORT: The Ukes of Hazard

Terry Telford and Ron Kjestrup have been The Ukes of Hazard for around four years. and, yes, they are a ukulele band. But this is not ukulele like you've heard ukulele before. The Ukes of Hazard are different. Two great musicians and song writers playing a great set of country & blues tinged, originals and covers, including blistering solos and fantastic harmonies

SUPPORT: The Phonolites

The Phonolites are pioneers in the genre of 'Volcanic Rock'. The band take their name from the geological term for volcanic rocks that make a harmonic sound when rolling down hillsides. This emerging sound emanates from the basalt suburbs of eastern Christchurch with this 4 piece band. The Phonolites specialise in fresh interpretations of rock hits with a rock-steady feel. Their diverse repertoire includes a solid core of original songs that sits well in the set. 

SUPPORT: Delgirl

Delgirl will be providing the ‘Yin’ to the Dark Lord Vorns ‘Yang” on the band’s “Vorn Eliminates the South Island Tour” in February. “We’ll be the Slim to his Shady” they say, “there’s nothing like a North vs South showdown to get the creative juices flowing”. “It’s going to be brilliant fun to play with the band. Vorn writes songs like no other. Honest to the point of brutal, beautiful to the point of heartbreaking – he is a somewhat unknown NZ musical gem.

Delgirl have had an excellent summer break, although John has been on the road for the last few weeks with The Chaps, but it’s time to bet back on the stage and get to work. “This is the first time we’ve played at the Coronation Hall, it is a beautiful venue, so it will be a real pleasure to perform there along with Vorn”.

It’s a big year for Delgirl with an album to get recorded and a whole lot of new songs to sort out.

“Bring it on” they say, “it’s time.”

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