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Mel Parsons to play iconic NZ theatre venues

December 23, 2015

2015 Silver Scroll finalist and Fly My Pretties star Mel Parsons will embark on a 5 date tour of some of New Zealand’s most beautiful and iconic theatres, including the newly refurbished Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch and historical Crystal Palace in Auckland this October.
Accompanied by a full band, Parsons will be performing songs from her newly released and critically acclaimed third album ‘Drylands’. Parsons will be joined by Kiwi music legend Julia Deans performing a rare solo set to open the show. Deans has captivated audiences throughout her career: from fronting Fur Patrol, to co-conspirator with renowned supergroup The Adults, to sultry chanteuse in Silo Theatre’s Brel.

Tauranga – Weds 28th Oct – Tauranga Arts Festival
Tickets/info: Ticketek.co.nz
http://www.taurangafestival.co.nz/event/Mel-Parsons?i=114 (actual link)

 

Nelson – Thurs 29th Oct – Theatre Royal
Tickets/info: TicketDirect.co.nz

http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz/event/details/138251/mel-parsons

Auckland – Sat 31st Oct – Crystal Palace Theatre

Tickets/info: Eventfinda.co.nz

http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2015/mel-parsons-w-special-guest-julia-deans/auckland/mt-eden

Wellington – Sun 1st Nov – Paramount Theatre

Tickets/info: Eventfinda.co.nz

http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2015/mel-parsons-w-special-guest-julia-deans/wellington

Christchurch – Thurs 5th Nov – Isaac Theatre Royal 

Tickets/info: ticketek.co.nz

http://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=MELPARS15

Music video for ‘Get Out Alive’ premieres on The Wireless

Recently announced as a Silver Scroll finalist, Mel Parsons reveals the official release of the new

video for ‘Get Out Alive’, which made APRA’s Top 5 shortlist for 2015. The song features Anika

Moa’s haunting backing vocals, and a driving rhythm section sparsely colouring Parsons’ lyrics,

which were inspired by a close brush with death in a vehicle accident last year. Parsons walked

away from the wreckage and ended up penning the eerie track, which features on her new album

‘Drylands’. The video was shot in Wellington, directed, filmed and edited by Finn O’Connor of Couch Kumaras and featuring Parsons’ full band including guitarist Gerry Paul; bassist Aaron Stewart; drummer Nick George, and guest backing vocalist Eva Prowse.

Check out the video here: http://thewireless.co.nz/articles/video-premiere-mel-parsons-get-out-alive

‘Get Out Alive’ announced as APRA Silver Scroll Top 5 finalist for 2015

The biggest names in music alongside some of New Zealand’s most critically acclaimed artists and songwriters – APRA AMCOS are proud to announce the five finalists in line for the 2015 APRA Silver Scroll Award.

The Silver Scroll is widely considered the most important music award in the New Zealand music industry.

Newcomers on the list are Marlon Williams with ‘Dark Child’, which he co-wrote with fellow expat New Zealand songwriter Tim Moore, urban storyteller Anthonie Tonnon with ‘Water Underground’ and indie-folk songwriter Mel Parsons with ‘Get Out Alive’.

Kiwi star Lorde is also a finalist this year for ‘Yellow Flicker Beat’, which she wrote alongside co-writer and producer Joel Little. In 2013 the duo won the Silver Scroll for ‘Royals’ and last year Little was a finalist for his work with Broods.

Portland-based brothers Ruban and Kody Nielson are also finalists with ‘Multi-Love’. This is the second time electronic psych-funk band Unknown Mortal Orchestra have made the top 5, after being a 2011 finalist with ‘Ffunny Ffrends’.

“These five songs illustrate everything great about our music right now – diverse, original and assured,” says APRA spokesman Anthony Healey. “We are extremely proud to be celebrating songs of such quality on the 50th anniversary of the award.”

http://www.3news.co.nz/entertainment/finalists-for-the-2015-apra-silver-scroll-award-revealed-2015082007#axzz3k53yxG7R

Single & video release for ‘Driving Man’

Hot on the heels of her critically acclaimed third album ‘Drylands’, comes Mel Parsons’ haunting road-song ‘Driving Man’. Critic Simon Sweetman describes it as “a song of eerie mood and subtle textures…that shows time spent listening, absorbing the album cuts of the Don McGlashans and Dave Dobbyns of this world”. The track is accompanied by a moody video by Tim McInnes / Ruffles Productions set against the stark and stunning scenery of NZ’s South Island.

 
 

‘Drylands’ Album Release Tour – 23 shows nationwide

 

After dashing through the snow on a six-week North American winter tour, Fly My Pretties star and well loved kiwi singer/songwriter Mel Parsons is back in NZ and heads out on the road to celebrate the release of her new album ‘Drylands’ this April & May. Parsons will take in 23 dates tip to tail of NZ starting in Auckland at the Tuning Fork on April 15th, finishing up on the Kapiti Coast on May 16th. 

With appearances at Woodford Folk Festival (AU), Folk Alliance International (USA), WOMAD (NZ) already this year, and an upcoming Byron Bay Bluesfest (AU) show with Fly My Pretties, Two-time Tui Award finalist Parsons and her stellar band have a dynamite live show presenting the new album, and is not to be missed.

The support act for all shows is ‘Christof’ –  Dutch folk musician and a rising star of the UK folk scene having recently supported The Staves, The Boxer Rebellion and Bear’s Den, winning fans across North America and Europe. 

To book tickets & all venue & show info: www.eventfinda.co.nz

MEL PARSONS – ‘DRYLANDS’ NZ RELEASE TOUR 

w special guest Christof 

– AUCKLAND – 15th April – TUNING FORK 

– WELLINGTON – 16th April – SAN FRAN 

– CHRISTCHURCH – 17th April – SUMNER SCHOOL HALL

– SPRINGFIELD – 18th April –  TOWN HALL 

– HORORATA – 22nd April – TOWN HALL 

– OAMARU – 23rd April – LOAN & MERC

– DUNEDIN – 24th April –  CORONATION HALL 

– INVERCARGILL – 25th April – CHEEKY LLAMA 

– WANAKA – 26th April – FESTIVAL OF COLOUR

– HOKITIKA – 29th April – FIRE HOUSE 

– WESTPORT – 30th April – NBS THEATRE 

– NELSON – 1st May – THE BOATHOUSE

– TAKAKA – 2nd May – MUSSEL INN

– BLENHEIM – 3rd May – ALLAN SCOTT WINERY 

– PALMERSTON NORTH – 6th May – THE GLOBE THEATRE

– MASTERTON – 7th May – KING ST LIVE 

– HASTINGS – 8th May – PLAYHOUSE THEATRE 

– TAURANGA – 9th May – MAUAO ARTS CENTRE

– ONEWHERO – 10th May – OSPA THEATRE

– HAMILTON – 13th May –  NAVARA LOUNGE

– RAGLAN – 14th May – OLD SCHOOL ARTS CENTRE

– NEW PLYMOUTH – 15th May – 4th WALL THEATRE 

– PAEKAKARIKI – 16th May – ST PETER’S HALL

New Album ‘Drylands’ out April 10th

Equal parts lush and dark, ‘Drylands’ is Mel Parsons’ stunning 3rd full length album, and was

recorded at Lee Prebble’s Surgery studio (The Phoenix Foundation, The Black Seeds), Wellington,

in late 2014. Co-produced by Parsons and Irish-Kiwi Gerry Paul, the album is a sonic side-step

from her last two releases while remaining true to the singer-songwriters’ essence – the telling of a

good story. Hitting the studio immediately after a five week stint on the road, the pair had the ideal

pre-recording road-test “it gave us the opportunity to feel out what worked, which songs really

connected with audiences” recalls Parsons.

Mel Parsons cold-called one of her musical inspirations, iconic Canadian songwriter Ron Sexsmith,

asking him to lend his voice to a song from her new album. Upon hearing the tracks, Sexsmith

enthusiastically joined the project, contributing vocals to the song ‘Don’t Wait’ – a true testament to

the quality of Parsons’ songwriting and commitment to her craft.

As with her last release, Mel Parsons’ touring companion and long-time friend Anika Moa features

heavily as a backing vocalist on the album. Co-producer Gerry Paul (who tours internationally with

Grammy-winning bluegrass star Tim O’Brien) plays most of the electric and acoustic guitars on the

album, with Bunnies On Ponies’ Craig Terris on drums, and Parsons’ longtime bassist Aaron

Stewart rounding out the rhythm section.

In addition to Ron Sexsmith, other international guests on ‘Drylands’ include renowned Irish cellist

Vyvienne Long (Damien Rice), and ex-Waterboys bassist Trevor Hutchinson on double bass. New

York-based New Zealander Andrew Keoghan lends haunting vocals to the mellow retrospective

‘Friend’.

Since her first release in 2009, two-time Tui Award finalist Parsons has made home a hotel room

and a suitcase, building a solid fan base in NZ and around the globe; relentlessly racking up tours

and festivals through Australia, Germany, Canada, UK & Ireland.

Currently touring in the cold climes of the North American winter, Parsons will hit the ground

running in April for the release of ‘Drylands’, with performances at WOMAD & Festival of Colour,

along with ‘Fly My Pretties’ shows at the prestigious Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia before

embarking on a 22-date nationwide tour of New Zealand with her band.

‘Far Away’ Single and Video Release

First performed on the road with Kiwi supergroup ‘Fly My Pretties’, New Zealand singer songwriter Mel Parsons has recorded a studio version of the catchy track and audience favourite ‘Far Away’, which is the first single from her forthcoming 3rd album ‘Drylands’ due in April 2015.

Parsons penned the track after seeing Mark Knopfler in concert in Germany, 2013. “I was on a solo tour across Germany” she recalls. “It was my only day off in about 3 weeks. I got on the train for 8 hours to see a man whose music I have loved my whole life. It blew my mind”

Recorded at The Surgery in Wellington with Lee Prebble (Phoenix Foundation, The Black Seeds), Mel and co-producer Gerry Paul called in 15 power-house singers from the Wellington music community and assembled a choir to add depth to the choruses, and the track features Craig Terris (Bunnies on Ponies) on drums, Aaron Stewart on bass, and Auckland session favourite Neil Watson (Anika Moa, Neil Finn) on pedal steel.

The music video was directed and edited by Couch Kumara’s Finn O’Connor, and shot on location in Wellington, New Zealand.

WATCH VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wj6ZjcW4bs