THE ACOUSTIC CHURCH TOUR 2010

THE CLASSIC HITS ACOUSTIC CHURCH TOUR Civic Events, in conjunction with Classic Hits, is proud to announce the 2010 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour, playing 12 magnificent chapels and churches across New Zealand in September.

BACKGROUND
In 2004, Civic Events produced a national acoustic church tour for Bic Runga around New Zealand, the idea springing from a show Bic had played in the Union Chapel in London in 2003. We have some amazing churches in New Zealand, beautiful places built for singing, soloists or choirs of voices. In that environment, perhaps accompanied only by piano or organ, acoustic guitars and percussion, every note is crystal clear, at the front and all the way at the back, the sound is pure and magnificent. The tour was a huge success - the music, the sound, the leadlight and the bar heaters. It was a unique and special tour event.

From the germ of an idea in a serene chapel on a cold London night, through the national sell out success of the first Church Tour in 2004, came the second annual Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour.

2009 TOUR
Last year the tour featured a very special pairing of two of New Zealand's greatest songwriting and performing talents - Greg Johnson and Boh Runga. The shows saw both of them on stage together for their whole set, performing their own and each other's songs - together.

Joining them we had Zed frontman and solo hit-maker, Nathan King and we introduced you to a bright new talent in young Auckland singer/songwriter Lydia Cole.

It was a magical event, as those who attended the shows will attest.

2010 TOUR
We are overjoyed to have Dave Dobbyn headline this year?s tour. Dave needs little introduction to our audience. He is a songwriter/singer and guitarist of extraordinary talents and we know that in this environment he will shine. Dave will perform with percussionist Ross Burge and at times, members of Dukes who are also the opening act.

This year we are expanding to include St Andrews New Plymouth, St Johns Nelson and The Cathedral in Christchurch.

Our opening act Dukes come from Christchurch and have been enjoying success with their recent gold hit single Vampires which had been in the top 40 for 1 year.
www.davedobbyn.co.nz
www.myspace.com/dukestheband

I AM GIANT

Before I Am Giant head off for gigs in Australia and America, the band decided to sneak in a couple of extra New Zealand shows.

'We were getting fans hitting us up on Facebook wanting us to play in their town, and since we had a weekend free before going overseas, we thought it would be a great thing to do !' says drummer Shelton Woolright.

The below dates wraps up a heady few months for the band where they shot a video featuring world surf champion Kelly Slater, recorded a live to air for XFM, completed a handful of London gigs, performed in Vietnam for Tiger Translate, flew to France for the opening of the new Quiksliver headquarters in France and toured New Zealand on the massively successful State of Rock tour.

I Am Giant's first ever release 'Neon Sunrise/City Limits EP' debuted recently in the NZ singles chart at No 18 and is still in the Top 30. The EP will also be released in Australia and Asia via Sony Records later this year.

Six60

It's a celebration of firsts! Six60 are releasing their very first single and video for 'Rise Up 2.0' , and to commemorate the occasion the band are on the road with their first ever national tour.

With an impressive 19,000 friends on Facebook, in the last year Six60 have rapidly built a strong live following while quietly flying under the radar of the music industry. The band has consistently sold out shows promoted only by word of mouth and their ever increasing database.

The 'Rise Up 2.0' single marks a significant new era for the band. To date the only music available is their self titled EP, sold exclusively via the Six60 website. 'Rise Up 2.0' is the first song to be released by the bands freshly inked deal with Universal Music, available in late August. Six60 recorded and mixed the song in York Street Studio's and mastered at Sterling Sound New York by Chris Gehringer (Wu Tang Clan, Nas, Mobb Deep, Naughty by Nature). With a fresh set created especially for the tour, Six60 will be showcasing new songs from their highly anticipated debut album to be released early 2011.

Jubilation Gospel Choir

Formed in the year 2000, Jubiliation is a gospel choir based in Auckland, New Zealand. We are not affiliated to any church (indeed many of us are not religious); we simply get together every Tuesday night because we love to sing this music and all of us get a kick out of trying to sing it well.

Although our repertoire is firmly rooted in traditional African-American gospel, we also sing songs by contemporary songwriters that draw on that tradition (e.g. Ben Harper, Cissy Houston, Rev. Richard Smallwood and even Van Morrison, Tom Waits!) as well as having the luxury of an in-house song-writing and arranging team. At present our repertoire stands at about 50 songs and we try to add one or two new songs for every gig to keep things interesting.

State Of Rock Tour

The Rock FM brings you three of New Zealand's hottest new bands to hit the pubs this winter as part of the State of Rock Tour - easily THE best local rock tour this year!!

Luger Boa has fast entrenched themselves as one of the hardest working rock bands in New Zealand. The release of 2008's 'Mutate Or Die!' album spawned no less than four hit singles for Luger Boa ('1000 Hooks', 'What Is Real?', 'On My Mind', and 'I Wanna Girlfriend'), and saw the band tour extensively through NZ with amongst others Kings Of Leon, Head Like A Hole, and Shihad. May 2010 see's a brand new single, 'Lazy', mixed by LA based Mark Needham (The Killers), and is the first track taken from the bands forthcoming album scheduled for release in NZ & Australia in September 2010.

I Am Giant's debut single 'City Limits' was on an A rotate on The Rock network for an impressive 4 months, and they have just released their second single 'Neon Sunrise' , the video featuring surf legend Kelly Slater. Based in London, Shelton, Paul and Ed have been successfully working their music worldwide . Before the guys hit NZ shores for this tour, they are heading to Vietnam for a couple of gigs, then to France for a Quiksilver concert and back to London to record a live to air for XFM. Straight after the NZ tour I Am Giant are heading back to Asia for the Pentaport Rock Festival in Korea and then onto Australia for dates in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Their debut EP is out in June and will be released in NZ, Australia and throughout Asia.

Black River Drive's second single 'Bullet for Your Gun' peaked at #1 on The Rock's Top 33 in March 2010, and spent 5 weeks as the #1 song across all Rock Radio in NZ topping the mighty ACDC to get there. The band are just finishing work on their debut album, due mid 2010, which promises to deliver in spades Black River Drive's potent mix of vicious, relentless riffs coupled with Sam Browne's ragged vocals. Having already worked with Greg Haver, the band are currently finishing their album with Chris Van de Geer, and mixed by Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, Ozzy, HIM, The Cure, U2).

SCRIBE vs SAVAGE

In the red corner hailing from South Auckland, founding member of New Zealand most prolific Hip Hop group the Deceptikonz, multi-platinum selling solo artist, the first NZ hip hop artist to sell 2 million singles in the USA...... ladies and gentlemen we present…the Bodysnatcher...... SAVAGE!

In the blue corner, hailing from Christchurch, the holder of the longest charting single in NZ, the artist who has sold over a quarter of a million albums in Australia and New Zealand, the MC Australasian Rolling Stone readers voted their second-favourite rapper (after Eminem)...... ladies and gentleman welcome to the floor... the Crusader... SCRIBE!

At the recent I Love the Island?s Samoa Benefit tour, one of the outstanding highlights was the battle between two of New Zealand?s top MC?s ? Scribe and Savage. The show was such a hit with the audiences, the rappers decided it would be fun to go on a nationwide tour. The two friends have been collaborating on more than music recently ? Scribe is featured on episode 1 of Savage?s new TV programme ?Hip Hop High? to be screened on TV2 really soon.

Scribe vs Savage ? The Ultimate Battle of the Century? tour is not to be missed ? a rare chance to witness two of New Zealand?s favourite hip hop artist?s battle out their hits, and YOU, the audience, has the power to decide who will be the winner on the night! And there is more!! On the night Jagermeister is kindly offering drink specials and spot prizes at all R18 venues nationwide in support of this ground breaking clash of the titans.

DIMMER

Shayne Carter guitar & vocals, Dino Karlis belting the drums, James Duncan slamming guitar and Kelly Steven strumming bass.

Dimmer are heading out on tour to show case their new sounds on the album "Degrees of Existance"

Six60

From their bleak student flat at 660 Castle Street Dunedin, emerged a unique sound which could be described as a fresh Kiwi fusion of roots, reggae, hip hop, dubstep, and drum and bass. A sound, which over the past couple of years has resonated around the country, catching people?s attention and creating huge demand.

After releasing their first self-titled EP early last year, Six60 have performed at large-scale festivals such as Rhythm and Vines and Splore, alongside music heavyweights such as; Salmonella Dub, Katchafire, Hollie Smith and Tahuna Breaks, Kora and the Blackseeds.

This year has seen the band consistently sell out shows nationwide promoted only by word of mouth and their ever increasing database. How many bands can sell out the Studio in Auckland with no single at radio, video at TV or album in stores?

If you want to see what the buzz is all about there are more gigs in April through to August. www.six60.co.nz for more details.

Six60 are currently writing their highly anticipated debut album, to be release later in 2010.

THE WINERY TOUR 2010

Civic Events is pleased to announce the dates and venues for the fourth annual MORE FM Winery Tour for 2010.

The event, which grows year on year, will visit 16 venues for 18 shows in 2010. The Tour adds Whangarei, Palmerston North and Taupo regions for 2010 shows.

Says co-promoter Brent Eccles “We have set the standard high from year one and we’re sure Winery Tour fans won’t be disappointed when we make the big line-up announcement in October”.

“We love the fact that this is an event for the whole family and again this year kids under 12 will be given free admittance” he says.

THE ACOUSTIC CHURCH TOUR 2009

The unique pairing of Greg Johnson and Boh Runga provides the headline attraction for the first annual Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour, taking in nine of New Zealand's most iconic churches from Auckland to Invercargill this October. Former Zed front man Nathan King and exceptional newcomer Lydia Cole complete the bill. Greg and Boh are both now based in LA and are currently working up a set that will see them perform songs together from their own and each other's repertoire including a brand new joint effort called The Other Girls, co-written and recorded by Greg & Boh.

THE VEILS

The Veils? sell-out New Zealand dates in November were a revelation for fans who revelled in the bands? stunning and polished delivery of songs from their three acclaimed albums including the just-released Sun Gangs.

LUGER BOA

LUGER BOA bring their incendiary live show to the North Shore of Auckland as they play their last hometown gig for 2009! It has been an incredible year for a band who have quickly established themselves as the most exciting live act in the country, touring NZ many times over, playing to tens of thousands, and sharing a stage with the likes of the Kings Of Leon, Shihad, Head Like A Hole, Airbourne and The Living End. Don't miss an insane night in the 'burbs, as LUGER BOA return to their roots, turn up the heat, and leave a smoking crater where the 'Brownzy' currently stands...