Musician Returns To New Zealand Roots

Musician Returns To New Zealand Roots

Musician KEN NICOL is set to travel 20,000km for a second homecoming. The United Kingdom-based singer, songwriter and guitarist is returning to New Zealand - the land of his father's birth - for his second visit in two years.
Half-Kiwi Ken has performed with many of the biggest names in British folk and folk-rock, including Steeleye Span, The Albion Band and Fairport Convention, as well as having a recording career that covers 36 years and well over 50 albums.
Ken first visited New Zealand in 2004 – but only for one day! He returned in 2009 and now he will be playing a major series of dates across New Zealand in March and April 2011.

Ken said: "Growing up listening to my father’s stories of this far away land, it’s hard to believe I’d wait almost 53 years before having the opportunity to visit for myself. And though the first time I was there for only 24 hours (a concert at the Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland), there was a strong sense of connection. I felt that the journey had only just begun, and I’d be returning very soon indeed. "I was enchanted by the beauty of the country and friendliness of the people. Visiting New Zealand really did feel like a kind of homecoming."

Ken's music covers the spectrum from blues to rock, and effortlessly takes in folk, jazz, ragtime and more along the way. Renowned for his super-fluid fingerpicking acoustic guitar technique, Ken also plays electric guitar, steel resonator guitar, 5-string banjo, mandolin and ukulele.

He will be delighting New Zealand audiences with music drawn from throughout his career, ranging from mesmerisingly fast instrumentals to heart-stoppingly beautiful ballads and even some comedy numbers. Born in Preston, Lancashire, Ken had early success as one half of Nicol & Marsh's Easy Street along with Pete Marsh. They recorded four albums on the CBS and Polydor labels, and moved to Los Angeles in the late-1970s.

Returning to the UK in 1989, Ken recorded solo albums Living In A Spanish Town, Two Frets From The Blues, as well as working with other artists including Chris While, now of renowned duo While & Matthews. In 1996, Ken started working with Ashley Hutchings - the man who founded British folk-rock giants Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band. It was to prove a very fruitful partnership which continues to this day.

Ken has worked with Ashley in The Ashley Hutchings Dance Band, The Albion Band and, currently, as a duo. After recording four albums with The Albion Band and continuing to record and release his own solo albums, Ken joined legendary folk-rockers Steeleye Span in 2002, touring the world and recording a further four albums with the band. It was after a 2009 tour with Steeleye Span which took him to Australia that Ken first ventured to New Zealand, playing a string of solo performances which took him to both The North and South Islands. Ken also took a motorhome tour vacation of the country, and knew then that he wanted to return. Ken added: "In 2009 after a series of Steeleye Span concerts in Australia, there was a three week gap in my schedule, and the chance to spend some quality time in New Zealand, travelling not only as a tourist, but also as a musician.

"The experience of meeting relatives, witnessing the country’s breathtaking views, visiting the clubs and festivals I performed at, making so many new friends and especially acquainting myself with my father’s home city, Dunedin, was meaningful to such a point that I struggle to find the adjectives."
During his visit Ken turned detective to trace an area of land purchased by his great great grandfather, David Nicol, in the 19th Century. He discovered that scenic Nicols Creek at Otago, near Dunedin, is now popular as a mountain biking route.

In early 2010 Ken took the difficult decision to leave Steeleye Span, in order to concentrate on his many other projects which see him performing across the UK and Europe, both as a solo artist and as part of various duos. He's also co-host of the Internet radio show, FolkCast (http://www.folkcast.co.uk), which has thousands of listeners all around the world, with New Zealanders in the Top 10 of international downloaders.

Another of his musical partnerships is with British comedy star Phil Cool, and in 2009 that duo played as special guests to folk-rock giants Fairport Convention on their 40-date UK tour. Ken recorded his experiences of a very busy year as a touring musician in an online blog, which he is currently expanding into a book. It which will be entitled ‘12’, and is to come complete with a corresponding collection of new music inspired by a year that was by far the busiest and most travelled of Ken’s career to date.

ENDS

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