Lawrence Arabia in Wanaka - Thurs 7 November

Lawrence Arabia in Wanaka - Thurs 7 November

The Festival of Colour is delighted to be bringing Christchurch-born, sometime-robed, aging ex-wunderkind, Lawrence Arabia, back to Wanaka as part of a New Zealand tour this November. Following their sold-out appearance at this year’s Southern Lakes Festival of Colour, melodic Kiwi four-piece Lawrence Arabia return to Wanaka for a special one-off gig at the town’s new boutique bar and music venue, Gin & Raspberry on Thursday 7 November.

The band headlined the opening night of last April’s festival as part of ‘supergroup’ Fabulous Arabia that also featured musicians from the Black Seeds, Trinity Roots and Fat Freddy’s Drop as well as an impromptu, band-led conga line around the Central Lakes Trust Crystal Palace (picture below).

The Festival of Colour is presenting Lawrence Arabia’s Wanaka date as part of the band’s first ever nationwide tour outside the four main centres.

Eponymous lead vocalist Arabia, aka James Milne, said the show would be just as entertaining as April's gig but a whole new sonic experience for the town. “There are a million reasons to come and see us again. Our core sound is more Beatles-esque and less funky. We have the same singers but a different drummer; shorter songs but lots more of them!” he said. “It's a 90-minute plus show, abundant with banter and three-part harmonies, wit, beauty and occasional loud noise.”

Lawrence's most recent album, “The Sparrow,” was released worldwide in July 2012, receiving all sorts of kind plaudits from the press, including the Sunday Times' (UK) CD Of The Week, iTunes NZ's New Zealand Album Of The Year 2012, and a Taite Music Prize nomination. After the release of “The Sparrow,” Lawrence and band toured Australia, New Zealand, North America, the UK and Europe again during the second half of 2012, and returned to Europe in May of this year for shows with The Phoenix Foundation
Since releasing his debut album in 2006, Lawrence Arabia has toured extensively in Europe, Australia and North America, including tours with Feist, Beach House, Okkervil River and Crowded House. In 2009, Lawrence Arabia's song “Apple Pie Bed” won the APRA Silver Scroll and the album it came from, “Chant Darling,” won the inaugural Taite Music Prize.

Recently, his major project has been fatherhood, but in July, Mr Arabia recorded a song commissioned by the Aarhus Festival in Denmark, entitled “Sweet Dissatisfaction,” which was the inspiration for a film made especially for the festival by American alt-country musician and filmmaker, Jim White. Also, Arabia reassembled his band and accompanying string quartet for a sold-out show at the Christchurch Arts Festival this September.

The Lawrence Arabia band comprises the eponymous Arabia on guitar, piano and vocals, Tom Watson on lead guitar, trumpet and vocals, Hayden Eastmond-Mein on bass guitar and vocals, and Alistair Deverick on drums (and the occasional vocal).

Booking Information
Thursday November 7th at 8pm at Gin & Raspberry, 155 Ardmore Street, Wanaka (above Lake Bar)
Tickets $25.
Book online [https://www.patronbase.com/_FestivalOfColour/Productions] or in person at Gin & Raspberry and Francescas Italian Kitchen
Festival of Colour patrons and benefactors priority ticket sales from Monday 23 September (online only). Public ticket sales from Monday 30 September.
Tickets will all be venue pick-up. If you need to collect your tickets before the performance then please phone Lindsey on 021 443741 to make arrangements.

Patrons and Benefactors Pre-Sales
Patrons and benefactors can book tickets from Monday 23 September from www.festivalofcolour.co.nz. You will be identified by your email address.
The current list of patrons and benefactors is on the website here [http://www.festivalofcolour.co.nz/support/private-giving/]. Please take a look and if your name is not there, and you wish to become a patron or benefactor of the 2015 Festival of Colour then please send your donation to PO Box 630, Wanaka or pay online at 03 1739 0063151 00. Please email Lindsey@festivalofcolour.co.nz if you have any queries.

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