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NEWS Chanteuses Sing for Christchurch In the middle of their successful Chanteuses and Shotguns tour, alt-country award-winners Tami Neilson and Lauren Thomson have dropped everything to organise a special fundraiser for the Earthquake Relief Fund. Read More...
Fundraiser Show 26th March, Osborne Street Bar, Auckland "Chanteuses & Shotguns" Album In stores now! Also available at Amplifier and Itunes chanteuse f. (plural chanteuses) shotgun (plural shotguns)
1. bang bang. dead
Loading up another round after the successful 2010 tour “Saints & Sinners”, Canadian-born Tami Neilson (two-time Tui Award winner for Best Country Album 2009 & 2010) joins forces once again with Lauren Thomson (winner of the NZ Songwriting Trust 2010 and APRA Silver Scroll nominee) for the 20-date national tour “Chanteuses & Shotguns”.
Launching the collaborative “sister albums” they recorded in Canada earlier this year: Tami’s “The Kitchen Table Sessions Vol II” (the follow-up to last year’s critically acclaimed Vol 1) and Lauren’s highly anticipated full-length release, “Chanteuses & Shotguns”, they will be bringing their foot-stomping, harmony-infused music across the nation on their 20-date tour with what Metro magazine calls “A soulful blend of alt-country and folk”.
“I seriously doubt you'll find more talented women sharing a stage anywhere in this country than these singer-songwriters: not only do they individually have terrific and memorable songs (many of them), but they play the heartfelt ones from places deep inside and their arse-kicking ones with undiluted energy" - Graham Reid, Elsewhere
Winner of the New Zealand Songwriting Trust Award 2010!
Lauren won the NZ Songwriting Trust Award this Queens Birthday weekend with her song "Where Would I Be". Tami Neilson was runner up in the competition with her song, "Rust (Home Come Back)". Both songs will be recorded on their upcoming collaborative album which they are recording in Canada next month! September 2009 After full on year of gigging, Lauren is now in the middle of writing a bunch of songs for her album next year and planning some exciting adventures overseas.....................................................................................so stay tuned : ) December 2009 New Gigs, New Songs, New Year!! Check it out... October 26th 2008
August 22nd 2008
An eclectic solo tour at some of Lauren's favourite towns. With prominent music critics behind her and a strong reputation for her captivating live performance, Lauren Thomson is sure to be a name you won't forget. So make sure you catch one of the following nights:
QUEENSTOWN GIG IS CANCELLED - due to unforseen cirumstances! 20th April - New Edinburgh Folk Club - DUNEDIN - w/local guests 26th April - Wunderbar - CHRISTCHURCH - w/ Flip Grater 2nd May - Wine Cellar - AUCKLAND - w/ Erin Cole-Baker 8th May - Mighty Mighty - WELLINGTON - w/The Darlings 9th May - Okurururu Winery - TARANAKI- w/ Bryce Wastney 11th May - Wai Iti Cafe - TARANAKI - w/ Bryce Wastney 28th February 2008 "If Johnny Cash was a beautiful young woman in Auckland... " - what can I say?! A lovely end to a review by Andrew at Cheese On Toast (see below) 13th February 2008 Thank you to all those Hamilton friends that came out to the EP Release! It was awesome to see so many new faces too! 8th February 2008
Lauren is featuring on More FM, Hamilton, at 3.00pm today for an interview... Reviews of Our Love Is Due
"True story: I received this five-song EP before Christmas, played it a bit then put on the "get to" pile -- which meant it was ignored in the Christmas shuffle. The other day I pulled it out to enjoy again and post this week when an e-mail arrived from this Auckland singer-songwriter asking (politely) if I might be interested in writing about it. You could say that was cosmic coincidence, serendipity or whatever -- or more appropriately perhaps in Thomson's case, that it was evidence God exists. Not that she needs that: Thomson is a Christian of some persuasion -- but I would hope that wouldn't deter anyone because she here delivers a showcase selection of firmly alt.country singer-songwriter styles and her slightly detached delivery (more studied weariness than any failing) is quite compelling. Here the title track ballad could have easily come from any recent and decent Americana album and the country flavours from the small band add another rootsy dimension. When the pace lifts on the brooding Autumn Rain the band really come into their own. Thomson has opened frequently for Miriam Clancy (whom Elsewhere tipped you off to long before any other media) and so we are saying here too is someone to watch. This EP (with only scant religious references) hints at a deep talent waiting to emerge. Can't wait for an album if the songs are as consistently as strong and well realised as these. "- Graham Reid, Elsewhere
"Auckland-based songwriter Lauren Thomson has built up a very strong reputation from her live work over the last year and impressed a lot of people with this album, a five-song collection that is indeed an impressive expression of her capabilities. Thomson’s songs are based around guitar and the voice, but one of the big strengths of this album is how the songs like Into The Way of Fools can be bared down to these essentials while elsewhere she embellishes the sound with a band who excel at playing just the right thing at the right time – letting the melody dominate Our Love Is Due, giving Heals My Wounds just enough groove and pulse, and adding dynamics to Autumn Rain, powerful enough to let Thomson’s voice take off and soar. The songs are full of country inflections, and it is no surprise to see names like Emmylou Harris and Ani Di Franco listed as influences (perhaps one could add Maria McKee to the list too). Like them, Thomson is an affecting singer who really knows how to phrase a line, and as a songwriter clearly understands the balance between words and music." - Waikato Times **** "To listen to Lauren Thomson's voice and achieve the greatest effect, I suggest dimming the lights, closing one's eyes, emptying your mind of all else around you and allow her bruised melancholic tones wash over you. There's something oddly soothing about them, within these sad songs a glimmer of optimism lurks that manages, oddly, to make them sadder. Beautifully sadder. A sound of hope shines in these dark gems that beguiles them. If Johnny Cash was a beautiful young woman in Auckland... " - Cheese On Toast "Who would have thought that fluro would become cool again? And who would've thought that country, or alt-country (or whatever you want to call it), could become hip and actually sound so amazing! I don't say this lightly, but Lauren Thomson is the kiwi find of the year. Her voice is stunning and at the same time blatantly honest. She is one of very few to master the art of melancholy, while stirring the listener to hope through the infusion of elegant harmonies, wonderfully poetic lyrics and a flowing country lilt. Be sure to catch her at Parachute. " - Soul Purpose Magazine ****
APRA Silver Scroll Awards Title track OUR LOVE IS DUE is a top 20 contender in the APRA Silver Scroll Awards, New Zealands most prestigious Songwriting award. For more info click here.
AUCKLANDER TAKES TOP PRIZE www.stuff.co.nz
A first-time entrant in the MLT Songwriting Awards, Lauren Thomson, took home gold last night in front of a packed crowd at the awards' final. The Auckland singer-songwriter, who had two songs in the final cut of 10, won with the composition Where Would I Be. Runner-up was another Aucklander, well-known artist Tami Neilson.
New Zealand Songwriting Trust trustee and awards co-convener Mike Hood said both songs were marked well ahead of the competition. Where Would I Be was one of those songs that was instantly likeable, even if the listener was not sure why, he said. Both Thomson and Neilson were in the south recently with the Saints and Sinners tour. Coincidentally, making up the trio was one of this year's songwriting judges, well-known former Gore entertainer Jackie Bristow.
Hood said a new judging system, similar to that used by RIANZ, was introduced this year. While the names of the writers were withheld from the five judges – Bristow, Trudy Rowe, John Meddlings and Craig Reeves – they were given the soundtracks to take away and score individually. Their marks were then collated by Hood and co-convener Jeff Rea. Hood said he liked the concept. Sometimes if judges were in a room together making the decision, a judge who was not as strong as the others would give ground, he said. The songwriting trust's seminar was once again a hit, with about 45 people attending. Hood said securing tutor Pat Pattison, who mentors the likes of John Mayer, had been a major coup. The professor of lyric writing and poetry at Berklee College of Music, in Boston, had a unique way of teaching and it would be great to have him back, Hood said.
"Our Love is Due" has been selected as a top 20 contender for New Zealand's most prestigious songwriting award! Click here for more information.
Up-coming RADIO interviews discussing Lauren’s song Our Love Is Due getting into the finals of the APRA Silver Scroll Awards! And also her travel plans to the States. Life FM, 18th July 08, 5 - 6pm www.lifefm.co.nz Kiwi FM, 25th July 08, 5-6pm www.kiwifm.co.nz More FM, 31st July 08, Time TBC www.morefm.co.nz
“We had to do something to help the people of Christchurch. Our next tour date was supposed to see us play at the Harbour Light in Lyttelton. Sadly, it was one of the suburbs hardest hit – so we definitely want to give something back.” On Saturday, March 26 Canadian-born double Tui award winner Tami and winner of the NZ Songwriting Trust 2010 and APRA Silver Scroll nominee Lauren will be playing at Auckland’s Osbourne St Bar in Newmarket, with all funds raised going to the Earthquake Relief Fund. The pair are also playing a free acoustic set in Christchurch’s New Brighton Park on Jellicoe St at 4pm on Saturday, March 5 with Lyttelton band The Eastern. “We will sing to whoever is there and try to lift some spirits on Red and Black day. It doesn't seem like much, but doing anything feels better than sitting and watching the news helplessly,” says Tami. After this they will continue with the rest of their South Island tour but in the meantime are hoping to raise some money from their extra and final show in Auckland. “It would be fantastic to sell as many tickets as possible to raise funds to help,” says Tami. “All of us musicians are going to do the show free of charge so all ticket sales will go to Christchurch.” The special fundraising show opens at 8pm and tickets are $20 each, either on the door or through Eventfinder.
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