MEL PARSONS

After bringing down the house at WOMAD this year, JUNO-Award winning Canadian trio The East Pointers announce their return to New Zealand in January 2018 for a run of dates with NZ luminary, Mel Parsons. Dazzling musicianship and wild live shows have connected The East Pointers with audiences across the globe, making original roots music the hippest thing going. Currently on a world tour, the trio released their second album, What We Leave Behind in late September. Having charted in the iTunes New Zealand Top 10 earlier in 2017 after their first (and only) NZ appearance at WOMAD NZ, the band are looking forward to reacquainting themselves with some of their most enthusiastic crowds yet. ‘We can’t wait to get back to New Zealand,’ says Koady Chaisson, who plays banjo in the trio. ‘It is such a beautiful country and we’re so grateful we got to see what we did when we were out for WOMAD NZ – but we’re looking forward to getting a little further afield. We’re also so lucky to be touring with Mel… she reckons she’s a pretty good tour guide. As a follow-up to 2015’s internationally acclaimed, JUNO Award-winning debut Secret Victory, What We Leave Behind reflects on the traditions of East Coast Canadian Celtic music, but also takes giant strides in new directions. With a captivating balance between their traditional-sounding instrumental tunes, and radio-ready songs, The East Pointers reach out with open arms to a wide range of listeners, inviting them to discover a love for a new style of music. The trio write about real life, sketching out its joys and sorrows in vivid strokes. That palpable authenticity makes their instrumental tunes practically cartwheel and infuses their lyric-driven songs with poignancy. Listening to The East Pointers’ brilliant second album – produced by superstar East Coast-bred songwriter/producer Gordie Sampson – is akin to meeting up with an old friend – and then going out for twenty drinks. Mel Parsons has strong connections with the Canadian music scene and says “I’ve seen The East Pointers lift the roof off various festival venues overseas, and I’m super stoked they’ve managed to squeeze in a NZ run into this world tour. I’m so excited for audiences here to see the show and discover their music - the live show is really next level”. Parsons, who is currently working on a new record, will join the trio for the Christchurch, Wellington, and Paekakariki shows. The flip side of What We Leave Behind - and of The East Pointers’ electrifying concerts – are scorching instrumental tunes that yank the freewheeling, Celtic past into the present. “Traditional music has always been at the core of what we do as a band,” explains Jake Charron. “There's something powerful about a style of music that has been passed on for generations around the world.” New Zealand fans of the trio can see them live when they touch down for their tour with Mel Parsons in early 2018. The East Pointers' first ever show in Wellington is not to be missed! San Fran run times: 7:30pm Doors 8pm Show start New Zealand Tour Dates: 19-Jan Blue Smoke - Christchurch w/ Mel Parsons 21-Jan San Fran - Wellington w/ Mel Parsons 24-Jan St Peter’s Village Hall - Paekakariki w/ Mel Parsons 26-Jan Auckland Folk Festival 27-Jan Auckland Folk Festival 28-Jan Auckland Folk Festival