Greg Johnson: Small Towns & Balls Gowns Tour 2011
Thursday 31 March 2011, 1:21PM
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GREG JOHNSON: SMALL TOWNS AND BALL GOWNS TOUR 2011
Nine shows in intimate venues with four amazing singers
He’s a genuine Kiwi musical export and now, after many long years in LA exile, singer, songwriter and showman Greg Johnson is coming home for a remarkable nationwide tour, appropriately titled Small Towns and Ball Gowns.
Johnson and his handpicked band begin this epic New Zealand road trip in May and will perform unforgettable concerts, featuring favourites from three decades of hitmaking, in nine intimate venues across the country.
What’s more - and in characteristic Johnson fashion - he’s giving local musicians in each town the opportunity to open for him by inviting them to submit a track via his website (www.gregjohnsonmusic.com) in the coming weeks. Greg will then personally select one local support act to warm up their hometown audience for 30 minutes before he takes the stage.
Sure to warm the soul in the shadow of darkest winter, Small Towns and Ball Gowns will play unique indoor venues from Whangarei to Riverton and Nelson to Havelock North. He’ll be at Pukekohe’s Harrington Hall, and Matakana’s Ascension Wine Estate; Tauranga’s Mills Reef Winery and Wellington’s famous Downstage Theatre. And what Kiwi road trip would be complete without a stop in Queenstown?
For Johnson aficionados, there’s an added bonus: Each of the concerts will be recorded for the production of Greg’s first ever live album, also titled Small Towns & Ball Gowns -Greg Johnson Live. The album will be available to pre-purchase as a bundle with show tickets, and will be made available for download from Greg’s website after the tour concludes.
There is little doubt Johnson is eagerly anticipating the chance to get back in front of his home fans:
“After a decade in a big City I'm still a New Zealander and by definition a small-town guy at heart. My old tune Ball Gowns in Small Towns is still a crowd favourite and this tour captures the spirit of that song,” he says.
“I’m filled with even greater excitement at the prospect of playing in places I’ve never been and the chance to return to some old friends as well. By all means dress up but ball gowns are not really necessary,” he laughs.
Along for the nine-stop ride are Greg’s talented band members and vocal support - Ted Brown, Ben King and Wayne Bell – long time friends and collaborators who have always been able to enhance the live Greg Johnson experience.
“I always wanted four part harmonies on my songs and this line up is a dream team for me - big vocals and excellent groove,” he says.
After five years without the chance for many New Zealand fans to get a taste of Greg Johnson live, this is one tour not to miss. The tour dates in full are:
Date Venue Town
Thursday May 26 Salut Whangarei
Saturday May 28 Harrington Hall Theatre Pukekohe
Thursday June 2 Nelson School of Music Nelson
Friday June 3 Riverton Arts Centre Riverton
Saturday June 4 Prime Waterfront Restaurant & Bar Queenstown
Sunday June 5 Ascension Wine Estate Matakana
Friday June 10 Mills Reef Winery Tauranga
Saturday June 11 Black Barn Vineyards, Underground Cellar Havelock North
Sunday June 12 Downstage Wellington
All tickets are general admission. Tickets and ticket/album packages go on sale at 9:00am on Wednesday 6th April. Ticketing details vary by venue and all information including the local artist support initiative is available from Greg’s website www.gregjohnsonmusic.com.
The tour is being supported by Air New Zealand’s grabaseat and as he travels, Greg will be making surprise appearances at airports across the country where he and his band will perform short acoustic sets to departing passengers. Greg is also appearing at the Bluff Oyster Festival on 21 May and will accompany fellow passengers as they fly directly from to Auckland to Invercargill on a very special Air New Zealand charter flight.
ENDS
Band member bios:
Ted Brown: {vocals, guitar} Moved to LA with Greg 2002 shortly after joining the band. An essential element in the vocal line up, Ted is a crowd favourite and straight man for a lot of Greg's jokes. He has co-written a number of tunes with Greg over the last four albums and has toured with the Band all around the world. Sometimes he sings one of his own excellent tunes if Greg needs to escape stage for a few minutes.
Wayne Bell: {vocals, guitar, bass and percussion}.Ubiquitous member of the band and man of many hats, recently producing acts such as Jan Helreigel, Gin Wigmore and Andrew Keoghan. Wayne has been on the drums for Greg (and also Dave Dobbyn, Tim Finn, The Bads, Calico Brothers etc) since 1997 but on this tour multi-tasks between snare drum, guitar, banjo and singing the 4th harmonies. It's a rare treat to get Wayne out to the front of stage and witness his remarkable multi-instrumental skills.
Ben King: {vocals, guitar} The most recent addition to the band, Ben is a singer and electric guitarist formerly of Goldenhorse. Ben brings a beautiful high harmony to the group vocal and plays wonderful licks on electric guitar. His also has his own band called Grand Rapids.
Note to editors:
Support artist initiative in each town: Greg is looking for a solo artist or duo to open each show. Full information available will be available at www.gregjohnsonmusic.com from 31 March. Musicians simply upload a track to the site, along with a brief bio. The track Greg likes the best will get the support slot, a pair of tickets to the same show, an opportunity to sell merchandise at the show plus a small performance fee. Artists will be notified by Friday 6th May.
For more info, interview requests or access to images contact:
Jane Torrance, + 64 9 357 6688, + 64 21 393 157, jane@jtlpr.co.nz
He’s a genuine Kiwi musical export and now, after many long years in LA exile, singer, songwriter and showman Greg Johnson is coming home for a remarkable nationwide tour, appropriately titled Small Towns and Ball Gowns.
Johnson and his handpicked band begin this epic New Zealand road trip in May and will perform unforgettable concerts, featuring favourites from three decades of hitmaking, in nine intimate venues across the country.
What’s more - and in characteristic Johnson fashion - he’s giving local musicians in each town the opportunity to open for him by inviting them to submit a track via his website (www.gregjohnsonmusic.com) in the coming weeks. Greg will then personally select one local support act to warm up their hometown audience for 30 minutes before he takes the stage.
Sure to warm the soul in the shadow of darkest winter, Small Towns and Ball Gowns will play unique indoor venues from Whangarei to Riverton and Nelson to Havelock North. He’ll be at Pukekohe’s Harrington Hall, and Matakana’s Ascension Wine Estate; Tauranga’s Mills Reef Winery and Wellington’s famous Downstage Theatre. And what Kiwi road trip would be complete without a stop in Queenstown?
For Johnson aficionados, there’s an added bonus: Each of the concerts will be recorded for the production of Greg’s first ever live album, also titled Small Towns & Ball Gowns -Greg Johnson Live. The album will be available to pre-purchase as a bundle with show tickets, and will be made available for download from Greg’s website after the tour concludes.
There is little doubt Johnson is eagerly anticipating the chance to get back in front of his home fans:
“After a decade in a big City I'm still a New Zealander and by definition a small-town guy at heart. My old tune Ball Gowns in Small Towns is still a crowd favourite and this tour captures the spirit of that song,” he says.
“I’m filled with even greater excitement at the prospect of playing in places I’ve never been and the chance to return to some old friends as well. By all means dress up but ball gowns are not really necessary,” he laughs.
Along for the nine-stop ride are Greg’s talented band members and vocal support - Ted Brown, Ben King and Wayne Bell – long time friends and collaborators who have always been able to enhance the live Greg Johnson experience.
“I always wanted four part harmonies on my songs and this line up is a dream team for me - big vocals and excellent groove,” he says.
After five years without the chance for many New Zealand fans to get a taste of Greg Johnson live, this is one tour not to miss. The tour dates in full are:
Date Venue Town
Thursday May 26 Salut Whangarei
Saturday May 28 Harrington Hall Theatre Pukekohe
Thursday June 2 Nelson School of Music Nelson
Friday June 3 Riverton Arts Centre Riverton
Saturday June 4 Prime Waterfront Restaurant & Bar Queenstown
Sunday June 5 Ascension Wine Estate Matakana
Friday June 10 Mills Reef Winery Tauranga
Saturday June 11 Black Barn Vineyards, Underground Cellar Havelock North
Sunday June 12 Downstage Wellington
All tickets are general admission. Tickets and ticket/album packages go on sale at 9:00am on Wednesday 6th April. Ticketing details vary by venue and all information including the local artist support initiative is available from Greg’s website www.gregjohnsonmusic.com.
The tour is being supported by Air New Zealand’s grabaseat and as he travels, Greg will be making surprise appearances at airports across the country where he and his band will perform short acoustic sets to departing passengers. Greg is also appearing at the Bluff Oyster Festival on 21 May and will accompany fellow passengers as they fly directly from to Auckland to Invercargill on a very special Air New Zealand charter flight.
ENDS
Band member bios:
Ted Brown: {vocals, guitar} Moved to LA with Greg 2002 shortly after joining the band. An essential element in the vocal line up, Ted is a crowd favourite and straight man for a lot of Greg's jokes. He has co-written a number of tunes with Greg over the last four albums and has toured with the Band all around the world. Sometimes he sings one of his own excellent tunes if Greg needs to escape stage for a few minutes.
Wayne Bell: {vocals, guitar, bass and percussion}.Ubiquitous member of the band and man of many hats, recently producing acts such as Jan Helreigel, Gin Wigmore and Andrew Keoghan. Wayne has been on the drums for Greg (and also Dave Dobbyn, Tim Finn, The Bads, Calico Brothers etc) since 1997 but on this tour multi-tasks between snare drum, guitar, banjo and singing the 4th harmonies. It's a rare treat to get Wayne out to the front of stage and witness his remarkable multi-instrumental skills.
Ben King: {vocals, guitar} The most recent addition to the band, Ben is a singer and electric guitarist formerly of Goldenhorse. Ben brings a beautiful high harmony to the group vocal and plays wonderful licks on electric guitar. His also has his own band called Grand Rapids.
Note to editors:
Support artist initiative in each town: Greg is looking for a solo artist or duo to open each show. Full information available will be available at www.gregjohnsonmusic.com from 31 March. Musicians simply upload a track to the site, along with a brief bio. The track Greg likes the best will get the support slot, a pair of tickets to the same show, an opportunity to sell merchandise at the show plus a small performance fee. Artists will be notified by Friday 6th May.
For more info, interview requests or access to images contact:
Jane Torrance, + 64 9 357 6688, + 64 21 393 157, jane@jtlpr.co.nz