Almost 7 years ago, Tami Neilson arrived in New Zealand with her guitar and one very large suitcase to marry a Kiwi, leaving behind her family and her homeland of Canada for love.
While this sounds like a common enough tale, The Neilsons were no ordinary family.
When most kids are still singing nursery rhymes in the bathtub, Tami and her brothers Jay and Todd were traveling across North America with Mom (Betty) and Dad (Ron) in a 34-foot motor home, performing their blend of country and old-time gospel music, sharing the stage with the likes of Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn.
The Neilsons toured North America for almost 10 years, releasing 2 top 40 singles on the Canadian music charts.
Fast forward a decade and Tami Neilson is now regarded as one of New Zealand’s top Americana/indie-country artists, winning multiple Tui awards for “Best Country Album” 2009, 2010 and 2012 at the VNZMA’s, as well as “Best Female Artist” 2010 & 2011 at the NZ Country Music Awards, recently opening for Emmylou Harris at the Vector arena and touring NZ with The Gunslingers Ball and Grand Ole Hayride.
Each year, she travels back for Canadian summers to perform a few shows with her family or record her “Kitchen Table Sessions” albums (Vol 1 & 2) with her brother Jay producing and the rest of the Neilsons playing or singing. So, when Ma & Pa Neilson decided to fly out to spend their first Christmas in NZ, Tami decided to put them to work and hit the roads in January for a 10-date national tour.
In the tradition of The Carter Family this will be a foot-stomping night of harmonies, acoustic guitars and blues harp duets while swapping stories of family life on the road. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Tami Neilson performing with The Neilsons for the first time in NZ!
Tour Dates:
16 Jan - The Rogue Stage, Rotorua
17 Jan – St Peter’s Hall, Paekakariki
18 Jan – Wellington Bluegrass Soc. Petone
23 Jan – The Paddington, Auckland
24 Jan – Major Toms, Tauranga
25 Jan – Artworks Theatre, Waiheke
26 Jan – Leigh Sawmill, Leigh
31 Jan – Yacht Club, Lyttelton
01 Feb – Geraldine Cinema, Geraldine
02 Feb – Longford Tavern, Gore
Tickets available at www.eventfinder.co.nz