Returning to NZ for the first time in almost two years, Hannah Howes will perform at boutique venues in the North and South Islands this summer 2013 on the BEAUTIFUL LAND BY BUS homecoming tour, accompanied by one of New Zealand’s most prolific multi-instrumentalists, Ben Lemi (who has toured internationally with Rhombus, Hikoikoi, Urban Tramper, Ariana Tikao, among others).
Since departing Aotearoa’s fair shores in 2011, Hannah Howes has toured South East Asia, Japan, Europe, Czech Republic and the UK. She has performed to Gucci pop fed Singaporeans, the elusive underground art scene in Kyoto struggling to make sense of life post Fukushima, Rastafarians in Andalusia, and Basques seeking independence in San Sebastian. She found inspiration in the beautiful hills and far reaching history of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Southern Spain, Morocco and India and in life amidst the cobbled streets and cultural mish-mash of London.
First collaborating on Hannah’s CANDY album in 2009 Hannah Howes and Ben Lemi have performed together in New Zealand, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, France and the UK. They also began writing new songs together - to be shared for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere on the upcoming tour.
The BEAUTIFUL LAND BY BUS tour will double as a fundraiser for a new recording with Lee Prebble, documenting the Lemi - Howes collaboration - Howes’ first release in four years. Through ever popular crowd-funding, Hannah Howes fans can score pre-sale CDs, book live house concerts in their home or contribute to one of two charities Hannah came across on her travels in South East Asia - The Ponheary Ly Foundation and UXO Lao.
With no illusion of grandeur Hannah has opted to take the bus to and from shows around NZ, in an effort to keep the profits in the pockets of the artist rather than the oil companies.
“I’m making the most of long-haul $1 bus tickets to try and minimise expenses. I toured Japan twice on the Shinkansen- hurtling between shows at 300 kilometres an hour, stumbling over orderly locals with my suitcase of effects and guitar on my back and cycled through the rain between shows in Berlin... Touring becomes less enjoyable when all your hard-earned income gets pumped into the car and sent into the atmosphere. Not using a car creates a bit of extra work in terms of logistics but hopefully it will pay off. I’m looking forward to having my eyes free to take in the beautiful scenery I’ve been missing.”
Supporting Hannah Howes and Ben Lemi on the Marlborough/Tasman leg of the tour is a highly respected female vocalist - Dayna Sanerivi, guaranteeing audiences a complete soulful, thought-provoking and beautiful listening experience at each show.
For info on how to contribute to and be rewarded through the PLEDGEME recording project go to www.pledgeme.co.nz/556
