Susan Alcorn Announces November Tour

Baltimore-based pedal steel guitarist and improviser Susan Alcorn is coming to New Zealand for a six-show tour next month. Alcorn cut her teeth playing traditional country and folk, and by the age of 21 she had fallen for the unique tones of the pedal steel and quickly decided to take the instrument down a more experimental path leaning on influences of classical, free jazz and world music. Here are the details for Susan's upcoming tour...

Susan Alcorn

Thursday 12th November, Lyttelton Coffee Company, Lyttelton
Friday 13th November, The Anteroom, Dunedin
Saturday 14th November, The Sherwood, Queenstown
Wednesday 18th November, Meow, Wellington
Friday 20th November, Audio Foundation, Auckland
Saturday 21st November, Audio Foundation, Auckland

Tickets available HERE at UTR

Soak up Alcorn's offering 'Three Waters' below ...

PRESS RELEASE:

ALTMUSIC 2015 presents
Susan Alcorn (USA) – NZ Tour

Altmusic is proud to announce Susan Alcorn (USA) touring New Zealand, November 2015!

One of the world's greatest pedal steel guitarists visits New Zealand this month.

Susan Alcorn takes the pedal steel guitar far beyond its traditional role in country and western swing music. The Baltimore based musician has ripped the instrument from its typical genre and cast it in a whole new light. From comfortable country glissandos to deep surges and theremin-like science fiction noir, the shimmering earnestness of the instrument is used to full effect in her arrangements that probe the depths and textures of her songs.

Known among steel guitarists for her virtuosity and authenticity in a traditional context, Alcorn first paid her dues in Texas country and western bands. Soon she began to expand the vocabulary of her instrument through her study of modern classical music, free jazz, and world musics. Her pieces reveal the complexity of her instrument and her musical experience while never straying from a very direct, intense, and personal musical expression.

"Alcorn's pedal steel tones, stretch, float, and dance in the air, and on the ears, expressing something that's worlds beyond words, yet able to communicate on the deepest level." - Signal to Noise

"Susan Alcorn is a great player who has mastered and redefined an unlikely instrument. With an exquisite touch she invoked it's history, extended its emotional and ethereal strengths and explored its microtonal possibilities, drawing it out of the contexts that traditionally render it invisible, or generic, and into its own mature discourse, reminding improvisers that 'free' includes the right to be romantic, melodic and four to the bar." - The Wire (UK)

“Beautiful, glassy and liquid, however far she strays from the pulse and conventional harmony.” - The Guardian

Tour info:

Christchurch - Lyttleton Coffee Company - Thursday 12 November
Susan Alcorn solo and with Reuben Derrick and Daniel Beban (Orchestra of Spheres)

Dunedin – The Anteroom, Port Chalmers - Friday 13 November
Susan Alcorn solo and with Alastair Galbraith

Queenstown – The Sherwood - Saturday 14 November

Wellington – Meow - Wednesday 18 November
Susan Alcorn solo and with Tom Callwood (The Phoenix Foundation), Tristan Carter (The Troubles) and Nell Thomas (Orchestra of Spheres)

Auckland – Audio Foundation
Friday 20 November – Susan Alcorn solo and with Hermione Johnson and Anthony Donaldson
Saturday 21 November – Susan Alcorn solo and with Greg Malcolm and Anthony Donaldson

Ticket presales available via Undertheradar, $18.50 presales / $20.00 on the door (prices include booking fee)

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