Sharon O'Neill, Shona Laing, Debbie Harwood and Hammond Gamble Announce Church Tour 2016

Four of the nation's most legendary performers have been announced for this year's Church Tour. The spring jaunt will see Sharon O'Neill, Shona Laing, Debbie Harwood and Hammond Gamble join forces to deliver nine evenings full of music, laughter and entertainment within the walls of some of the country's most beautiful buildings. Here are the details...

The Church Tour 2016

Tuesday 20th September, St Johns, Napier
Thursday 22nd September, Chapel of Christ the King, Hamilton
Friday 23rd September, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
Saturday 24th September,Holy Trinity, Tauranga
Monday 26th September, Old St Pauls, Wellington
Tuesday 27th September, Old St Pauls, Wellington
Thursday 29th September, Knox Church, Dunedin
Friday 30th September, St Michael & All Angels, Christchurch
Saturday 1st October, Cardboard Cathedral, Christchurch

Here's the video for Sharon O'Neill's 1983 cut 'Losing You'...

And here's a clip of Hammond Gamble performing 'Leaving The Country; live in 1984...

PRESS RELEASE:

THE 2016 CHURCH TOUR
Sharon O'Neill, Shona Laing, Debbie Harwood & Hammond Gamble

The 2016 Church Tour presents four legendary New Zealand songwriters, recording artists, and performers together on stage in a unique concert collaboration: Sharon O'Neill, Shona Laing, Debbie Harwood & Hammond Gamble.

Their songs are part of the national lexicon, songs that they will revisit in the stunning environs of some of the country’s most beautiful churches and cathedrals. The shows are sure to be full of not just wonderful music, but stories, banter, and a whole lot of laughter.

While all four artists have worked with each other previously in various capacities – Sharon, Shona, and Debbie all performed together as part of the Auckland Zoo series in 2015, and Debbie features as a vocalist on Hammond’s last two albums – the Church Tour will be the first time that the four have shared the stage together.

One of the most prolific and respected writers of her generation, Sharon O’Neill first caught the attention of CBS Records in 1979, quickly becoming the darling of early 80s pop in New Zealand. Sharon has penned some of the biggest and most well-known hits in New Zealand music history including Words, Asian Paradise, Let Love Go, and the iconic Maxine.

Shona Laing signed to Phonogram at just 17 years old, a phenomena the likes of which New Zealand had not see before. She was named ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘Recording Artist of the Year’ in 1973 as a result of the overwhelming success of the singles 1905 and Show Your Love (both Gold). Perhaps best known for the smash hit single (Glad I’m) Not a Kennedy, which was voted No. 24 in the Top 100 NZ Songs Of All Time in 2001, Shona has forged a reputation as one of the hardest working artists in New Zealand music.

As a member of some of our nation’s favourite bands, including “When the Cat’s Away”, Debbie Harwood has accumulated a stack of awards including 'Most Promising Female Vocalist' in 1985 and ‘Most Promising Group’ in 1987. Debbie will draw from an extensive back catalogue for the Church Tour shows, but also promises to debut new material, currently being recorded at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios.

Hammond Gamble is a long-time fixture on New Zealand’s live music scene, his distinctive vocals and guitar prowess have fired a career that has now spanned more than four decades. Renowned for his soulful blues-inspired performances, the charismatic singer-songwriter is also recording new material which will be showcased on the Church Tour, along with the songs we know and love.

Promoters Brent Eccles and Campbell Smith are delighted with the line-up for the Tour in 2016, with Eccles saying that concert-goers should prepare themselves for an exceptional night out.

“The Church tour has a tradition of bringing out spine tingling collaborative & individual performances and I can already feel that this year is going to be exceptional in that way”.

Making nine stops in seven cities across the country, the 2016 Church Tour will be delighting audiences and sending them home with golden memories this September.

Tickets are on sale from www.ticketmaster.co.nz and www.churchtour.co.nz from midday Monday July 11th.

Civic Events presents The 2016 Church Tour
With Sharon O'Neill, Shona Laing, Debbie Harwood & Hammond Gamble