Kirin J Callinan And Jack Ladder Announce Co-Headline Show

Australian Kirin J Callinan is heading to Auckland for a special one-off show New Zealand for two shows in the new year with compatriot and musical cohort Jack Ladder. The two artists recently worked together on Playmates, the fantastic fourth album from the baritone-blessed Ladder who was joined by his John Walters-referencing band The Dreamlanders, which encompasses the musical talents of Callinan alongside Laurence Pike and Donny Benet. Here's the details for their upcoming co-headline shows...

UPDATE 22/12: Wellington show has been added... here's the deets:

Kirin J Callinan And Jack Ladder
Wednesday 7th January, Whammy Bar, Auckland
Thursday 8th January, San Fran, Wellington

Tickets for both shows available HERE at UTR

Here's the video for 'Come On Back This Way' featuring Sharon Van Etten...

PRESS RELEASE:

JACK LADDER & THE DREAMLANDERS – NEW ZEALAND JANUARY SHOW

Sydney artist Jack Ladder will be playing his first ever New Zealand shows on January as part of a co-headline run with Kirin J. Callinan, on the back of the release of his acclaimed fourth album with his band The Dreamlanders, ‘Playmates’.

Three years after the acclaimed ‘HURTSVILLE’ and a move from the inner city of Sydney to the Blue Mountains, Jack Ladder reunited with The Dreamlanders - Callinan (who released his own album ‘Embracism’ in 2013 on Terrible / XL), Laurence Pike (of PVT) and Donny Benet. With Sharon Van Etten contributing vocals to two tracks. The album was produced by Kim Moyes (of The Presets), mixed by David Wrench (Caribou, Jungle, FKA Twigs).

The first taste of the album, 'Come On Back This Way' showcases a newfound lightness, weaving a glistening synth melody with a chorus duet and wordless backing from Van Etten. Though he’s hard to categorise, US music site Stereogum might have come close when they described him as a "surrealist crooner”.

‘Playmates’ is Jack Ladder’s fourth album and his first on his own label, Self Portrait. His previous two albums (2008’s ‘Love Is Gone’ and 2011’s ‘HURTSVILLE’) were shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize. ‘Playmates’ was one of the most acclaimed Australian releases of the year soon after it came out there in late 2014.

On working with Jack Ladder, Sharon Van Etten says, "When I first saw Jack Ladder...it blew me away. He's got a darkness to his vocals and lyrics but with a wink. It was really fun and an interesting challenge and his songs are killer. I feel lucky to have been a part of it."

2015 promises to be a key year for the band as ‘Playmates’ will be released by the legendary Fat Possum label in North America, South America and Japan in February 2015, with plans to tour the US through the year.

CHEESEONTOAST - “Musically, painting from a purposeful eighties electronic palette, the backdrop is suitably restrained, placing the voice and words firmly into the centre of attention. …I struggle to find the words to justify the amount that I recommend this album. It’s fantastic.”

AUSTRALIAN REVIEWS FOR ‘PLAYMATES’
THE BRAG 4 stars "The appeal of his splintered romanticism is by no means a given, but once his work connects, you begin to feel as though it’s been fashioned specifically for you….Playmates has already made a persuasive pitch for album of the year."

THE VINE "whether it's romantic, moonlit, backwater towns or sullen basement lounges Ladder is soundtracking, the constant is in that solemn delivery. A sea in which to drown.”

THE THOUSANDS "It's tender, it's crushing, and it's creepy; nothing else this year will hurt as good as. “

DOUBLE J RADIO Feature Album “The breadth of Ladder's ideas is staggering here, with elements of warped country, synthpop, noise rock and krautrock.”