KATH TATE, Meow, 25 March, 7:30 pm
Kiwi song-writer Kath Tait is a small town eccentric from New Zealand who now lives in London. Her songs are sharply observed, laconic stories of everyday absurdity. She combines charm, humour and insight with melodic guitar/vocals, and deadpan delivery, to produce an entertaining and original stage act. She has entertained audiences from Dunedin to Edinburgh with her ascerbic wit, self mockery and outrageous fib telling.
She has produced three CDs - BASTARD (1996), VIVE LE TRAFIC! (2001), and LEAKY UMBRELLAS(2007). Kath performs 'outside' London's Royal Albert Hall every Friday night. Apart from that she has exposed herself at poetry, acoustic and folk clubs and festivals in England, Australia and New Zealand.
What they say:
'London's biggest traffic problem',
Ken Livingstone (Mayor).
'Singer/songwriter, Kath Tait has lived and worked in London for the past decade. It was inevitable she left New Zealand, having insulted most of her family and friends in her songs. Behind the cheerful guitar and sweet voice lie lyrics of barbed wire. The ironies of modern life are her inspiration, the contrast in her disarming delivery and often explicit words, is her charm.'
WAIKATO TIMES, New Zealand.
OPENING ACTS:
STEPH CASEY is a singer-songwriter from Wellington who first caught our ears with her performances at the Acoustic Routes monthly blackboard night at Mojo Invincible. She picked up a guitar at age eleven, started writing songs as a teenager, and currently plays in Wellington cafés, theatres and music venues. Her songs are honest and accessible, and linger in your head long after listening. Steph accompanies her soulful voice with acoustic guitar peppered with country/folk riffs. She released her debut EP in 2010 and is currently working on an album of which will be released this year.
THE HEX CRYSTALS are Ann McChesney, Mary Hubble and Sue Hirst. They have been practising their arts on audiences in Wellington and occasionally further afield since the early '90s.
They find it hard to describe their genre because they steal material from all over the place - and have been known to write the odd parody. In a Hex concert you may hear hurtin' country, pure trad folk, schlock from the 50s, 60s and 70s, songs by brilliant NZ songwriters and all manner of other things. The focus is on vocals and particularly harmony, instruments taking a definite step sideways out of the spotlight though the trusty guitar, occasional ukulele, keyboards and flute may be encountered. Ah, and castanets!!
And a fabulous way to get in the groove for Kath's concert - Richard Klein and friends will be having their usual Americana jam session from 4 to 7 pm. You can hear some of the Wellington region's finest players and singers of country, blues, Cajun, old-timey, boogie-woogie and all-around good-time American music, and it's an open session so you can join in.
