Original singer-songwriter Jo Little of Dunedin is set to headline her first New Zealand/Australia solo tour on the release of her new album Till the Blue Skies Come. Jo will be accompanied by prominent Dunedin lead guitarist and singer-songwriter Jared Smith of Soulseller and Ash & the Matadors, who will be releasing his own debut solo album Bare Bones. Both musicians have left their day jobs and have sold their worldly belongings in preparation for hitting the road for the next three months.
About Jo Little:
Since an early age, Jo Little has been inspired to write and perform her own music. She has fronted a variety of bands, the most well known of these being Bellebird & The Handsome Gypsies who released an EP Flying North in 2008 with two NZ tours. The other well known being Midnight Kitchen who released an EP Short Burst of Hot in 2009 with an NZ tour and performances at The Catlins River Festival and Luminate music festivals. In 2010 Jo released her second solo EP Mixtape, more recently completing a South Island Tour as the opening act for Ash & the Matadors in November. Jo Little's music is drawn from her personal experiences with honest lyrics and an alternative country-soul flavour.
With a comforting and strong voice Little's music draws on influences ranging from grunge to soul, and artists such as Pearl Jam and PJ Harvey. - Allyson Coff, Dunedinmusic.com
Jo Little possesses an amazing voice, bouncing effortlessly between Deborah Wai Kapohe and Alanis Moressette. - Nigel Benson, Otago Daily Times.
About Jared Smith:
Jared Smith is a singer-songwriter who has been playing guitar for the past 16 years. Smith is the front-man of well known Dunedin band Soulseller which in 2008 released a 5 track EP and opened for such international acts as Brant Bjork and the Bros, The Melvins and High on Fire. Smith also plays lead guitar for another popular Dunedin band Ash & the Matadors who released a 6 track EP Mansion Tapes in 2010, and opened for Kiwi legends Jordan Luck Band. In 2011 the band released their first album An Evening Echo and completed a South Island Tour. More recently armed with an acoustic guitar Jared Smith is set to focus on his song writing, with such influences as John Martyn, Townes Van Zandt and Neil Young.
“Jared Smith brings some sharp and pointed playing (early Seventies rock) to their sound” - Graham Reid, Elsewhere.co.nz
“The vocals of guitarist Jared are rife with attitude no matter the context” - The Obelisk
