This February sees the return to the road of C-City's own Adam McGrath, lead singer of the south islands lovable table standers and glass spillers The Eastern. Described by No depression magazine 'As one of the best modern roots acts from any country' and by RNZ as a 'National Treasure' and by his friends as quite tall and strange, McGrath knows little else other than how to show up and sing his folk songs and tell his stories to audiences of up to 20 or 30 most nights of the year, in small town and bug. After a successful 10 months around New Zealand, Australia and beyond in 2018/19 McGrath revs his ageing yet still firing engines to begin 2020 right. Hitting heartland and big city both over Feb. this is a good shake off of the home dust before his first solo album (After four Eastern records) sneaks into the world in May.
But in order to keep himself on point and the audience from too much of his own self-indulgence, he's bringing a pal with him. Scottish harpist and singer Esther Swift was introduced to NZ audiences in 2018 during her well received Auckland Folk Festival appearance and the following extensive nationwide tour whereupon she endeared herself to audiences everywhere. An impossibly accomplished player full of great humor, spirit and majestic songwriting chops Esther inhabits an ethereal magic collage of folk jazz and wonder, yet seems impossibly grounded in the troubadour tradition of connection to the everyday stories that speak to our best and truest places. Described by London Jazz as 'Singularly compelling' and by the Scotsman as 'Inventive and impressive' Esther will no doubt make this two-person double bill and concert tour something to remember and believe in.
