Yusuf (Cat Stevens) Announces Three New Zealand Shows For December

Legendary artist and humanitarian Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, is making his way back to New Zealand in December for a three show tour. Dubbed 'The Peace Train Tour', the journey towards the antipodes comes in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his first major hit single and debut album 'Matthew & Son'. Yusuf was last in New Zealand in 2010, when he played two sold-put arena shows across Christchurch and Auckland. Here are the details for the upcoming shows on these shores...

Update 17th May: Due to popular demand a second Auckland has been added to the tour. Here are all the dates:

Yusuf /Cat Stevens

Wednesday 13th December, Spark Arena, Auckland - SOLD OUT
Thursday 14th December, Spark Arena, Auckland
Saturday 16th December, TSB Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth
Tuesday 19th December, Horncastle Arena, Christchurch

See below for ticketing information

Here's'Matthew and Son', released by Cat Stevens back in 1967...

PRESS RELEASE:

TEG DAINTY and Live Nation in association with Moonshadow Aus Pty announced today that British singer-songwriting legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Yusuf / Cat Stevens will tour New Zealand in December. A Cat’s Attic “Peace Train Tour” commemorates the 50th Anniversary of his first major hit single and debut album Matthew & Son released in 1967.

Last here in 2010 for two rapturously received and sold-out arena concerts, Yusuf / Cat Stevens returns to perform two arena shows and one huge outdoor concert for this, only his second ever tour of NZ.

The tour will commence on Wednesday 13 December at Auckland’s Vector Arena and will travel to New Plymouth’s TSB Bowl of Brooklands on Saturday 16 December and finishes at Christchurch’s Horncastle Arena on Tuesday 19 December.

With this tour announcement, Yusuf / Cat Stevens is giving his current RedRoom fan club members the first chance at purchasing tickets.

The fan club pre-sale will run from 9am Monday 3 April (local time) to 9am Tuesday 4 April (local time).

To learn more about the RedRoom visit www.catstevens.com.

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Wednesday 5 April through Ticketmaster and Ticketek. Details below.

Having first found fame as a teenager in 1960s England, Cat Stevens grew from being a teen idol into becoming one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all time. In addition to his vast musical achievements, his lifelong spiritual quest and search for meaning has added intrigue and depth to a groundbreaking career.

Cat achieved early success in the mid 60s with “Matthew and Son”, “Here Comes My Baby” and “The First Cut Is The Deepest”. In 1968 the heavy workload of non-stop appearances and touring, the excesses of a pop-star lifestyle took its toll and Cat contracted TB. He was hospitalised for several months and began a significant process of inner reflection and meditation. During this time Stevens began to question aspects of his life and spirituality and underwent a profound musical transformation. From 1970 to 1978 he recorded and released the albums that would establish him as a leading singer-songwriter of his generation.

His album, Tea for the Tillerman, from 1970, went multi-platinum in the U.S. and Australasia with such songs as “Wild World”, “Hard Headed Woman”, “Where Do the Children Play?” and “Father & Son”. It was Teaser and the Firecat in 1971 that made him a megastar, with songs like “Morning Has Broken”, “Peace Train” and “Moonshadow”. In 1975 Cat experienced another momentous and life-changing event after nearly drowning in the Pacific Ocean. Following this he dedicated himself to the Divine path, and on leaving music he concentrated on education and humanitarian relief.

The tragic events of 9/11 motivated Yusuf to, once again, take to the global stage. He spoke out in the media against the atrocities, against fanaticism and war, and called for peace and unity. In 2006 Yusuf returned to mainstream music with the album An Other Cup, which was followed in 2009 by Roadsinger. 2014 was another monumental year for Yusuf, as he released his fourteenth studio album Tell ‘Em I’m Gone and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is currently working on a children’s animation series and writing his autobiography, which is expected to surface next year.

Yusuf / Cat Stevens toured New Zealand in 2010 for the first time ever, and the shows had the critics raving:

“…Wild World, Where Do the Children Play?, Moonshadow and Father and Son were delivered in heartfelt style and brought the audience to its feet for multiple encores.” The NZ Herald

“…it's great to have him back…singing songs whose beauty is often their sheer simplicity…this was like catching up with an old friend.” Newshub

“Peace Train…struck a chord with everyone jammed into Vector Arena…picking up the pace to finish off a joyous night.” www.stuff.co.nz

This 50th Anniversary Tour is going to be an unmissable night for fans.

YUSUF / CAT STEVENS 50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATES

AUCKLAND: Wednesday 13 December – Vector Arena – www.ticketmaster.co.nz
NEW PLYMOUTH: Saturday 16 December – TSB Bowl of Brooklands – www.ticketek.co.nz
CHRISTCHURCH: Tuesday 19 December – Horncastle Arena – www.ticketek.co.nz

General Public on sale: 10am on Wednesday 5 April

Do not buy from unauthorised resale scalper websites. You risk buying invalid or fraudulent tickets.