Rob Thorne Announces Tour With Charlotte Yates and Gil Eva Craig

Taonga puoro musician Rob Thorne, who creates otherworldly soundscapes using loop pedals alongside traditionally formed Maori instruments, is hitting the road with Charlotte Yates for a extensive double-bill tour of the North Island. Wellington-based artist Yates was part of iconic 90s act When the Cat’s Been Spayed, but has been releasing solo albums since 1991. Her sixth album Archipelago (2013) was created in collaboration with  sound designer Gil Eva Craig, who will also be joining this month's tour. Here are the details...

Rob Thorne with Charlotte Yates and Gil Eva Craig

Wednesday 10th June, Meow, Wellington
Thursday 11th June, Feilding Little Theatre, Feilding
Friday 12th June, Whanganui Musicians Club, Whanganui
Saturday 13th June, The Dark Room, Palmerston North
Sunday 14th June, 4th Wall Theatre, New Plymouth
Tuesday 16th June, Dome Room Poverty Bay Club, Gisborne
Wednesday 17th June, Tauranga Art Gallery, Tauranga
Thursday 18th June, The Storehouse, Taupo
Friday 19th June, Kauaeranga Hall, Thames
Saturday 20th June, Bank St. Social Club, Whangarei
Sunday 21st June, Little Theatre, Kaitaia
Tuesday 23rd June, Senior Citizens Hall, Opotiki
Wednesday 24th June, Playhouse Theatre, Hastings
Thursday 25th June, Sitting Room Session Private Concert, Napier
Friday 26th June, Burgundy Room Bodega, Wellington
Saturday 27th June, St Peters Hall, Paekakariki
Sunday 28th June, Greytown Little Theatre, Greytown

Here's a short cut of rob Thorne performing 'Rattle'...

And here is Charlotte Yates with 'Falling Down' from her latest album Archipelago...

PRESS RELEASE:

YELLOW EYE DUNEDIN presents North Island Touring double bill June 2016 – Charlotte Yates with Gil Eva Craig and Rob Thorne Taonga Puoro

Setting the scene in the first part of the show, Rob Thorne (Ngati Tumutumu) and Palmerston North resident will explain and show the tools of his trade, their sounds, historical uses and construction …. Traditional Maori instruments made of stone, bone, shell and wood.

To close the night off Rob will create a transcendent aural experience through the use of modern loop technology and those traditional Maori instruments shown from the first part of the evening to touch the soul with timeless beauty, and a very personal exploration of the spiritual and healing qualities of an ancient practice.

A musician with over 25 years’ performance experience in bands and solo, Rob’s work with traditional Maori instruments has led to an MA in Social Anthropology, working both academically and musically with master musician, Richard Nunns QSM, as well as collaborating with Phil Dadson, Dudley Benson and Ariana Tikao. He has researched, taught and demonstrated at museums and marae throughout the country and travelled to the Peruvian Andes to experience and research ancient indigenous sound-healing techniques.

On this tour Rob performs Whaia te Maramatanga, a highly concentrated conversation between past and present – and a personal exploration of the healing qualities of an ancient practice through the medium of sound.

‘Sometimes the whole thing feels like a lost instalment of Brian Eno’s ambient series. At other times it might be a field recording of the Earth sighing in its sleep.’ Nick Bollinger, The Listener

‘Thorne has successfully re-imagined and reconstructed traditional Maori instrumental music for the 21st century.’ NZ Musician.

Many will remember Charlotte Yates from the iconic 1990s band ‘When the Cat’s Been Spayed’.

Since then, besides recording six albums of her own, she’s studied contemporary music technology and composition in Australia, produced two Melbourne Fringe Arts Festivals, been artist in residence in Christchurch (2002) and directed and produced the critically acclaimed CDs, Baxter, Tuwhare and Ihimaera.

Charlotte is joined on this tour by award winning sound designer and multi-instrumentalist Gil Eva Craig – the two will perform songs from Charlotte’s album Archipelago, co-produced and arranged by Gil.

‘Yates' fine voice and astute pop songwriting are more than ably backed up by her intuitive guitar work.’ North and South

‘Had she been born a few decades later, the Kiwi music machine would be all over her talent and hooky semi-acoustic songs like the proverbial rash. Archipelago sees her paired with producer-musician Gil Eva Craig, who adds extra colour and texture to the confident unguarded emotion that is the hallmark of Yates' work.’ Nick Ward, Stuff