The Tuning Fork, 95bFM and Undertheradar announce six new acts to join the Southern Fork Americana Fest 2019 line-up! Among the bands announced today are some of New Zealand’s finest Americana and Country music talent including; 2019 NZ Country Artist of the Year, Jenny Mitchell, Auckland’s Louis Jarlov, Multi-instrumentalist Dave Khan, and the genre-melting collective, Burn the Bridges. Plus a special guest all the way from Nashville, Americana sweetheart, Sierra Ferrel!
See the full line up below.
Once a year, the Southern Fork Americana fest invites the best in Americana, blues and country music to play across six nights at Auckland’s Tuning Fork. The star-studded line-up this year includes The Felice Brothers (US), Pokey LaFarge (US), Molly Tuttle (US) and our very own Tami Neilson (NZ) plus more!
There are limited full festival passes available – secure yours now at Ticketmaster.
The Felice Brothers
and You, Me, Everybody
Thursday, 10th October
Ian and James Felice grew up in the Hudson Valley of upstate NY. Self-taught musicians, inspired as much by Hart Crane and Whitman as by Guthrie and Chuck Berry, they began in 2006 by playing subway platforms and sidewalks in NYC and have gone on to release nine albums of original songs and to tour extensively throughout the world. The Felice Brothers‘ latest release, Undress, was recorded straight to tape with very little overdubbing.
You, Me, Everybody is about gifting others their moment to shine, a celebration of the virtuosity of the individual and the camaraderie of coming together in a musical moment. Taking their inspiration from a range of musical styles, You, Me, Everybody starts at bluegrass, weaving jazz, country and blues to create a dynamic sound that showcases the best of Americana.
Pokey LaFarge
and Sierra Ferrell
Friday, 18th October
Ever since his first record, 2006’s self-released Marmalade, Pokey LaFarge has been a difficult specimen to pin down, indeed. Though he was raised on a healthy diet of blues, bluegrass, ragtime, Western swing and old-time country — and though he has consistently demonstrated a decided affinity for pre-1950s menswear — the Illinois native is by no means a throwback or a museum piece. Timelessness and refined good taste is LaFarge’s raison d’être, and his influences are as multi-hued and wide-ranging as the rhythms that buoy his starkly poetic songs — rhythms that are steeped in the very essence of jazz.
From Charleston, West Virginia, Sierra Ferrell has lived a life of non-stop song and music since age 20. While that makes only 8 years thus far, the depths of life and soul you hear in her voice are stunning. She sang throughout her whole childhood, and many different kinds of old songs and vinyl records and on the radio took up a full-time residence in her songbird heart.
Tami Neilson
and Jenny Mitchell
Sunday, 20th October
Having become one of NZ’s most beloved artists of the modern era, blending country, soul and rockabilly into her signature high-octane performances, Tami Neilson‘s songs have tugged at our heart-strings and soothed our souls. Accompanied by Tami’s brother and longtime co-writer/collaborator Jay Neilson, the Big Boss Mama will bring her extensive songbook to the Tuning Fork this October in the middle of her nationwide tour.
The 2019 NZ Country Artist of the Year is a travel-loving storyteller from the deep South of New Zealand. Influenced by Gillian Welch and Norah Jones, Jenny Mitchell’s folk-country goodness is rapidly capturing fans across the globe. She’s comfortable with a country twang or softly spoken ballad and her critically acclaimed record Wildfires proves that she is not afraid to create music that follows no trends or genre expectations.
Jonny Fritz & Joshua Hedley
and Louis Jarlov
Saturday, 19th October
JONNY FRITZ and JOSHUA HEDLEY epitomise all that is good and wonderful in heartfelt contemporary, and a little bit looney, country music. With complete love and understanding of music of the forefathers, the duo presents a celebratory show that respects the past but gives it a contemporary edge.
Molly Tuttle / Dee White
and Dave Khan
Sunday, 13th October
Award-winning guitarist with a gift for insightful songwriting, Molly Tuttleevolves her signature sound with boundary-breaking songs on her compelling debut album, When You’re Ready. Tuttle has garnered the respect of her peers, winning fans for her incredible flat-picking guitar technique and confessional songwriting.
Dee White makes classic-minded country music for the modern world. Raised in small-town Alabama, he’s a raw, natural songwriter, spinning the sounds and stories of the American South into songs that nod to the past while still chasing down new horizons. His songs are classics-in-the-making, inspired by traditional sounds but happily rooted in the 21st century.
Dave Khan is an Auckland based multi-instrumentalist. He has backed many musicians including Marlon Williams, Bernie Griffen, and Reb Fountain to name a few. He also performs as a solo artist, singing a variety of folk and blues backed by his fiddle, mandolin or guitar.
Albi & the Wolves
and Burn the Bridges
Sunday, 12th October
The NZ-based trio, Albi & the Wolves, create a huge sound using only an acoustic guitar, an electric violin, double bass and their three vocals. They recently won the Best Folk Artist 2018 Tui at the New Zealand Music Awards for their debut album One Eye Open. Chris Dent (the proud albino front man Albi), Pascal Roggen and Michael Young’s individuality shines through the music to make something compelling, uplifting, soulful and fun.
Burn the Bridges have a wide-ranging sound that could be best described as Americana meets Kiwi-ana. Taking influences from Country, Folk, Blues Rock and Funk on the Americana side and adding a bit of New Zealand Reggae/Dub to give it that down-home feel.
To once again offer enthusiasts the chance to see more acts and to encourage music fans to discover new artists, the festival will have a special ticket pricing scheme, enabling music-lovers to receive discounts on multiple ticket purchases.
ABOUT THE GREAT SOUTH PACIFIC TUNING FORK
The Great South Pacific Tuning Fork has quickly established a reputation as one of the best spots in Auckland to see a variety of eclectic artists, with its intimate and comfortable surrounds and top-notch sound system having made it an audience favourite.
In particular, alt. country and Americana acts have found a welcoming home at the venue, which has in the last few years hosted a virtual who’s who of top local and international artists including Jason Isbell, Ryan Bingham, Justin Townes Earle, Marc Ribot, Steve Earle, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Shakey Graves, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Tift Merritt, Marlon Williams, Tami Neilson and a whole lot more.
