Hunters & Collectors will be joined at the majority of winery shows by You Am I, with Diesel taking the stage at the others. Something For Kate and British India, who both pay tribute to the Hunters on the ‘Crucible’ album, will be special guests at all winery shows. The Panics will be the supports for the theatre shows.
The tour news comes amidst a hub of recent Hunters & Collectors activity – their upcoming performance at the AFL Grand Final this Saturday, as special guests at Melbourne’s two Bruce Springsteen concerts in February, and most importantly, the release of “Crucible – The Songs Of Hunters & Collectors”, the lovingly curated album featuring 15 stunning tributes from the likes of The Living End, Birds Of Tokyo, Neil Finn & Eddie Vedder and Paul Kelly accompanied by 15 original H&C recordings (out tomorrow through Liberation Music).
The album is testimony to the extraordinary Hunters & Collectors legacy, one that was built not only their uniquely-Australian songs and Mark Seymour’s razor sharp lyrics, but also on their commanding and powerful live performances. The album has been the fillip for the band’s reformation.
Ask anyone to describe a Hunters & Collectors gig and words like ‘primal’, ‘sweat-soaked’, ‘intense’, ‘ferocious’ come to the fore. Few bands made their mark in the live landscape like ‘The Hunnas’ did. It was a badge of honour they wore with pride and fought to sustain at every show – approaching 2000 of them across 15 countries - resulting in a profound connection with audiences everywhere.
When they called it a day in 1998, Hunters & Collectors was a multi-platinum selling band, with five top 10 albums boasting classic songs like ‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’, ‘Talking to a Stranger’,‘ Holy Grail’, ‘When The River Runs Dry’, ‘Do You See What I See’, ‘Say Goodbye’ and countless others.
In 2005 they were inducted by Peter Garrett into the ARIA Hall of Fame. In March 2009 the Sound Relief benefit concert at the MCG brought them temporarily out of retirement, with a set that won rave reviews: “The band’s visceral, gutsy performance makes us feel proud of our musical heritage” (Inpress); ”they had people everywhere hugging and belting out the words to some Aussie classics. All delivered to rapturous response: (Beat Magazine) and “they sounded like they had never stopped touring - an amazing set.” (Richard Kingsmill Triple J).
Mark Seymour has, of course, continued a vibrant and successful solo career but for now, he’s looking forward to rejoining his former band mates Jack Howard, Michael Waters, Jeremy Smith, Doug Falconer, Barry Palmer and John Archer in this long-awaited reformation tour.
YOU AM I continue their 20th anniversary celebrations saddling up to join the tour. It’s been a delight to enjoy this year’s reissue of their first three seminal albums ‘Sound As Ever’, ‘Hi Fi Way’ and ‘Hourly Daily’ and to see the band in such fine form in their birthday year. After a show here and there, this will be You Am I’s first major tour for a day on the green.
SOMETHING FOR KATE – vocalist Paul Dempsey, bass player Stephanie Ashworth and drummer Clint Hyndman – jumped at the chance to be involved in the tour and the ‘Crucible’ album, (covering one of Dempsey’s personal favourites ‘When The River Runs Dry’). In the past decade they’ve sold over half a million records and released five top ten albums, their last 2012’s ‘Leave Your Soul To Science’ debuting at #1 on the ARIA chart.
After 14 albums and 25 years, can it be possible that DIESEL, aka Mark Lizotte, continues to raise his own musical bar? The multi ARIA-award winner, recognised as a prodigious talent both on stage and in the studio, has proved himself a master of multiple genres, blending bits from all of them to create his own truly unique sound. His trademark virtuoso guitar playing and soulful vocals always ensure an electrifying live show.
With strong support from Triple M and alternative radio, Melbourne quartet BRITISH INDIA’s last three albums have all debuted in the ARIA Top Ten. Led by vocalist/guitarist Declan Melia, the band are regulars at festivals like Big Day Out, Splendour In the Grass and Homebake. They also feature on ‘Crucible’ covering ‘Do You See What I See’.
TOUR DATES
Friday 4 April Enmore Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)
Saturday 5 April Enmore Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)
Friday 11 April Palais Theatre, Melbourne (All Ages)
A DAY ON THE GREEN SHOWS
All event information: www.adayonthegreen.com.au
Saturday 25 January The Hill Winery, Geelong VIC
w/ You Am I, Something For Kate & British India
Saturday 1 February Bimbadgen Winery, Hunter Valley NSW
w/ You Am I, Something For Kate & British India
Sunday 2 February Sirromet Wines, Mt Cotton QLD
w/ You Am I, Something For Kate & British India
Saturday 8 February All Saints Estate, Rutherglen VIC
w/ You Am I, Something For Kate & British India
Saturday 22 February Leconfield Wines, McLaren Vale SA
w/ You Am I, Something For Kate & British India
Saturday 1 March Petersons Winery, Armidale NSW
w/ Something For Kate, Diesel & British India
Saturday 8 March Robert Oatley Vineyards, Mudgee NSW
w/ Something For Kate, Diesel & British India
Saturday 15 March Josef Chromy Wines, Launceston TAS
w/ Something For Kate & British India
Saturday 22 March Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley VIC
w/ You Am I, Something For Kate & British India
Saturday 29 March Kings Park & Botanical Garden, Perth WA
w/ Something For Kate, Diesel & British India
