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The Festival of Colour is presenting Lawrence Arabia’s Wanaka date as part of the band’s first ever nationwide tour outside the four main centres. Eponymous lead vocalist Arabia, aka James Milne, said the show would be just as entertaining as April’s gig but a whole new sonic experience for the town.“There are a million reasons to come and see us again. Our core sound is more Beatles-esque and less funky. We have the same singers but a different drummer; shorter songs but lots more of them!” he said. “It’s a 90-minute plus show, abundant with banter and three-part harmonies, wit, beauty and occasional loud noise.” 

Lawrence’s most recent album, “The Sparrow,” was released worldwide in July 2012, receiving all sorts of kind plaudits from the press, including the Sunday Times’ (UK) CD Of The Week, iTunes NZ’s New Zealand Album Of The Year 2012, and a Taite Music Prize nomination. After the release of “The Sparrow,” Lawrence and band toured Australia, New Zealand, North America, the UK and Europe again during the second half of 2012, and returned to Europe in May of this year for shows with The Phoenix Foundation. 
Since releasing his debut album in 2006, Lawrence Arabia has toured extensively in Europe, Australia and North America, including tours with Feist, Beach House, Okkervil River and Crowded House. In 2009, Lawrence Arabia’s song “Apple Pie Bed” won the APRA Silver Scroll and the album it came from, “Chant Darling,” won the inaugural Taite Music Prize. 

Recently, his major project has been fatherhood, but in July, Mr Arabia recorded a song commissioned by the Aarhus Festival in Denmark, entitled “Sweet Dissatisfaction,” which was the inspiration for a film made especially for the festival by American alt-country musician and filmmaker, Jim White. Also, Arabia reassembled his band and accompanying string quartet for a sold-out show at the Christchurch Arts Festival this September. 

The Lawrence Arabia band comprises the eponymous Arabia on guitar, piano and vocals, Tom Watson on lead guitar, trumpet and vocals, Hayden Eastmond-Mein on bass guitar and vocals, and Alistair Deverick on drums (and the occasional vocal).

Ticket $25 CLICK HERE TO BUY

Location

Gin & Raspberry, 155 Ardmore St