The TOPP TWINS SUMMER HOE-DOWN 2011

AT SELECT WINERIES NATION-WIDE with the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, Marian Burns, Tami Neilson and introducing Cameron Luxton

New Zealand’s cream of contemporary alt-country and bluegrass artists will be playing amongst the vines this summer when the Topp Twins and Special Guests appear at boutique wineries in January and February 2011.
 
Last year’s  Topp Twins Winery Tour with Don McGlashan was a sell-out and reminded audiences that while they may be better known as their comedy characters, the twins are also “seriously good singer-songwriters” (Edinburgh Herald).  This summer we are extending the tour and bringing the best of NZ country-roots flavoured music to 14 regions around NZ.
 
Country music is now officially hip, according to the recent national press, but of course Lynda and Jools have known this for years. Unashamedly proud of their country roots, the twins have decided to have a party and asked some of their favourite artists to perform with them for what promises to be the hoe-down of the year.
 
The Topp Twins are thrilled to be performing with the legendary Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, fiddler extraordinaire Marian Burns, Best Female Artist 2010 Country Music Awards, Tami Neilson and young rising star, perhaps our next Keith Urban, Cameron Luxton.
 
Favorite Topp Twins’ characters will make an appearance of course, as it wouldn’t be a Topp Twins show without them. But audiences will get to hear the Topps like you haven’t heard them before.  This will be the Summer Concert of Fun even non-country-music lovers will love.
 
The Topp Twins are running a special ticket giveaway to reward local Canterbury hero’s for their efforts during the Christchurch earthquake, as Jools and Lynda have been touched by the community spirit and those who have volunteered their services or helping hand.  For more information and to make a nomination please check out www.topptwins.co.nz
 
The Topp Twins’ Summer Hoe-Down Tour will be presented by COAST FM and is certain to be a unique celebration of Kiwi country & bluegrass music – our legends and the next generation of stars performing together to create magical entertainment at its finest. So calling all wanna-be cowgals and cowboys, this is your chance. Grab your hats and boots and get along to the foot-stomping summer of fun.
 
THE ARTISTS
 
The legendary Hamilton County Bluegrass Band have been one of NZ’s best-loved groups for several decades and recently performed at one of the best bluegrass festivals in the USA. The band are the only NZ group to have ever played the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee In 2005 they toured with The Highway of Legends, one of NZ’s most successful homegrown tours, selling out more than 35,000 tickets.
 
They will be joined by Marian Burns, one of New Zealand’s top fiddle players, who has performed on both the Topps recent albums. Her dynamic and unrestricted style captivates audiences wherever she plays, and she is well known for creating a party on stage.  An award-winning country musician, accomplished classical performer and music teacher, Marian is in great demand in both New Zealand and Australia. 
 
 Winner of Best Female Artist at the 2010 Country Music Awards, and two-time winner of the New Zealand Tui Award for Best Country Album 2009 and 2010, Canadian-born Tami Neilson comes from a country music pedigree. A performer with her family’s band The Neilsons from the age of 10, she toured Canada for many years and even shared the stage with Johnny Cash.  Her latest album, The Kitchen Table Sessions, contains hectic bluegrass versions of Dave Dobbyn’s ‘Slice of Heaven’ and Scribe’s ‘Not Many’, as well as original haunting heartbreak ballads and foot-stomping, hand-clapping, harmony-infused numbers. Her music has been described as a hybrid of acoustic torch and stripped-bare alt-country. 
 
At only 15 years old, Cameron Luxton already has a list of achievements under his belt.  At 11 he became the Junior Overall Winner at the 2006 Gold Guitars and went on to perform at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.  Cameron performed with the Topp Twins on their 2007 National Tour, and charmed audiences with his mature voice and stage presence.  This year he became the Intermediate Best of the West Country Music Awards Overall Winner, and also took out the Open Instrumental Award.
 
The Topp Twins won Best Country Album at the NZ Music Awards 2007 and 2005; were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame (2008); won the Country Music Group/Duo of the Year Award at the 2009 National Country Music Awards, and at this year’s CMA were named Legends of Country Music.

SUMMER HOE-DOWN 2011 – TOUR DATES
 
SOUTH ISLAND
Wed 5 Jan                           Olssen’s Garden Vineyard – CROMWELL
Thurs 6 Jan                          Anderson Park – INVERCARGILL
Sat 8 Jan                               Opihi Vineyard Café – PLEASANT POINT, TIMARU
Sun 9 Jan                             Hagley Park – CHRISTCHURCH
Tues 11 Jan                         Forrest Wines - MARLBOROUGH
Wed 12 Jan                         Neudorf Vineyards – NELSON
               
NORTH ISLAND
Sat 29 Jan                            Cable Bay Vineyards – WAIHEKE ISLAND
Wed 2 Feb                          Hamilton Gardens - HAMILTON
Thurs 3 Feb                         Wharepai Domain – TAURANGA
Sat 5 Feb                              Black Barn Vineyards – HAWKES BAY
Sun 6 Feb                            TW Wines – GISBORNE
Fri 11 Feb                             Gladstone Vineyard – CARTERTON
Sun 13 Feb                          Ascension Wine Estate - MATAKANA     
 
Tickets on-sale from Friday 22nd October available through Ticket Direct 0800 228 228 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz