WAI 2006
Media Release February 2006
WAI = WATER
http://www.wai100.com
WAI will miss some of Aotearoas best summer weather when they take a break from recording their second album and depart late January to perform selected shows in the U.K. and undertake their first tour of Belgium.
The U.K. dates are:
Sat 4 Feb 'Live In Session' on 'Another Saturday Night' with Charlie Gillett
8pm - 10pm on BBC London 94.9FM. 'Another Saturday Night can be heard
worldwide on the web for 7 days after the show - On Demand at http://www.bbc.co.uk/london
Tue 7 Feb London 9pm Momos
Fri 10 London 7.30pm Purcell Room (http://www.rfh.org.uk)
Sat 11 Feb Reading 8pm South Street (http://www.readingarts.com)
Sun 12 Feb Brighton 8pm Komedia (http://www.komedia.co.uk)
For this tour WAI will feature an expanded five piece line up and will be
performing their intensely soulful acoustic shows using acoustic drums, poi
and percussion as the root for the rhythm, with koauau, pumoana and
purerehua alongside guitar and vocals. WAI are also holding Poi workshops
for children and adults.
In the past two years the highly innovative group from Wellington, New
Zealand/Aotearoa have performed throughout the world including the USA, UK,
Germany, Norway, Canada, The Channel Islands and Australia. Add two visits
to China and return visits to Canada and Norway in the past year and WAIs
determination to take the Maori language and their music far is clear.
Tuwhare
Upon return, WAI will be performing at the Wellington Town Hall, taking part with other guests in the live concert production of 'Tuwhare - the Charlotte Yates project setting Hone Tuwhares poems to contemporary original music.
Hone Tuwhare is one of New Zealands greatest living artists and is the first Maori poet to have published his work in English in 1964.
WAI create new Maori waiata (music) out of ancient Maori roots, traditions
and language, inspired by their ancestors. Organic grooves and beats made
from traditional Maori poi percussion, body slaps and natural noises propel
powerful soulful songs - all sung in Maori. WAI make music sounding like no
one else. WAI (meaning 'water' in Maori) formed in 1999 lead by Mina Ripia and Maaka McGregor with Gaynor Rikihana.
For further info, contact: Christopher Read cpread@yahoo.com