Reb Fountain Announces 'Hopeful and Hopeless' EP + Tour Dates

Auckland-based artist Reb Fountain is braced to release a very heartrending project entitled, Hopeful and Hopeless. Songs for the EP were penned during Reb's time on the road with The Eastern, and then recorded live in 2014 with her friends and oft-collaborators Sam Prebble and Dylan Storey with Rohan Evans at the helm at his venue The Wine Cellar. However, shortly after recording Prebble tragically passed away. 

“With Sam’s passing I didn’t know if I could play my music knowing he was gone – for realz. The unfinished musical projects came back to haunt me. If only I had finished it, if only; the beginning of a list of if only’s that hurt in my bones. Dave Khan - Sam’s Wine Cellar Strings co-captain – reminded me of something that I now hold on to with all my might. Releasing a record is nothing in comparison to the experience of growing it from the earth up with your loved ones. I will always have that time in my heart – Sam has it too. Sam gave so many gifts but the best of all has been the honour of sharing a little of his journey with me. I’ve got my own new world full of Sam Prebble to explore – two records and countless demos laden with our respective journeys. What goes on tour stays on tour but music is for everyone. Now if only I could read this map.”

The EP will be released on 30th June on CD, vinyl and digitally. The EP also features the talents of Dave Khan (accordion, acoustic guitar), Brendan Turner (bass), and Cole Goodley (drums). And following the EP's release, Reb will also be unveiling a full length album entitled Little Arrows. Here are the details for her upcoming tour...

Reb Fountain - Hopeful & Hopeless Tour
Featuring Cunliffe, Dave Khan, Dylan Storey

Saturday 1st July, New Edinburgh Folk Club, Dunedin
Sunday 2nd July, Blue Smoke, Christchurch
Friday 21st July, Raumati Social Club, Raumati
Saturday 22nd July, The Wine Cellar, Auckland
Sunday 23rd July, Sitting Room Sessions, Hawkes Bay

*these shows also featuring Ben Wooley and Flora Knight

Tickets to most show available HERE at UTR and instore at the usual outlets

Here's Reb performing earlier song 'The Truth About Us' for a Forked Up Session...

And here she is playing at the Silver Scrolls as part of Oystercatcher last year...

PRESS RELEASE:

Reb Fountain Announces The First Of Two Projects: Hopeful and Hopeless Release and Tour.
June 30th - CD, Digital, Vinyl (Southbound Distribution)

Hopeful and Hopeless was recorded live at The Wine Cellar (8/8/2014)

Reb Fountain, Sam Prebble and Dylan Storey have been writing and performing together for over 12 years. They have released multiple recordings under their respective names, Reb Fountain and the Bandits, Bond Street Bridge and Dylan Storey and as such have all been performing at The Wine Cellar since it’s inception over 13 years ago.

Hopeful and Hopeless was born out of a desire to capture the tunes Reb had been writing whilst on the road with The Eastern - Sam had been touring The Explorers Club and Dylan had become a dad - so with their full album (Little Arrows) on the back burner they set to work to record a fine selection of Reb’s latest tunes. Rohan Evans suggested they perform this collection and record it at his venue, and their second home, The Wine Cellar.

The show stands out in Rebs memory as she had that day, crammed in the usual lot, with two kids, two big black dogs, several jobs and soundcheck - sure enough the night of the gig Reb managed to sing her way through soundcheck but lost her voice near completely for the show. Luckily her bandits picked up the slack and sung rowdily enough to compensate for her whole lower register disappearing. With hurrahs for an encore Sam and Reb stayed on stage to perform Slave on violin and piano respectively, (one of the songs on Reb’s up and coming album Little Arrows).

It was the last time Reb would share the stage with Sam.

It was a long time after Sam’s death that Reb could revisit any of the music she had made with Sam. The loss of someone you love is great without their music to haunt you.

And there was so much unfinished and unsaid. Grappling with the loss of her dear friend and musical companion, and struggling with the ‘what if’s’ surrounding their unfinished musical works, Reb knew intrinsically that the only way forward was to reconnect with Sam, by completing their unfinished projects, first Hopeful and Hopeless and finally the album Little Arrows.

“With Sam’s passing I didn’t know if I could play my music knowing he was gone – for realz. The unfinished musical projects came back to haunt me. If only I had finished it, if only; the beginning of a list of if only’s that hurt in my bones. Dave Khan - Sam’s Wine Cellar Strings co-captain – reminded me of something that I now hold on to with all my might. Releasing a record is nothing in comparison to the experience of growing it from the earth up with your loved ones. I will always have that time in my heart – Sam has it too. Sam gave so many gifts but the best of all has been the honour of sharing a little of his journey with me. I’ve got my own new world full of Sam Prebble to explore – two records and countless demos laden with our respective journeys. What goes on tour stays on tour but music is for everyone. Now if only I could read this map.” - Reb Fountain

Hopeful and Hopeless features Reb Fountain (vocals, acoustic guitar), Dave Khan (accordion, acoustic guitar), Sam Prebble (violin, banjo), Dylan Storey (electric guitar) Brendan Turner (bass), and Cole Goodley (drums).

It was engineered and mixed by Rohan Evans and mastered by Simon Gooding.

Thanks to Rohan Evans & Arcade Recordings Hopeful & Hopeless will also be available on vinyl.

Little Arrows is set for release Sept 1st. (Southbound Distribution).