The Lonesome Pine Specials are an old-time music revival. They bring songs steeped in the musical tradition of Southern Americana. They lift their voices with an unadorned purity reminiscent of The Carter Family, and with an honest love of simplicity, they weave their banjos and fiddles with songs of Appalachia and tunes for the old dance halls. At times you will want to throw your feet to the boards and swing your partner beneath the stars and at others you will want to be still and listen to every lonesome lyric.
Indeed it would be easy to mistake the Lonesome Pine Specials for native Virginians, that is until you see them perform live, they are in fact a rambunctious trio from the South Island of New Zealand. Their performances are humorous and heart felt, and although their love for music runs deep they do not approached it with sombre severity but rather a playful reverie.
The Lonesome Pine Specials is FLORA KNIGHT, fiddle player and expat of Lytteltons hard traveling string band The Eastern, alongside HANNAH HARDING, the brains and beauty behind New Zealands latest prized musical child Aldous Harding, with BEN WOOLLEY, the humble multi instrumentalist and right hand man for acclaimed globe trotting touring and recording artists, Delaney Davidson, Tami Neilson, Marlon Williams and Devilish Mary & The Holy Rollers.
It is not surprising to learn that the trio first collaborated musically in Port Lyttelton, where until recently they all lived. Music has since taken them on many respective journeys, both far and wide, however they are bonded by firm friendship and a creative affinity so it is only natural that they have decided to reunite for a tour of their homelands. A tour, spanning thirty shows that will see them travel the length and breath of New Zealand, all the way from the deep south to The Northlands.
The Lonesome Pine Specials have called upon their true friend and Australian Bush Poet Archer to create a dynamic and potent live show for their New Zealand tour.
ARCHER, according to Archer, is an old-time sing song man. Others note that he’s an ‘outsider’. He lives out there for sure, somewhere, no fixed address, anywheres or nowhere. Archer is hard to pin down.
Born in North Carolina, just short an hour from the Appalachian mountains, he’s found a roaming home in Australia. He busks, works on farms, labours, and at present he hails from deep in the Victorian countryside. He plucks guitar, writes and plays country bush blues, and every new song from Archer sounds 100 years old.
Archer’s music is stripped back and simple, sparse. There is no adornment, so all you get is the song and his big, booming voice. His influences skip back generations to the traditional country singers. Tex Morton, Smilin’ Billy Blinkhorn, guys like that. He learned to sing up North, with the Pacific Islanders.
He’s a musical drifter, picking up stories wherever he goes, polishing them into honest songs. There’s a sense with Archer that his music exists outside of time. Which makes sense, because he exists outside of place.
Last year saw ARCHER sign to Underground Melbourne vinyl label Pound Records and released his debut LP Old Time Sing Song Man. ARCHER also played a string of “best-on-ground” performances at Australian Festivals including Golden Plains, Mullumbimby, Queenscliff, Wave Rock and amongst others..
Provided the trucks and trains and boats slow down enough for him to jump on – ARCHER is pleased to announce he will be releasing and touring his album on a massive tour across NZ this March and April...
This is a show not to be missed, bring all of your friends and family and throw caution to the wind for a night of dance and song with Archer and The lonesome Pine Specials.
