Americana Festival Announced For Auckland

Auckland will be getting a little slice of provincial life in October with the arrival of the inaugural Southern Fork Americana Fest. The brainchild of local venue The Tuning Fork, the festival will bring together top alt-country acts from North America and New Zealand to play across two weeks. The impressive line up includes the talents from international acts Justin Townes Earle, Nikki Lane (pictured above), Ryan Bingham, The Delines, Jonny Fritz, Lindi Ortega and Robert Ellis, who will be joined by local performers Aldous Harding, Marlon William, Bernie Griffen and Eb & Sparrow. Here's the dates announced so far, and see below for more information on the artists...

Southern Fork Americana Fest 2014
Tuning Fork, Auckland

Saturday 11th October - Ryan Bingham with support from Ebony Lamb
Thursday 16th October - Jonny Fritz and Robert Ellis
Friday 17th October - Nikki Lane and The Delines
Saturday 18th October - Eb & Sparrow w/ Aldous Harding
Friday 24th Ocotber - Lindi Ortega w/ Bernie Griffen
Saturday 25th October - Justin Townes Earle w/ Marlon Williams

PRESS RELEASE:

VECTOR ARENA PRESENTS SOUTHERN FORK AMERICANA FEST
A GATHERING OF THE BEST AMERICANA ARTISTS FROM NORTH AMERICA & NZ
LIVE AT THE GREAT SOUTH PACIFIC TUNING FORK, THROUGH OCTOBER 2014

Vector Arena’s “baby venue”, the Great South Pacific Tuning Fork, has come of age and is proud to announce the launch of a unique new music festival. Some of the finest exponents of Americana, from both the North America and New Zealand, will come together for the Southern Fork Americana Fest- a two week celebration of the very best in alternative country that will be held at the Auckland venue in October 2014. Featuring internationally acclaimed artists such as Oscar and Grammy winning songwriter Ryan Bingham, Jonny Fritz and Justin Townes Earle—who will soon be releasing his new album Single Mothers— the festival will also host a number of home-grown performers, including Eb & Sparrow and Aldous Harding. New Zealand audiences will also have their first chance to see The Delines—the brand new band of Willy Vlautin of alt.country heroes Richmond Fontaine - who will be showcasing their debut album Colfax Avenue, a release that is already gaining rave reviews around the world.

With additional artists such as Nikki Lane, Lindi Ortega, and past Tuning Fork guests Robert Ellis, Bernie Griffen and Marlon Williams on offer, the Southern Fork Americana Fest is a unique opportunity to catch under one roof the very best of this ground-breaking genre of music - a genre that has proved immensely popular with Kiwi audiences and one which has found a firm ally in The Great South Pacific Tuning Fork. The initial show dates are as follows:

Ryan Bingham & support from Ebony Lamb (October 11)
Jonny Fritz/Robert Ellis (October 16)
Nikki Lane/The Delines (October 17)
Eb & Sparrow w/guest Aldous Harding (October 18)
Lindi Ortega w/guest Bernie Griffen (October 24)
Justin Townes Earle w/Marlon Williams (October 25)

Additional shows and artists will be announced soon.
Tickets on sale Thursday August 21 from Ticketmaster

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS:

Justin Townes Earle
Son of Steve Earle and named after the legendary songwriter Townes Van Zandt, Justin is a regular visitor to these and will soon be releasing his latest album Single Mothers. Over the years he's earned a reputation as one of the best live performers around and has always proved to be a huge hit with NZ audiences.

Ryan Bingham
With Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy awards for his song “The Weary Kind” from the acclaimed film Crazy Heart under his belt, Bingham is one America's most successful performers but has retained the kind of fiercely independent streak that has won him fans from both mainstream and indie audiences.

Robert Ellis
Described by Esquire as “a peculiar but elegant intersection of Bon Iver, George Jones and Jackson Browne" Ellis has recently been nominated for a string of awards for his latest release The Lights From The Chemical Plant - an album produced by Tom Waits and Kings Of Leon collaborator Jacquire King.

Jonny Fritz
Fresh from a series of live dates with Alabama Shakes, Dawes, Deer Tick and a whirlwind Australian tour with Wagons all in support of latest album Dad Country, Nashville based Fritz (aka Jonny Corndawg) was recently named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the artists to watch in 2014.

Lindi Ortega
Canadian born Ortega describes herself with a tongue very firmly planted in cheek as "a crazy storm chasin', red lipstick, red boot wearin', guitar slinging, singer songwriter gal". Critics, on the other hand describe her as a worthy successor to such Nashville queens as Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton - all thanks to the vocal and songwriting prowess evident on her latest album Tin Star.

Nikki Lane
Described as a "modern-era Wanda Jackson" Nashville's Nikki Lane presents her album All Or Nothin' to NZ audiences. Laced with songs that crucify ex-boyfriends and celebrate one-night stands, the album was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and features collaborations with a host of songwriters, including Spiritualised mainman Jason Pierce.

The Delines
Fronted by Willy Vlautin of alt.country heroes Richmond Fontaine, the band's debut album Colfax was recently described by Uncut in a glowing 9/10 review as "the richest collection of songs Vlautin has written”.

Marlon Williams Described as "the impossible love child of Elvis, Roy Orbison and Townes Van Zandt", Marlon Williams is a 2-time New Zealand Music Award winning singer-songwriter touted by leading Australian folk/roots Magazine Rhythms as the "Artist To Watch" in 2014. The only artist so far to have headlined twice at The Great South Pacific Tuning Fork, he will support Justin Townes Earle on his Australian tour as well as at the festival.

Eb and Sparrow
Headed up by Ebony Lamb - who will also be opening for Ryan Bingham — this Wellington-based band has over the last year been the opening band of choice for the likes of Searching For Sugar Man star Rodriguez, Beth Orton and Pokey LaFarge - all thanks to a stunning live act and the kind of songs that put the heart into heartache. Their self titled debut album is out in September.

Aldous Harding
With a debut album co-produced by Marlon Williams (who will be seen opening up for Justin Townes Earle), Lyttelton-based Harding has made a huge impact on the NZ music-scene and was recently described by critic Nick Bollinger as a “unique new voice” who “shifts the air with rarefied grace”.

Bernie Griffen
“His punkish attitude and obsession with Americana hints at Nick Cave's murder ballads" said The Sunday Star Timesof the Grifters mainman and lynchpin of Gunslingers Ball. He's the driving force behind much of NZ's country scene and as such it's quite fitting that he plays such a pivotal role in this festival.