Hollie Smith Acoustic Tour Is Hitting The Road

Hollie Smith is hitting the road for an acoustic tour, cementing a triumphant year in which she soared to the top of the charts and reclaimed her place in Kiwi music as our first lady of soul and jazz.

The tour will see the award-winning singer-songwriter stripping it all back in up-close-and-personal gigs across New Zealand. Smith’s tour kicks off in Whangarei on September 9 and ends in Kerikeri on October 14, taking in the country’s main centres as well as the road less toured, with places like Raumati Beach, Golden Bay, Timaru, and the Waitakere Ranges also on the bill.

The acoustic tour follows the release of Smith’s third solo album Water Or Gold, which debuted at #1 in the New Zealand charts. The album includes new single, ‘Poor On Poor’, which is serviced to New Zealand radio this week. Upon release, Water Or Gold kept its spot at the top of the charts for three weeks running and drew glowing reviews.

“Hollie Smith sings with equal parts vibrancy, raw energy and effortless control.” - Rolling Stone Magazine

“This album is pure soul, and it feels like Smith has finally found her strongest voice.” - Sunday Star Times

“There’s raw energy, gritty hooks and volcanic performances in abundance among the 11 songs here, those tracks coalescing into an engaging go-to-whoa album.” - New Zealand Herald

The chart success of Water Or Gold was marked with a string of sold-out album release shows, in which Smith was accompanied by her band. But this time around, she’s taking it back to basics with the talented Marika Hodgson on bass. Together, they will showcase new songs as well as classics from Smith’s acclaimed back catalogue.

Smith emerged in the late 1990s working with the likes of Fat Freddy’s Drop and Trinity Roots, before establishing her name as one of New Zealand’s most cherished acts with the 2006 Don McGlashan penned ‘Bathe In The River’. Her debut album Long Player sold double Platinum and won awards for ‘Best Producer’, ‘Best Female Solo Artist’ and ‘Breakthrough Artist of the Year’ at the 2007 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

Don’t miss your chance to see one of New Zealand’s most distinctive voices - without the bells and whistles - this September and October.