Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

After winning the hearts of New Zealand audiences in 2008 with their incendiary performances at WOMAD in New Plymouth, soul-funk sensations Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are returning in December to play two dynamite shows in Auckland and Wellington.

Now in her 50s, ex-prison guard Sharon Jones has been singing all her life. Born in James Brown’s hometown of Augusta Georgia, Jones moved to New York at an early age, but often stayed with family down south and learned to sing gospel in church. She worked as a backing vocalist in the 1970s but was knocked back at every attempt to further herself in the music industry. She drifted back into regular paid day-jobs, working as an armoured security guard and as a corrections officer at New York’s Rikers Island prison.

It was only when she hooked up with an early incarnation of Brooklyn-based eight-piece soul act the Dap-Kings that she was thrust well and truly into the spotlight. That band was the Soul Providers, a late nineties New York soul act whose roster included guitarist Binky Griptite and bassist Bosco Mann. From this nucleus of players they recruited more members, including drummer Homer Steinweiss from The Mighty Imperials and saxophonist Neal Sugarman of the Sugarman 3. With the vocal powerhouse of Sharon Jones out front they released Daptone Records’ first long player, 2002’s Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.

They’re now acknowledged as being the leaders of a global soul revival and Jones has legions of fans all over the world. Little wonder, for onstage she not only sings up a storm, she’s a prowling, gyrating ball of energy and she’s fronting a true soul revue.

As for the Dap-Kings, who also backed Amy Winehouse on her 2006 hit album Back To Black, they’re every inch a classic soul-funk house band They come on stage dripping in cool, wearing 1960s suits and skinny ties, and throwing down a fast-paced, funky instrumental groove before their MC and guitarist Binky Griptite welcomes the "Queen of Funk" Sharon Jones onto the stage.

Over four albums, including Dap-Dippin’, Naturally, 100 Days, 100 Nights and their 2010 release I Learned the Hard Way, this extraordinary band, led by bassist producer Gabe Roth (AKA Bosco Mann) has remained completely authentic, like they dropped right in from the sixties and landed on a vinyl groove. They are the genuine article, a contemporary band playing timeless soul originals that will transport you to Harlem’s Apollo Theater, to the relative isolation of Muscle Shoals, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee, and from James Brown to Aretha Franklin to Ray Charles in one fantastic set. File them under Soul, sure -- but more importantly, you can file Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings under NOT TO BE MISSED!

FRIDAY 17 DECEMBER // OPERA HOUSE, WELLINGTON
w/ guests and DJ Riki Gooch
Pre-sale tickets available from Thursday 23rd September 9am until Sunday 27th September Midnight
General tickets on sale Monday 27th September 9am from Ticketek & Real Groovy
Ticketek purchase page link: http://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=SHARONJO10

SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER // THE POWERSTATION, AUCKLAND
w/ guests and DJ Murray Cammick
Pre-sale tickets available from Thursday 23rd September 9am until Sunday 27th September Midnight
General tickets on sale Monday 27th September 9am from Ticketmaster & Real Groovy
Ticketmaster purchase page link: http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/Sharon-Jones-the-Dapkings-tickets/artist/952031
Go to wwwmuchmoremusic.co.nz for all show and ticketing info and to register for presales.

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