Nationwide Tour To Tug At The Heart Strings

Stars in Their Eyes Winner Nationwide Tour To Tug At The Heart Strings

Recent rumblings have refocused attention on Christchurch just weeks before a nationwide tour featuring eight guitars commemorating the loss of buildings and lives during the Canterbury earthquakes.

Stars in your Eyes winner, Mandy Pickering, whose musician husband Jason, designed the Heart Strings guitar series, is taking them on her nationwide tour, which begins in Nelson on January 19th, to promote her second album, which features original songs, some inspired by the devastation she has witnessed over the past year in her home town and the strength of the human spirit revealed as a result.

All the guitars have been handcrafted by Mandy’s father-in-law Bruce – seven using timber from many historic buildings, such as The Arts Centre and Homebush, that fell in the September 4th earthquake. Each guitar has a unique design that reflects the history of the timber used to craft it.

The idea, Bruce Pickering says, “was to take something broken and turn it into something beautiful.”

An eighth guitar has also been created following the February 22nd earthquake. Named ‘Kia Kaha’ it is painted pure white and has a scroll with the names of those who died encased within the guitar body. It will feature in an exhibition at the Canterbury Museum later this year.

Mandy Pickering says the Heart Strings Tour will give people around the country a chance to see, touch and hear the guitars before they are auctioned to support the revival of the local arts community.

“The Heart Strings project is so meaningful to us, especially as Christchurch is my home town and my family and I have experienced our own personal loss, including the loss of our home, but what I love about this project is all about hope and positivity.”

Following the tour, the Heart Strings guitars will be auctioned at a fundraising dinner at Armstrong Prestige Mercedes Showroom in Christchurch on 24th February. Bidding will open two weeks prior to the event via Trade Me with the guitars going to the highest bids on the night, live or on the website.

Since winning the last series of ‘Stars in Their Eyes’, Mandy Pickering has performed around New Zealand, releasing her self-titled debut album to critical acclaim as “one of the best locally produced albums made”. Her debut single ‘No Heart’, penned by James Reid of ‘The Feelers’ remained in the New Zealand music charts for 14 weeks.

Mandy’s husband, Jason, designer of the Heart Strings guitars and a Christchurch musician, will accompany her on the national tour with talented musicians, Brad Banks, Jo Barus, Anna Whittaker and Roslen Langton.

LIVE SHOW DATES
Nelson: 19 January 2012 – Woollaston Winery
Christchurch: 22 January 2012 – Melton Estate
Tauranga: 25 January 2012 – Bella Vista Lodge
Auckland: 26 January 2012 – The Wharf

In August 2012 Mandy will be touring the Eastern cities in Australia performing songs from her upcoming album and featuring the ‘Heart Strings’ story.

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